University of Michigan - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

At any major research university, one is bound to take classes taught by baby-faced grad students who didn’t necessarily come to teach. At Michigan, this certainly holds true. GSIs (Michigan-speak for TAs), for the most part, are not well liked, but some students seem to luck out with a young, starry-eyed prodigy every once in a while. At a school the caliber of UM, the brilliant professors far outweigh the egotistical, narrow-minded ones. Even with some less-than-stellar GSIs, everyone agrees that UM’s academics are first-rate. Students are bound to have quite a sampling of professors, here. Sure, you’ll have an unenthused GSI now and again for staple courses such as calculus, but there are more good professors than bad, and GSIs only teach discussion sections of larger lectures. Although you’d expect some of the best experiences to be found in small classes such as seminars (of which there are plenty), some large lectures have surprisingly engaging professors. Students pack the lectures halls and fill the hallways outside simply to catch a Ralph Williams lecture on Shakespeare or the Bible as literature. Simply stated, at a school as reputable as the University of Michigan, you are bound to find amazing professors who really care about teaching. They may have even written the book for the class you’re taking.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

My business school professors are... My business school professors are amazing. Since our BBA program was rated number one a few years ago (and it’s been in the top three ever since), the quality of education is great. Business school professors are a mix of academic and working professionals. It’s a pretty good mix, too. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Overall, I’d say academics here... Overall, I’d say academics here are pretty good. I’m in kinesiology, and I’ve taken courses in the business school and LSA. I’ve had good professors in each school, but none of them will coddle you at all. As long as you’re on top of your stuff, teachers will respect you, and it will be apparent with your grades. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The quality of teachers varies... The quality of teachers varies greatly across the University, so it pays to do your research before registering for classes. By and large, I was able to learn from professors who had genuine interest in teaching and who could make even the dullest subject matter seem exciting. I also learned that getting to know the professors outside of class was well worth the effort. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The UROP (Undergraduate Research... The UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) is amazing. It gives undergraduates the opportunity to do ground-breaking research with renowned professors and present their research at the end of the year. Maybe you’ll win a medal! 12345 Academics Report

GnT013 says: University of Michigan 2011 Law and Legal Studies

The U of M Experience A I came here to U of M undecided, mainly because its high ranking amongst public universities in the nation. The campus is physically impressive, all the buildings are either classically beautiful and well maintained (the union, the law diag etc.) or brand new (the B school). The registration process is about the same as I would assume it to be at any top rated university, and the councilors were exceptional. The workload can be intimidating at times, but that is part of the beauty of U of M. Juggling your extra curricular activities with your scholastic endeavors, while still maintaining a life, builds character and sets the U of M student apart from most. 12345 Academics: November 23, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Freshman seminars, which have fewer than 20 students, are reported to be among the most rewarding academic experiences. There are dozens from which to choose, including titles such as “I, Too, Sing America: Prejudice and Racism in American Society,” and “The African Francophone.”

Make sure not to step on the “M” in the center of the Diag (center of campus). It’s said that if you do, you’ll fail your first bluebook exam.

Michigan has the largest alumni population of any school in the world, with over 425,000 living alumni.

Best Places to Study:
Law Library, Grad Library Reading Room, UGLi (pronounced “ugly,” stands for undergraduate library)

Write for Us!

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >