Parents and Families

Upon being accepted to the University of Michigan, one of the first questions prospective students are asked is, "What are you going to major in?" The pressure is on instantly to make, what seems to be, that all-important decision.

The job market is improving, evidenced by more employers on campus, including many who had previously taken a recruiting hiatus.  The opportunities for Michigan students are many, and they come with high expectations from employers about what a Michigan student will bring as a new employee.

Employers who recruit at U-M want to know that students have succeeded academically as well as how they have taken advantage of the richness the university has to offer.  Just attending classes won’t compel an employer’s interest.

Are you able to do what you do best every day? Many U-M student employees in Student Life, including over 500 in University Unions, get to participate in an online assessment called StrengthsQuest as part of their annual training. By identifying natural strengths, students can choose where to invest their energy to get the greatest return. And StrengthsQuest is just one of several helpful training programs that University Unions offers to student employees. 

Spring Break, Honors Convocation, and Commencement activities are  some of the upcoming events you'll want to put on your calendar. We've also gathered a variety of academic calendars and holidays to help you stay in touch!

Does your student know how to live within a budget?  How can students and parents best communicate about money? And how much money does it really take to live in Ann Arbor?  

Last newsletter, we invited parents to share tips and advice with other parents about Thanksgiving break. Here’s how other families manage this first break in the school year.  Read on, and enjoy your time with your student this month!

What off-campus housing neighborhoods might your student be considering for next year? German Town?  The Old West Side?  North Ingalls?  Do they know who they want as housemates, roommates, neighbors and friends?  How will they stay connected after leaving the tight community of the residence halls?

Natasha Dabrowski is a member of the Vice President's Advisory Board.  Natasha says her experience “has given so much more meaning to what I am passionate about – making lasting improvements to better the lives of others in some way.”

Much of what we do in Student Life is to facilitate opportunities for students to grow and thrive in the U-M community.  Like you, we also want our students to avoid "life-altering mistakes" that can be harmful to them, diminish their success in college and beyond, and can weigh upon them personally for a long time.  When there are mistakes and mishaps in their living or academic experiences, we are prepared to guide them through the conflict.

Regardless of how students maintain their physical activity level during the winter, it's important for body and mind that they do. Hibernation is not an option.