Details

• United States of America
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I would say that the master’s application process was quite straightforward. The motivation letter was specifically focused on the University of Michigan, and I had already researched some of the courses I wanted to take. The preparation was fairly easy for me, and fortunately, I received all the required documents quite early. Because of that, I was able to obtain my visa before the stoppage. For this reason, I would strongly recommend applying for the visa as soon as you receive all the necessary documents, as you never know what might change. I would also recommend booking your flights early, as they are often much cheaper. In some cases, even if you do not end up using the return flight, a round-trip ticket can still be cheaper than a one-way flight booked later. Lastly, I would say it makes sense to start searching for an apartment in Ann Arbor as early as possible, as the housing market there is quite tough and expensive.

2. Accommodation

As mentioned briefly before, the real estate market in Ann Arbor is very tough, and it took us some time to find good accommodation at an acceptable price. Three other students from WU and I searched for an apartment through various websites, and in the end, we found a house via Airbnb for about €1,000 per month. We had an entire house with four bedrooms and a basement with an additional room, which was really nice. Another big advantage was that the house was already furnished. One downside was the location, as it took about 25–30 minutes by bus to reach the Business School. By U.S. standards, however, this worked quite well. The house was located in a residential area with no nearby supermarkets. Fortunately, one of my roommates bought a car, which allowed us to do grocery shopping easily. Overall, the city is very safe, and there are no particularly bad areas in Ann Arbor. I would always recommend connecting with other WU students when looking for accommodation. I had already met my roommates in Vienna, and I would say that they made the stay really special and it truly felt like home.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus of the University of Michigan is truly beautiful. Especially the Law Quadrangle, located next to the Business School, looks a bit like Hogwarts. The Ross School of Business itself is very modern, and I spent most of my study sessions there. Although it can get quite crowded at times, I still really enjoyed studying there. The courses I took were very interesting and sometimes even a bit challenging. In the MBA program, students do not place a strong emphasis on grades, which can make group projects somewhat challenging. Most courses rely heavily on class participation and presentations, and some also include final exams. I would say that the relationship with professors is closer than what I was used to, and you can clearly see that many of them are still actively working in their respective fields and teaching as a side role. I can especially recommend Accounting 564 with Ryan Ball, who was absolutely hilarious, ES 516 with Dave Hiemstra, which gave me a completely new perspective on entrepreneurship, and MO 620 with Dave Meyer, where he helped students think deeply about how to live a good life.

5. Every day life in the host country

As mentioned before, public transportation in Ann Arbor works very well and is free with your MCard. Buses usually arrive every 15 or 30 minutes, and you can track them on Google Maps, which makes it easy to time your arrival perfectly. Ann Arbor is a very safe city compared to many other places in the U.S. Throughout the entire semester, there was only one safety-related incident in the city, and even after hours, I never felt unsafe. Downtown Ann Arbor offers a wide variety of bars and clubs. Especially Scorekeepers for MBA Night on Thursdays and Rick's are great options. During the first week of the semester and around Halloween, I would highly recommend visiting the different fraternities and their parties. There are also many student clubs, both business-related and sports-oriented, such as running clubs or soccer clubs. One of the best events organized by the student body is the MBA Bus, which is the MBA tailgating event before football games. Normally, season tickets cost around $150, but we became friends with the organizers and were able to attend for free. The University of Michigan hosts a wide range of sporting events, and football games at the Michigan Stadium are especially special. It is the largest stadium in the United States, with a capacity of around 110,000 spectators, and the football program is one of the most prestigious and well-known in the country. However, other sports such as hockey, basketball, and soccer are also great to watch. In addition, there is a large campus recreation center that you can use for free with your MCard. A new recreation center was under construction during our stay and is expected to be even better, but it was still closed at the time. The city is also great for running, with many green spaces and parks, which makes it easy to stay active.

6. Testimonial

I can wholeheartedly recommend the University of Michigan. It offers the perfect mix of strong academic courses and an outstanding student life. Ann Arbor is, especially by U.S. standards, a fantastic city with a very charming downtown area. I would say that the main downsides are the weather, which can be very cold in late November and December, and the high cost of living. Housing in particular is expensive, but everyday expenses are also relatively high compared to other places in the United States. A major advantage is the proximity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which is only about 30 minutes away and can be reached very conveniently by bus. All in all, I had an absolute blast at UMich, and I can truly recommend it to everyone considering studying abroad there. And always, Go Blue!