I got admitted to Michigan State University Honors and LSA Honors. I want to pursue Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology at MSU and Cellular and Molecular Biomedical Science(CMBS) at UMich, which can be coupled with a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the College of Engineering. My end goal is to become a genetic engineer (Ph.D), working in R&D.
As an international student, I got the Presidential Award ($15,000 annually) for MSU and am awaiting an International Scholarship ($25,000 annually) at UMich. Currently, MSU will cost around $50,000/year, including the Presidential Award, and UMich will cost $50,000/year, if I receive the International Scholarship.
My parents don’t have a specific preference, and everyone around me told me to look at the job prospect, internship/research opportunities, median salary after graduation, student life, etc. to help finalize my choice. Considering all factors, which one would be a better choice for me?
These are both excellent options but the University of Michigan has a somewhat better track record of placing people into Bio-type PhD programs (although Michigan State is very good for that too). I personally also prefer Ann Arbor to East Lansing, including because it has better connectivity (like, DTW is around 30 minutes from Ann Arbor, more like 1 hour 15 minutes from East Lansing).
So if it was the same cost, I’d probably go with Michigan. However if Michigan State was a lot less expensive, that is a great option too.
If both are affordable, most anyone would choose U Mich, known around the world.
Good luck.
Both schools are highly respected but if actually the same then no question go Michigan and Go Blue!
for the same price, Ann Arbor is a no-brainer.
If your career goal is to become an engineer, then the MS in Biomedical Engineering degree option from the University of Michigan is probably the better option for you.
However, you need to consider this in light of the advantages offered by MSU’s University Honors compared to LSA Honors at the University of Michigan.
How does affordability change if you do not get that scholarship?
If I do not get the scholarship at UMich, it won’t be feasible for me to attend it. However, $50,000 itself is a lot, and at MSU I heard international students can get internship/research opportunities and earn some extra income as a first year. Furthermore, I may qualify for the Honors Excellence Scholarship($13,000/year) at MSU. People also told me MSU is known for providing international students with aid.
Another concern of mine is about how many credits each college will offer. I did 10 APs in high school in hopes of converting them to college credit and shaving a semester off my 4 year degree, but in LSA’s website I can only earn upto 10 credits this way. I don’t know how many credits I can redeem in MSU.
I wish to complete my degree as fast as possible and start working, without compromising on a good education and other opportunities.
If you can significantly lower the total cost of your degree at Michigan State in these ways below what it would cost at Michigan, then that is indeed worth seriously considering. Michigan State is “unfortunate” in the sense it shares a state with one of the most prominent few public universities in the United States/most important research universities in the world. But Michigan State is still a very highly regarded research university itself, also with a pretty high global standing. And then Honors makes it even more reputable.
So you can get a great education there, and if you do well you will have a lot of opportunities. Again, Michigan is great too, but not necessary if it would cost you a lot more.
If you don’t know at msu about credits then find out. Talk to them and send on your transcripts and let them tell you what counts. Make sure you understand what transfers.
https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/first-year/advanced-credits
For any school where this is true, then you can’t attend.
I’m not sure if this is just Michigan or both.
But if this becomes the case (no scholarship) then you shouldn’t attend. You should find a lower cost option - and they are out there, still taking apps.
Good luck.
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