Blog

Although I grew up in the Midwest and visited Ann Arbor and campus several times, the first time I remember really experiencing campus and picturing myself attending as a student was April 19, 2024: my Campus Day. The day may seem nerve-wracking at first glance — meeting new people, eating at a dining hall, seeing campus in person — but for me it ended up being an incredible day with my family that solidified my decision in becoming a Wolverine.

Resources, Financial Aid, and Housing 

In the morning stint of Campus Day, students check in at the Michigan Union and are welcome to walk around the Financial Aid and Michigan Learning Community Fair. You will attend presentations and are able to ask questions about resources and housing. I remember hearing from students and staff alike about different opportunities and resources on campus and filling up my tote bag with information sheets. At the fair, I enjoyed having the opportunity to speak one on one about life at the university and options for getting involved that I may not have known about otherwise.

My parents also appreciated hearing about opportunities for parent involvement and resources designed specifically for them. After the fair, my parents and I attended a general information presentation, which answered our many questions about financial aid, university information and resources for students, and first-year housing. After months of looking at websites and brochures, Campus Day was truly a chance to see this information in action and in person, and talk to faculty and staff who were ready to help.

Campus Tour and Lunch

After the presentation, we were led on a tour around campus and had lunch at a dining hall. The tour was especially useful because, as someone who had been to campus buildings before, it gave me a new perspective on what it would look like to attend the University of Michigan. Being on campus during the school year while students were going to and from class, seeing libraries, and finding common student areas was so informative and provided a better image of student spaces that I would be navigating on a day-to-day basis. Pictures of campus can only do so much, and being in the environment and feeling the atmosphere of the school really solidified the fact that U-M was the right choice for me.

Ingrained in the tour is lunch in one of the dining halls on campus. As a student who was particularly nervous about the on-campus dining hall experience, I enjoyed walking around and seeing the different food options available on a regular weekday and eating among other potential students and their families. Remember, Campus Day is also your first chance to begin to create your network at the university. I still know students who I entered my first year with from opportunities like Campus Day and orientation, and these connections are so valuable to have before your move-in day.

Academics

After the morning portion, students are broken off into groups based on their admitted college. For me, this was a presentation with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. (LSA) This presentation was encouraging for me because, as the biggest college at the university, it truly opened my eyes to the different opportunities I had within LSA and the many programs and resources available to me. Especially as a student who was not certain what I wanted to study, hearing about all of our options and the many majors/minors within LSA and being surrounded by students who were thinking and feeling the same was a great comfort.

Conclusion

Campus Day is an important step for students, and I absolutely recommend it for any potential first-years who may not be 100% decided on their attendance at the university or who may want more info and to get an impression of the campus atmosphere for the first time as an admitted student. It became integral to my decision, not only due to the plethora of information about resources and academics and meeting fellow admitted students, but also because of the opportunity to picture myself attending the University of Michigan.