As a senior in high school, it is the time of year to start seriously considering where to continue my educational career. As I learned over Thanksgiving break, the University of Michigan should be considered for any student that strongly values their education.

The first thing to consider about the University of Michigan is its high level of selectivity; Michigan accepts less than 30% of its applicants and wants them to have an average 3.87 unweighted GPA and 31 ACT. While it is a difficult school to get into, it can offer many benefits to its undergraduate and graduate students.

Michigan offers over 270 areas of study for students and has a total of 19 colleges and schools to enter once the applicant is admitted. In these colleges and schools, students can learn about a variety of different subjects including engineering, music and theater, and architecture and urban planning. 40 of their departments are ranked in the top 10 in the United States, and Michigan’s best departments include business, engineering, and marketing.

Outside of academics, Michigan is a fantastic place to live and attend school. The university is located in Ann Arbor, which was recently named the Best College Town in America. Ann Arbor is filled with friendly people and diversity. For the students looking for love, Michigan was ranked sixth best in College Dating Life in 2017. Michigan also provides NCAA Division One college sports in the Big Ten Conference, and they usually finish at the top of their division every season in each sport.

Overall, the University of Michigan is a fantastic school. It offers a great balance between academics, student life, and it has a great overall experience. Ann Arbor is a great place for students to live and provides a fantastic atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else. If you are currently a senior and looking for schools to apply to, you can still apply to Michigan for the Regular Decision deadline by February 1, 2017.