An additional thought. Unless things have changed dramatically over the years, summers in Ann Arbor can be a great time to push forward and make progress on your goals. Summer classes and internships are great ways to accelerate opportunities and connections. Campus jobs can interfere with these opportunities, but I believe UM is now doing much better at counseling and providing work placement support for students so they can achieve a balance of earning some money, gaining some basic work experience, but also being available for career enhancing experiences as well.
Also, as per the recommendations from others for your nephew to take this opportunity for self-discovery, he should strongly consider studying abroad for a semester or two. Few things are more perspective-altering than living in a foreign land.
Of course, if after all this your nephew discovers his true passion in 17th century French lit, and he finds himself living in a fourth floor walk up on the outskirts of Paris without a penny to his name, happy but still desiring material wealth, he could leverage those great UM contacts to marry money and have it all!
First, congratulations to your nephew for all his accomplishments and for putting himself in position to experience the greatest university in the land. I’ll echo many of the other comments here by recommending your nephew go into year one with his eyes and his heart up and open to exploring the unknown and making new friends (contacts). His less common background (for UM at least) can pay dividends on the classroom as he will be able to bring a perspective to his work and discussions few others will have — which he should embrace and not run from. I recommend he take advantage of every opportunity (office visits, special projects, etc.) to meet with and develop connections with professors. These connections can pay significant dividends down the road and for life. One of the most valuable aspects of a UM degree is the connections you develop — with fellow students and professors. The other is of course learning who you are separate from your family, your interests, your strengths and your weaknesses.
Regarding the risk that UM can be overwhelming, that is true for everyone of course, but particularly true for first-in-family students with few academic role models. For someone like your nephew, I’d strongly recommend looking into one of UM Learning Communities. https://lsa.umich.edu/mlc. Joining one can help reduce the size and complexity of the UM experience significantly. The Learning Communities also seem to do a good job keeping an eye on beginning students and helping them cope with can be a bit overwhelming at first. Strong recommendation for your nephew to consider looking into his options here.
If he were my nephew, another piece of advice would be to have one eye on the impact AI is having on the workplace - and steer toward opportunities less likely to be significantly impacted in the years to come. This will be hard to predict I’m sure, but areas like Law, or creative pursuits might be interesting, in addition to business ownership or business leadership.
Finally…a big yes to working to keep down his debt through the experience. A very difficult task in today’s environment. I paid my own way through school many years ago (when things were much cheaper of course), by working 25/30 hrs per week in the evenings. I take pride in that, but regret missing out on a number of extra-curricular activities and networking opportunities. The key is balance here. Nothing wrong with a bit a work to keep you grounded and some cash in your pocket, but not at the expense of missing out on the point of being there - which is to go in deep and fully on the experience.
Thanks Seth…and Brian. Very excited to read about next year’s D being as potent as this year’s National Champion D. Defense wins championships! Not being greedy here, just something to look forward to in my Go Blue dreams.
Donovan an incredible talent. Selfishly, would love to see him come back for another year after the coaches get the off season to draw up better schemes to take advantage of his “special talents”. Great guy, great teammate, and has the potential to be a major contributor to next year’s team. Go Blue!
Well said. We are lucky to have Seth and the rest of this blog team to elevate our U of M fan experience regardless of the on field performance. No one, other than Team 144 themselves, deserves the last three seasons more than The (MGoBlog) Team, The Team, The Team. Thanks for all you do.
Hmmm. Difficult situation to say the least. Sounds like collateral damage. Hope he lands on his feet and am appreciative of his contributions to the success of Team 144. Go Blue!
MGoLegal Question… Can UM sue the conference for damages - to reputation and earning potential (bonuses for winning) - if they can prove this action was negligent in some way?
His game against ND in South Bend is one of my all time favorite Michigan games to watch. Complete domination and the beginning of the end to the Quinn and Weiss mythologies.
I attended this game with my Dad (Michigan State alum). He enjoyed the first half of the game and ribbed me light heartedly that it just wasn’t our day. As the game began to turn our way, and the night turned colder, he suggested we leave for a more comfortable situation. I refused as I was intent on being part of the comeback. My wife, without a ticket, was waiting for me in A2, as we were scheduled to drive back to Atlanta by car that night after the game. As the game wore on, the excitement of the game and the bad mojo from my Dad and my wife helped keep me warm. We were seated in the corner of the end zone when that stiff wind blew that late MSU field goal attempt back onto the field — a truly magical moment. The rest is history. It was a long and satisfying drive for us back to Atlanta, and a cold and miserable drive for my Dad back to G.R. For context, I was also sitting in the MSU end zone (my Dad’s tickets) for the infamous 60:01 “Clockgate” game in 2001, when Smoker and Ducket connected for the extra second touchdown to steal the game. So you can appreciate why I insisted Dad and I sit through this entire game. Great memories! Thanks for this.
A Michigan Legend. Thank you for all you’ve done for the Maize and Blue. Looking forward to seeing you healthy and back on the field soon, wherever your land.
Good stuff as always. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Michigan’s offensive line can do against this defense, both in pass protection and run blocking.
Yep. Great story. Not just about Biff, but about key moments in the program’s culture over the past few years as things have begun to roll. Thanks for the heads up.
Recent Comments
An additional thought. Unless things have changed dramatically over the years, summers in Ann Arbor can be a great time to push forward and make progress on your goals. Summer classes and internships are great ways to accelerate opportunities and connections. Campus jobs can interfere with these opportunities, but I believe UM is now doing much better at counseling and providing work placement support for students so they can achieve a balance of earning some money, gaining some basic work experience, but also being available for career enhancing experiences as well.
Also, as per the recommendations from others for your nephew to take this opportunity for self-discovery, he should strongly consider studying abroad for a semester or two. Few things are more perspective-altering than living in a foreign land.
Of course, if after all this your nephew discovers his true passion in 17th century French lit, and he finds himself living in a fourth floor walk up on the outskirts of Paris without a penny to his name, happy but still desiring material wealth, he could leverage those great UM contacts to marry money and have it all!
First, congratulations to your nephew for all his accomplishments and for putting himself in position to experience the greatest university in the land. I’ll echo many of the other comments here by recommending your nephew go into year one with his eyes and his heart up and open to exploring the unknown and making new friends (contacts). His less common background (for UM at least) can pay dividends on the classroom as he will be able to bring a perspective to his work and discussions few others will have — which he should embrace and not run from. I recommend he take advantage of every opportunity (office visits, special projects, etc.) to meet with and develop connections with professors. These connections can pay significant dividends down the road and for life. One of the most valuable aspects of a UM degree is the connections you develop — with fellow students and professors. The other is of course learning who you are separate from your family, your interests, your strengths and your weaknesses.
Regarding the risk that UM can be overwhelming, that is true for everyone of course, but particularly true for first-in-family students with few academic role models. For someone like your nephew, I’d strongly recommend looking into one of UM Learning Communities. https://lsa.umich.edu/mlc. Joining one can help reduce the size and complexity of the UM experience significantly. The Learning Communities also seem to do a good job keeping an eye on beginning students and helping them cope with can be a bit overwhelming at first. Strong recommendation for your nephew to consider looking into his options here.
If he were my nephew, another piece of advice would be to have one eye on the impact AI is having on the workplace - and steer toward opportunities less likely to be significantly impacted in the years to come. This will be hard to predict I’m sure, but areas like Law, or creative pursuits might be interesting, in addition to business ownership or business leadership.
Finally…a big yes to working to keep down his debt through the experience. A very difficult task in today’s environment. I paid my own way through school many years ago (when things were much cheaper of course), by working 25/30 hrs per week in the evenings. I take pride in that, but regret missing out on a number of extra-curricular activities and networking opportunities. The key is balance here. Nothing wrong with a bit a work to keep you grounded and some cash in your pocket, but not at the expense of missing out on the point of being there - which is to go in deep and fully on the experience.
LFG. Go Blue! The coach Moore legacy begins. Congrats Coach. Looking forward to cheering you on for years to come.
Thanks Seth…and Brian. Very excited to read about next year’s D being as potent as this year’s National Champion D. Defense wins championships! Not being greedy here, just something to look forward to in my Go Blue dreams.
Thanks for the perspective today. Keep churning and Go Blue!
Fantastic. So looking forward to watching Rod do his thing for another season. Go Blue!
Awesome! Turns out…we CAN have nice things. Go Blue!
Thanks for all the great moments and memories Kris. Michigan Man forever. Go Blue!
Good luck on your MGoFutures. Thanks for the many great moments and memories. Eternally grateful. Go Blue!
We Want Jim! We Want Jim! Michigan Man forever. Go Blue!
Thank you for all the hard work, great moments and your critical part in this magical run and season. Congrats and Go Blue!
Thanks for so many great moments Blake. A true Michigan Man and Michigan Legend! Go Blue!
Good luck. God speed. And Go Blue!
Michigan Man and Michigan legend.
Thank you Jim. Go Blue!
Go Blue!
Let’s Fucking Go Blue!
Let’s Fucking Go Blue!
Great reviews Alex. Excited to see how all your research plays out on the field. Go Blue!
Donovan an incredible talent. Selfishly, would love to see him come back for another year after the coaches get the off season to draw up better schemes to take advantage of his “special talents”. Great guy, great teammate, and has the potential to be a major contributor to next year’s team. Go Blue!
Congrats and Go Blue!
Well said. We are lucky to have Seth and the rest of this blog team to elevate our U of M fan experience regardless of the on field performance. No one, other than Team 144 themselves, deserves the last three seasons more than The (MGoBlog) Team, The Team, The Team. Thanks for all you do.
Hmmm. Difficult situation to say the least. Sounds like collateral damage. Hope he lands on his feet and am appreciative of his contributions to the success of Team 144. Go Blue!
Fair enough. Thanks for the education.
Great day. Blake Corum for president. Go Blue!
That IS great news! Go Zak! Go Blue!
Blake will have a big day Saturday. Count on it! Go Blue!
YES PLEASE!!!
Love it! Go Blue!
Bet.
Also…pretty sure Toga Party is a required next move.
MGoLegal Question… Can UM sue the conference for damages - to reputation and earning potential (bonuses for winning) - if they can prove this action was negligent in some way?
OK lawyers….go earn that $$$$. Looking forward to seeing Jim on the sideline on Saturday for the beatdown!
I say Petitti blinks.
Boom! That’s some pretty good lawyerin’ until tight time constraints. Should give the commish pause for thought.
That is “Googles Stuff” level chicanery.
Great review. These insights always bring some depth to the game watching experience. Much appreciated and Go Blue!
His game against ND in South Bend is one of my all time favorite Michigan games to watch. Complete domination and the beginning of the end to the Quinn and Weiss mythologies.
Bummer. Hope his recovery is quick and complete. Once a Michigan Man, always a Michigan Man.
I attended this game with my Dad (Michigan State alum). He enjoyed the first half of the game and ribbed me light heartedly that it just wasn’t our day. As the game began to turn our way, and the night turned colder, he suggested we leave for a more comfortable situation. I refused as I was intent on being part of the comeback. My wife, without a ticket, was waiting for me in A2, as we were scheduled to drive back to Atlanta by car that night after the game. As the game wore on, the excitement of the game and the bad mojo from my Dad and my wife helped keep me warm. We were seated in the corner of the end zone when that stiff wind blew that late MSU field goal attempt back onto the field — a truly magical moment. The rest is history. It was a long and satisfying drive for us back to Atlanta, and a cold and miserable drive for my Dad back to G.R. For context, I was also sitting in the MSU end zone (my Dad’s tickets) for the infamous 60:01 “Clockgate” game in 2001, when Smoker and Ducket connected for the extra second touchdown to steal the game. So you can appreciate why I insisted Dad and I sit through this entire game. Great memories! Thanks for this.
Fantastic! Go Blue!
Awesome. Congratulations and Go Blue!
LFG!
Go Blue!
A Michigan Legend. Thank you for all you’ve done for the Maize and Blue. Looking forward to seeing you healthy and back on the field soon, wherever your land.
I’ll…
Should be a good one.
I’ll be dreaming of a record day for Michigan’s Tight Ends.
JJ, Corum and Edwards all come to play.
Go Blue! Beat Ohio!
Good stuff as always. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Michigan’s offensive line can do against this defense, both in pass protection and run blocking.
Hoping JJ has “visualized” The Game of his life!
Go Blue! Beat Ohio!
Good luck Cade.
Yep. Great story. Not just about Biff, but about key moments in the program’s culture over the past few years as things have begun to roll. Thanks for the heads up.
Good stuff as always. Who’s got it better than MGOBLOG readers?!
A maize colored 4-door Chevy Citation hatchback. 4-speed manual. My first car out of high school. A real chick magnet.