<p>After being deferred my family, mostly State and MIAA grads, has been laying it on quite thick with things like: </p>
<p>-> “Michigan is good, but it doesn’t really matter where you go, as long as you make the most of it.”</p>
<p>-> “We have plenty of Michigan grads at the office, they’re not any different from the State or Western or Albion grads.”</p>
<p>-> “People that think Michigan is the end all be all just want the status they think it represents. In the real world it doesn’t mean anything.”</p>
<p>How am I even supposed to respond to this stuff without sounding pompous and condescending of them and their alma mater? They make me feel foolish for trying to get into Michigan. Very frustrating.</p>
<p>Sounds like they’re simply trying to emphasize the fact that the college you chose to go to won’t be the deciding factor on whether or not you will be successful in life (which is absolutely true by the way). It might come off as them trying to make you feel foolish for trying to get into Michigan, but more likely they’re just trying to comfort you and make clear that you are going to be fine regardless of where you attend.</p>
<p>They’re trying to comfort you, but there are truth in their words. I agree with everything they said. (Disclaimer: yes, I am a State alumna.) </p>
<p>I’ve worked at several different places. For most jobs, you don’t get paid different based on where your degree comes from. However, a degree from MI <em>can</em> open up different doors but not getting into U of M is not the end of the world.</p>
<p>With in the state of Michigan, it may not matter too much. Maybe from major to major too. Your degree definitely isn’t the end all be all though, and you will need to perform at your job.</p>
<p>It sounds like they are trying to comfort you though. What do you expect them to say? “Awe, that sucks. I had to settle for State/EMU/etc as well.”</p>
<p>I’m from out of the state. As an engineering student at Michigan I feel I had a great opportunity to look at many opportunities. These opportunities weren’t just in Michigan, or the Midwest, but across the country. I got to skip some fist round interviews and go straight on through to the 2nd round because I was from Michigan (alum recruiting me, respected the school, etc). I don’t think I would have had access to all of this and I wouldn’t have as many opportunities to get in places (so many options, work locations, industries, etc) if I went to a different school in Michigan. </p>
<p>So no, it is not the end of the world. But Michigan definitely helps.</p>
<p>Where I interned this past summer there were some students from Michigan, students from all the “top” schools not on the West coast (All of Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, Yale, MIT, and Columbia), there was one kid (maybe more - I at least only remember one) from Michigan State, and some from the local directional state universities (and plenty from other places). One of the smartest kids I met from there was from one of those directionals (I’m guessing he got a full scholarship or something). Everyone who interned there will probably end up with a great job (the company gives full time offers to like 80% of the interns apparently).</p>
<p>T3nnis, just respond that UMich felt like a good fit for you personally and though while you know you will do well wherever you go, you just liked the “energy” of AA and leave it at that.</p>
<p>That is a) likely true and b) a kind way to say to each his/or/her own without disrespecting their alma mater ;)</p>
<p>I would not argue even the (to us) obvious difference in rigor with a grad from one of the other schools because it is in fact a wee bit unkind Further, it is also true that one can find outstanding students from the directionals, and the occasional under-employed UMich grad.</p>
Further, it is also true that one can find outstanding students from the directionals, and the occasional under-employed UMich grad.</p>