CP fun

Have you got your housing situation sorted out as yet?

Horrible though it may appear to be right now, it is definitely not the end of the world. From the little that I understand of the process, a lot of it is based on luck. You could strike out one year and totally ace it the next. If you feel this is the direction you would want your life to head in, I would strongly urge you to give it another shot next year. Plan your attack and give it everything you have. You never know - you might well land your dream school and have everything fall into place! Good luck!

It would be good to have a page dedicated to all the students of UMich. Hope we can all gather together here!

Funding is always an issue. It is much more expensive for the University to accept an international student than someone from the same state for example. So yes, it is tougher for international students. Also, the US understands and trusts its own systems much more than it does most systems from abroad. Thus if an American student is being recruited they know for sure what they are all about - the University understands their grades, their courses, their recommendations etc. It is that much more difficult for a foreign applicant to establish credibility. Any PhD application is tough. For an international student it is even tougher. That is just how it is. But it is definitely not impossible. It wasn't this year. It won't be the in the years ahead either. Good luck to everyone applying again in 2017!

I sincerely hope everyone managed to get into their top choices, or at the very least into one of the choices they had targeted at the start of the process. But sadly I do know that some many not have got in this cycle. If there is any way we (those who did manage to get a call this time) can help, with suggestions or any sort of guidance, please feel free to ask! Admissions are an uncertain business and sometimes the really deserving also stand ignored. Good luck to all who got in and even better luck to those applying for 2018!

Just an update for everyone still looking. I explored the possibility of Woodbury as well as Ponds. Thought about Arbor Hills, SpiceTree and a whole host of others. Eventually I am leaning towards Liberty Grand. It is new, clean and very pretty. Even though I dont have a car, I think I will manage with the buses that run through the area. Woodbury is too expensive. Woodland Mews also expensive and not really so much better than Liberty to justify the added expense. I know commuting might be a problem but I am going to try and figure out how to get past that. Unless something special comes up, Liberty Grand appears to be the place I shall lease!

alanc you are an amazing person to know. Thank you very much for this help. You truly are a life saver with all this information!

Hi alanc, I just spoke with Woodbury. They are a good apartment complex but very expensive (for me). Their 2 bed 1 bath option is around $1575 per month plus all utilities which they are estimating will be about $300 (gas, electric, water, trash). That really takes it beyond my budget. I have scheduled a call with Ponds for later today. Really hoping something works out. Or I have an option in Woodland Mews which seems to be around the same area. I would be very grateful if you could share some thoughts on that. I have given up on SpiceTree because of the undergrad party crowd and Arbor Hills is a little old from what I could tell. So I'm down to Woodland Mews, Ponds and Liberty Grand (even though I don't own a car and am not sure if I will manage to get one in the first year!). Thanks a million for all your help!

Thats amazing. Great job. I am hoping to get something for about $1300. Utilities plus Internet etc will be another $300/400. And yes we also hope to adopt some old cats and/or dogs when there. So finding a nice home is important for us too. You guys enjoy your home. And good luck with the job search. Now that you cracked the UMich entrance, everything else should fall into place

Congratulations. Finding a nice place to stay takes a lot of the stress away. May I ask how much you are paying for it? Thanks and enjoy the home

dormcat where did you eventually sign? I too am in the process of finding a 2 bed apartment that is quiet, away from the frat scene and yet connected to A2!

THANKS alanc for all the help. I will check out Ponds today and also Woodbury. The thing is, there are lots of reviews available online but I am not sure what to trust since many people writing in say that a number of the reviews are fake and written by the management themselves! I have done a Skype tour of Liberty Grand and seem to love it. But you are right. It is too far away and without a car might be tough to negotiate. I will now focus on Ponds and Woodbury and revert back with the results. THANKS again for all the guidance. You have no idea how valuable your advice is to me!

alanc I wish there was a way to say thank you a dozen times for one post. You have been most amazing. Thank you for all the information. I had almost settled on Liberty Grand even though I dont have a car. I love how beautiful and quiet it appears to be. I was aware of the noise part and have been assured by the leasing person that I will be given something as far away as possible. Thank you for everything you mentioned that will definitely help me make a choice. SpiceTree might not work for the reasons you mentioned (I am not much of a party person). Arbor Hills seems nice but the complex is a little old so that might be a problem but I am still thinking about that property. THANK you for everything. If there is any way I can help while at UMich you only have to ask!

Thanks for the message alanc. I am pretty much certain about leasing in an apartment complex in advance since I do not want to a chance coming in. Most of these places also have a wait list that apparently fills up fairly fast. So if one hasnt applied by May/June then its highly unlikely that something will open up in August. Have you heard of an apartment complex called Liberty Grand? I am in the process of choosing between Liberty Grand, SpiceTree and Arbor Hills Apartment. Liberty Grand seems really nice but its apparently right next to I 94 and that is supposed to be quite noisy - as all highways are. Would you have any thoughts on that? Thanks a lot for all your help!

Wow thats so cool. Thanks a ton NoirFemme!

alanc thanks for your message. Do you think accommodation will be available even in August? I wont be able to get to AA before that and so was wondering whether I needed to finalize everything well in advance or if I could wait to get there and then check for places?

Lauracsm I have been looking at places like SpiceTree and Hidden Valley Apartments in that price range. There is a very good complex by the name of Woodland Mews in the range of about $1350. None of these are downtown but they seem really nice.

ServeNStudy it's always tough to pass judgement on any program but from what the general chatter that one hears, PGSP might NOT be the best option around. The Stanford attached to it could be taken with a pinch of salt. If you have other options it would be good to explore them. This is an expensive program as well so that's something to think about. Again, no disrespect meant to the program, and accepting that I am a complete outsider, this is how I view it. I also know that eventually it is not the program but what you make of it that matters more than anything else. So if this is your one shot, embrace it gladly and make the most of it. If you have options, do reconsider them.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I was in love with the University. Now the love affair extends to the city. Hope you have got your dream school as well!

Thank you for your very details response. I am very excited to avail of this opportunity. I love the University and am really looking forward to enjoying the city as well. If you are ever there again, give me a shout out

I have very gratefully accepted the offer of admission from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. I will be visiting Michigan for the first time when I reach to start the program. Any advice about life there would be most welcome. Thank you.

I think its perfectly fine to send out a polite email stating that while you are very grateful for the offer you feel you are better suited to another lab. I don't think any admissions committee takes these things personally. They know everyone is applying to many places and the choice picked is the one that is best suited to the individual. Waiting for too long to respond when you already know you are going to turn down the offer however is not cool.

It definitely indicates that you are in line to receive an offer but you know that funding is always a tricky process. It is a statement of intent but not a guarantee still. Keep hoping if this is your top choice but keep other avenues open as well!

FYI. I spoke with DCT, who told me that all of the students selected have accepted offers of admission. Therefore, they will not be making any more offers to those placed on the waitlist. This was on the results page for UMass. Looks like all places are taken. Sorry if you were waiting for this...

Thanks 119. The fit of both is perfect. And given my financial situation, I want the one that will carry the greatest name value.