University of Michigan - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Michigan students are quite content with their surroundings. Ann Arbor is a college town to the core, and you don’t have to look hard to notice. The University and the city intertwine like threads into a rope. Moreover, it’s hard to determine where the University ends and where the city begins—they are virtually one. There is always something to do, and students don’t have to leave town for a good time.

Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town. It is safe, charming, picturesque, and friendly. For a city the size of Ann Arbor, it is amazingly cosmopolitan. Ann Arbor has been touted as the arts center of Michigan, and you don’t have to look far to realize it. On top of various cultural opportunities, there are great clubs, bars, coffeehouses, and local bookstores. Go shopping on State Street and Main Street, or enjoy a sunny day at the Arb (a huge arboretum). For a smaller city, the shopping is great. One of the original Urban Outfitters is right on campus, as are various trendy boutiques for the inner-sorority girl in you. The town has done well to steer clear of the rampant commercialism that has made towns across the country mirror images of one another. There are still used record shops, local coffee shops, and businesses as old as the University itself. Of course, Starbucks is making a presence, but not without student boycotts.

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Students Speak Out

UMAN says: Business

I interact with MSU and Wayne... I interact with MSU and Wayne State a lot. Both are about an hour away, give or take. But staying on campus is never a problem. I really like how the university is mixed right into the very fabric of the city of of Ann Arbor. There is no street dividing the city from the school, I like this blend. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 25, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

People are so friendly here. I... People are so friendly here. I grew up out East, and coming here was a culture shock—even strangers smile at you. I think it’s a Midwest thing. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Students here rarely leave campus.... Students here rarely leave campus. Michigan is not a school where people look for an excuse to get out of town. Nearly everyone stays put once they get here. UM is not like other schools—suitcase colleges—where people go home all the time. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Our campus is cool because it is... Our campus is cool because it is intertwined with the city almost seamlessly. The people of Ann Arbor respect the school and the students, and everyone here has so much energy. The city is very intellectual in nature, and Ann Arbor residents are very intelligent and educated. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Well, Ann Arbor is a college town,... Well, Ann Arbor is a college town, make no mistake about it. Take advantage of the shows that come to Hill Auditorium. A lot of people visit Michigan State because it is supposedly a bigger party school than UM, and that’s about 45 minutes away. You are four hours away from Chicago and Toronto, three hours from Cincinnati, and 45 minutes from Detroit. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Ann Arbor:
• It was labeled by environmentalists as “Tree City USA.”
• The city was named one of the top 10 “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine.
• It’s home to the biggest stadium in the nation, Michigan Stadium, which holds over 110,000 Wolverine fans.

Local Slang:
The “Big House” – Michigan Stadium

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