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Have you heard of the Residential College? The RC is an amazing community full of engaged, academically curious and socially aware students! To set the record straight, here are eight myths about the RC (and the real truths):

“I can’t study STEM in the RC.”

RC students can pursue any major and any minor available to LSA students. In other words, you’ll find RC students studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN), Science, Technology, and Society (STS), Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (EEB), and everything in between!

“I’ll be isolated from the rest of campus if I join the RC.”

RC students march in the Michigan Marching Band, hold positions on LSA Student Government, lead campus-wide volunteer organizations, and present their research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). RC students are true Michigan Wolverines and are active members of their campus community.

“I have to be artsy to be in the RC.”

Artistic ability is not required nor expected of any student interested in joining the RC. Residential College students are best described as creative – creative problem solvers when analyzing inequities in the criminal justice system, creative activists who consider new ways of organizing, and creative academics who take hold of their academic path and challenge themselves to learn new skills, new languages, and new ways of looking at the world.

“I can’t do Honors and join the RC.”

Interested students can pursue enrollment in both the RC and Honors College. These students are often eager for academic challenge and seek out ways to foster their best self while at Michigan. RC-Honors students receive both an RC and an Honors Academic Advisor who will guide them to success at Michigan and beyond.

“All RC students are language majors.”

The strong language curriculum within the RC is an asset to every degree earned by RC students. While the majority of RC students do not pursue a language-focused degree, many apply their language skills through studying, interning, researching, or volunteering abroad.

“I’m not a typical RC student.”

RC students come from all over the U.S. and the world, pursue a broad range of academic studies, and enter diverse career paths. In other words, there is no “typical” RC student. Within this diversity, the community tends to share similar values of global curiosity, social justice, and academic independence.

“The RC is a lot of extra academic work.”

The RC strives to support students in their goals to major, double major, or even double minor and graduate on schedule. The majority of RC requirements replace existing LSA requirements, rather than adding additional coursework.

“RC Arts courses are only available to Arts Majors.”

Any student can enroll in an RC Arts course, regardless of major, and in many cases, with no experience! If you have an interest in dark room photography, ceramics, or printmaking, you can try it out! And, if you want to continue a skill in college but not make it your major, consider enrolling in Chamber Music, Drawing, or Creative Writing!

Want to know a little more? Here are the top ten reasons why you should apply and become an RC student yourself! Have questions about the RC? Reach out to Logan Corey, RC admissions & recruitment coordinator and RC alumna [email protected] (734) 647-4361 (opt.1).