Student to Student

Kimberly Jongsma
Kimberly Jongsma
Master’s Student, Urban Planning

Why I Chose U-M, Emphasis on M.

February 22, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

There are three reasons I chose to go to University of Michigan. First was the fact that it had a great Urban Planning program, listed in the top 25 of the nation on major planning blogs. University of Michigan looks impressive on a resume, but even more impressive is the amount of opportunities it has delivered during my short stay here. I'm quite sure I've written about them before, but let me add that the…

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Maria Pickl
Maria Pickl
Master’s Student, School of Education

Why I Chose Michigan: It’s Not All About the Squirrels

February 21, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

It was during my first tour of campus – and I remember this vividly – that I learned about Squirrel Club. The tour guide, an attractive dark-haired college boy, explained to the group that the squirrels are nearly as much a part of the campus as the students and faculty. One time, he told us as we strolled the Diag, a squirrel jumped out of a garbage can with a whole bagel in his mouth…

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Rodney Caruthers II
Rodney Caruthers II
Ph.D. Student, Near Eastern Studies

The Pursuit of Passion

February 20, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

My decision to commit to the University of Michigan for doctoral study was in many ways a product of progressive enlightenment.  Arriving at an important decision such as choosing which institution to pursue graduate study is vital not only for one’s future endeavors but also for personal satisfaction. The program selection process, as I gradually came to understand, is one that should command considerable attention even at the risk of being somewhat persnickety. There are…

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Leslie Rott
Leslie Rott
Ph.D. Student, Sociology

Why U-M?: University of Michigan Builds Intellectual Curiosity, Scholarly Mindset

February 17, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

The reason I picked the University of Michigan for graduate school is an easy question for me to answer. I did my undergraduate education here, my research interests were fostered and supported here during undergrad, and my intellectual curiosity was brought into full bloom. So why would I have wanted to go anywhere else when there were so many positives already here? Many people told me that there was no way I would get in…

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Bessie McAdams
Bessie McAdams
Ph.D. Student, English

Kind Whenever Possible

February 16, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

Before I started graduate school, I was having a pretty rough time. I had come back from Japan suddenly the year before to help with a family emergency and spent the ensuing year doing “service” for an Americorps non-profit that I am not going to name here because I am about to start mudslinging. This non-profit was the worst job I ever had and that’s including the four months I spent in the freezer of…

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Natalie Bartolacci
Natalie Bartolacci
Program Manager, Rackham Graduate School

Student to Student Videos

February 15, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

This past summer, Rackham interviewed 20 current graduate students from a variety of programs on a range of topics of interest to new and current students, including getting to know Ann Arbor and special advice for international students and students with children. These videos are available on the Rackham website along with other materials for new and current graduate students. Check them out and let us know what you think! Getting Ready for Graduate School…

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Jax Sanders
Jax Sanders
Ph.D. Student, Physics

The Best and Only Choice

February 15, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

The decision for me to come to the University of Michigan for graduate school wasn’t difficult. Michigan’s was the only offer that came with funding, and in the hard sciences, you don’t pay for your Ph.D. However, I was thrilled to get the offer because Michigan was my first choice. My undergraduate research experience motivated me to apply to U-M. I worked at the LIGO Hanford Observatory for two summers and loved the experience. I…

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Kathryn Prater Bomey
Kathryn Prater Bomey
Master’s Student, School of Natural Resources and Environment

Why I Came to U-M: The Right Location and the Right Program

February 13, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

Picking a grad school was an easy choice for me. As a southeast Michigan resident, the University of Michigan was a world-class educational institution practically in my own backyard. So once I decided to go back to school, the choice was clear. During my previous career as a journalist, I often wrote articles about conservation and environmental education. I was continually struck by people’s passion toward nature and protecting the environment. For example, I’ll never…

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Hong Tran
Hong Tran
Ph.D. Student, Chemical Biology

Science, Sciencey Stuff, and One’s Favorite Beer

February 10, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

If I had to answer why I chose U-M in one sentence, it would be my program. U-M is one of the only schools in the nation that offers a Program in Chemical Biology (PCB), is one of the most competitive schools across the nation in biochemistry research, and has an impressive list of faculty who could accommodate almost any research interest. Naturally, considering my background in biology and chemistry and little understanding of how…

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Natalie Bartolacci
Natalie Bartolacci
Program Manager, Rackham Graduate School

Love It or Leave It? Our Bloggers Weigh In On Winter in Ann Arbor

February 9, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

The January topic for our student bloggers was “Winter in Ann Arbor.” Here is what we’ve learned…Winter provides opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities, including snowball fights, sledding, ice skating, and skiing. Winter provides opportunities for a variety of indoor activities, including dining in, sitting by a fireplace, hanging “in,” and cooking things to warm you up. Winter removes warm weather distractions, so you can focus on writing, research, and applying for grants...…

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Katie Lelito
Katie Lelito
Ph.D. Student, Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology

Winter in Ann Arbor: Nature’s Gift to Graduate Students

February 8, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

Winters are colder in Michigan- so cold that compared to where I’m from, it’s more often too cold to snow. But, I’m oddly thankful for Nature’s bitter cold winds that keep us graduate students indoors. In winter, we are free from the distractions of tempting outdoor recreation- Frisbee on the quad, dining al fresco on Main St., Art Fair and so on are the pleasures of Ann Arbor for 7 months out of the year.…

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Laura Fernandes
Laura Fernandes
Ph.D. Student, Biostatistics

My Love For the Winter in Ann Arbor

February 6, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

I thought about this month's piece and decided that I had to speak for the people like me who love the snow! I absolutely love the snow and feel that the cold in the winter is the "price" to pay for this "fanciful" liking. And I say "fanciful" because most people think that I am crazy when I say that the winter is my best season in AA. Some find it even more incredulous when…

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Hong Tran
Hong Tran
Ph.D. Student, Chemical Biology

Winter in Ann Arbor: There’s a bunch of this white stuff falling from the sky!

February 2, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

As a bred and raised southerner, winter in Ann Arbor to me conjures up images of snow! I still get giddy and exclaim, “There’s white stuff falling from the sky!” every time it snows. And although it may be a pain to constantly be cleaning and digging my car out of the snow, I still love it. I made my first real snow angel last year after we got a foot or two of snow,…

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Marie Stango
Marie Stango
Ph.D. Student, History

An East Coast Perspective on Midwest Winters

February 1, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

What do you think of when you imagine winter in the Midwest – snowdrifts and sub-zero temperatures? This is exactly what I envisioned after I was accepted to U-M. When I decided to move to Michigan for grad school, I began to worry about winter in the Midwest. Granted, I grew up in New England and went to school in New York – so I was very familiar with winter weather – but I really…

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Ebony Reddock
Ebony Reddock
Ph.D. Student, Health Behavior and Health Education

Winter Activities: “Sled-ding”

January 31, 2012, Filed Under: Student to Student

Huron Hills Golf Course One of the best things about Ann Arbor for families is that there are many options for kids’ winter activities. Whether you like skating, skiing or activities of the indoor variety, like taking the kids to Jungle Java to run in circles while you read, there’s something out there. My son and I took advantage many times of activities when we lived in Ann Arbor proper. Every weekend we would go…

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