Not knowing what to expect from an actual graduate school interview process I decided that Preview would be a great chance for me to practice communicating my research to faculty members. Little did I know that some of the same faculty members that I had practiced with would actually be interviewing me a year later! My weekend at Preview helped me a great deal when it came time to make the decision to attend U-M. It just made everything for me less stressful, and as a result I was very comfortable and able to be myself during the actual interview weekend. I would highly recommend that everyone planning to attend graduate school in the near future attend Preview, even if you think you have your mind set on attending another institution.

The professors and students were very open, honest, and friendly. I asked any question that I could think of, regarding any topic of interest. The experience was great. Interviews were interviews, as they should have been, but they were less intimidating and more personal. Attending the Preview event was a great choice and I highly recommend it. My favorite part was getting to know the type of people that were considering UM and the caliber of people UM was considering. There is no better way to get a sneak peak at your possible future colleagues than the Preview event.

I really believe that Preview weekend provided me with tools toward reaching my goal. It made me discover new interesting research areas, helped me meet and interact with Faculty from different research departments and most important, it made me feel like I could be part of this university.

Preview was very informal and provided me with plenty of information regarding Michigan, graduate student lifestyle, and my research options at the university through interviews with potential rotation investigators. The diversity of the graduate students and friendly nature of their faculty was reason enough to follow through with an application and eventually make it my choice for graduate school.

I was able to meet fellow applying students and faculty that continued to stay in contact with me throughout the application process. The Preview showed me that the University of Michigan and particularly PIBS had an interest in me, the student, and would be there to support me throughout my graduate career and beyond. PIBS had great appeal on paper and meeting the people behind the program made it even more appealing. I not only learned a lot but also had fun. My favorite parts of the weekend were speaking with faculty and going out as a group and getting to know one another. After the weekend I knew without a doubt that I was going to apply to the University of Michigan. When I visited other schools after the Preview weekend, I could not help but compare the schools to Michigan, and every time Michigan won the comparison. I strongly recommend applying to the Preview weekend, PIBS, and the University of Michigan. It is a decision that you will not regret.

The Preview weekend changed that. The faculty and students I met were friendly, able (and eager) to answer any questions, and genuinely happy to be part of the program. The school’s atmosphere was a unique mix of laid-back interpersonal relations and fiercely driven research. The program, despite its sheer size, felt intensely personal and, at every turn, I saw how the University of Michigan makes supporting its students a top priority. Finally, something that set the school apart was its encouragement (almost an insistence) that you try something new during your first year as a PIBS student as a former English major, I'm well aware that your interests can shift. It's refreshing to see a top-tier program encouraging you to step outside your academic comfort zone, particularly at this stage of your career. After the Preview weekend, I had to apply. After the interview (and an offer of admission), I had to accept: the program, and the people, were simply too good to pass up.

I felt the University really wanted to impress us and also instill in the visit that the University of Michigan has great things to offer. I left the Preview weekend with a feeling that if I attended this institution I would be well supported socially, academically, and financially. The University of Michigan's Preview weekend set the bar for other programs I visited later and none compared, hence, is why I decided to attend.

After those three days in Ann Arbor, all other schools had their work cut out for them. It was inspiring to see an academic program so intent on helping under-represented students through their graduate careers. I am here in large part due to the people that I met, the conversations I was afforded, and the general atmosphere I experienced during Preview weekend. I highly recommend it.

The faculty mentors were very warm and welcoming. The graduate student hosts were friendly and relaxed. They were able to answer all the questions I had in regards to pursing a doctoral degree and some of the issues that under-represented minority women faced in the sciences. The graduate student panel, information sessions/poster session, and mock interviews gave me an opportunity to view graduate school as an opportunity to receive a top tier graduate training from am Amazing institution that values collaboration. After my experience at Preview weekend , I was encouraged to apply to University of Michigan for graduate school. There are several reasons why I ultimately decided to attend University of Michigan for graduate school.

One key reason was the interdisciplinary and cross-collaborative departments that are prevalent throughout the University of Michigan. Another reason is the encouragement that I received from the staff and faculty at PIBS once I arrived home. They made me feel like I was part of a family. The professors I interacted with during Preview weekend frequently touched base with me to check if I had any other questions or if I needed to connect with a particular professor that was not at Preview weekend . This support and the warm family environment that I experienced at PREVIW weekend ultimately re-affirmed my decision to pursue a doctoral degree at University of Michigan. I strongly recommend attending Preview weekend because it not only gives you an opportunity to experience this beautiful campus, it will also give you a chance to interact with an amazing faculty from over [14] different PhD programs.