[Mommy24kids]

Greetings from North Texas,

My son has been accepted to Michigan Technological University. I would love to get feedback regarding the school and surrounding area from some Michigan residents.

Thank you in advance for your input.

[Fripper]

My son loved Michigan Tech, so much so he took a job with them before he even graduated and is still there, some 18 years later. Tech students have a great reputation with businesses because so much of their learning is hands on. They graduate well prepared for the workplace. The professors are very much involved with their students. I remember going up for a visit when my son was still in High School and the head of the department met personally with us. Tech works closely with many major corporations and the government, so again students have the opportunity for hands on and networking before graduation.

Does your son enjoy outdoor activities? The area is great for all winter activities, downhill, X country, telemark skiing. If he is a bicyclist the area around Copper Harbor is being compared to Moab. The UP of Michigan can feel isolated to some and the winters can be long. But for natural beauty it would be hard to top it.

[zthatzmanz28]

If he loves being outdoors, beautiful scenery, history and SNOW, MI-Tech is great. Bring skiis, parkas and a 4 x 4 or pick up a snowmobile once he gets there.

What FUN!!

[ram2]

MTU is the best engineering school in the midwest.

[darstar]

We are proud of our instuations of higher learning., up here in the UP.

[Mommy24kids]

You all are helping to alleviate my fears. My son loves the outdoors, and will enjoy the bike trails, the golf course, and the fishing opportunities, which is one of the reasons MTU is his top choice. I'm afraid however, that he's going to be shocked at the weather. He's lived in Texas all his life.

What about the social life up there? The school is only 25% female. Of course I want him to concentrate on his studies, but it's important to have a healthy social life. Thoughts.................

[zthatzmanz28]

I am pretty sure there are people living there in Houghton as well as students. Once he gets settled there are other cities to vist before the snow reaches the 150 inch mark. Baraga in just a bit south and he can get to the muntains for weekend skiing.
I do not think you need worry about him becoming a eunuch or going into the priesthood for lack of a social life.

[Fripper]

This reminds me of a friends daughter who went to Tech. Her mother would send her restaurant gift cards to use on the weekends, when she went to visit her, there the cards all sat. Daughter never used them as she had a date every weekend.

Yes the ratio is off kilter, but there are plenty of local girls, Finlandia college in Hancock, and a lot of back and forth between Northern MI in Marquette.

[TRlaura]

I'm a Tech grad. Grew up in Maine and decided that MTU was the best fit for me. I absolutely loved it there.
Although not even in the top 25 engineering schools in the US, it is well respected by employers. Towards the end of my senior year in Mechanical Engineering, I wound up with 8 job offers.

Outside of the school itself, there is an endless amount of outdoor activities to pursue. I never even scratched the surface. One thing different about Tech is that it isn' a suitcase college like many other of Michigan's universities.

One way to get better acquainted is to read the weekly updates of the school's newspaper The Lode at Michigan Tech | Student Newspaper.
Check back in later next year and let us know how he is working out. And he will also find plenty of fellow Texans there...

[ram2]

Originally Posted by TRlaura

Although not even in the top 25 engineering schools in the US, it is well respected by employers.

It is for materials science/metallurgical engineering. MTU's grad school in MET is full of students from all over the world. They would not go to an isolated corner of northern Michigan if it weren't top notch.