Making the most of everything you have at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as an International Student by Collins Izuchukwu Chimezie

 Making the most of everything you have at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as an International Student

By 

     Collins Izuchukwu Chimezie

Summer Orientation Peer Advisor

Graduate Student

Nigeria

Arriving at the University of Michigan as an international student is a mix of excitement, curiosity, and overwhelming experiences. You complete your onboarding, attend International Center orientation sessions, and feel ready to begin your academic journey. 

Then Festifall happens: you’re in the Diag, making ward rounds through hundreds of student organizations, with bright banners, enthusiastic students, and free shirts, pens, and stickers lined up on tables set up everywhere. You sign up for more student organizations (i.e., there are about 56 international student organizations at the University of Michigan, not even counting general ones) than you can remember. It feels like the whole campus is inviting you in. 

Then classes begin. You open your syllabi, scroll through Canvas, and discover a long list of academic resources. You feel excited again. But later, while scrolling through social media, you see posts from friends studying abroad or at other universities in the US. Their universities seem to have bigger labs, shiny facilities, and endless opportunities. And just like that, doubt creeps in.

You ask yourself; Do we have enough here? Am I missing out? Should I have chosen another University?  

But here’s the truth I have been reflecting on: It’s not about what you don’t have. It’s about what you do have and how intentionally you maximize it. 

UMich is a “climate for success”. It possesses immense academic, artistic, and cultural resources that can propel you forward when you engage with them fully. Whether your goals are scientific, artistic, personal growth, or simply finding a home away from home, UMich and Ann Arbor have more than enough to help you flourish. 

Academic Success: A Landscape Richer Than You Think

If you’re a scientist, from the perspective of a drug discovery, biotech, or venture capitalist, the University of Michigan is one of the best places to be. 

• Michigan Drug Discovery (MDD) supports early‑stage drug discovery projects

• Innovation Partnerships helps turn your scientific ideas into real‑world products, guiding you on patents, licensing, and commercialization.

• Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) helps provide training, funding, and mentorship for biomedical innovators.

• Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund (MBVF) invests in early‑stage startups emerging from UMich research.

• Nucleate and MiLEAD are student-led hubs that help connect students with biotech companies and consulting firms. 

• Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society (MIDAS)- helps students navigate using AI to solve societal problems

In 2025 alone, the University of Michigan helped launch 25 new startup companies. Beyond campus, MichBio serves as Michigan’s biotech hub, hosting conferences, workshops, and networking events that connect students with industry leaders. UMich helped launch HistoSonics, a biomedical tech that uses sound waves to kill cancer cells. This is just one of the few stories that are talked about in academic spaces. 

Finding New Hobbies 

Many international students arrive wanting to explore hobbies they may have never had the chance to try back home. Ann Arbor is perfect for that.

• UMich Kinesiology Community Program (KCP) offers beginner classes for swimming, golf, tennis, and other sports. I’m currently enjoying my summer KCP swimming classes, and it’s been one of the most refreshing parts of my week. They are usually low-stakes, and you meet people with no knowledge of the sport, so you feel relaxed learning with others. 

• Running clubs meet throughout the year. Or, if you enjoy solo runs, I usually run in early fall and late spring when the weather is perfect. 

• The university has multiple gyms: Central Campus, North Campus, and even smaller fitness spaces in academic buildings such as NCRC for folks whose labs are in the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC)

• Ann Arbor is home to one of the best orchestras in the country (the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra), and UMich has a Life Sciences Orchestra for lovers of classical music. 

• The University Musical Society hosts live music and concerts. Pss: when in doubt, just visit the Hill Auditorium

• Hiking trails and Nature, especially the Nichols Arboretum, Argo Park, Gallup Park  

• Taiji masters teach classes around town, including at Washtenaw Community College. I went to a Taiji performance festival held at Novi last fall 2025. 

Arts

• The Museum of Natural History features dinosaur exhibits, a planetarium, and some anatomical displays, which I enjoyed seeing when I first arrived at Umich.

• Other museums like the Museum of Art showcase global cultures; I once visited an exhibition on African dining traditions that felt like home.

• The African Studies Center, as well as the Department of Afro-American and African Studies, regularly hosts scholars from across Africa and the African diaspora, sharing research, culture, and community.

• The English Language Institute offers a host of learning opportunities to help international students navigate culture shock and other challenges. I particularly enjoyed their sessions on improving pronunciation. 

If you’re seeking cultural spaces, these spaces offer comfort and a sense of connection with folks from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

Life Outside School or Lab

From a personal perspective, Ann Arbor is more than a college town; it’s a vibrant community.

• Ann Arbor Art Fair (held annually in July) is one of the largest art fairs in the country.

• Ann Arbor Summer Festival (held annually in June) brings music, performances, and family‑friendly events.

• Spring brings half‑marathons and full marathons for people who love running.

• The annual African American Downtown Festival celebrates culture, history, and community.

These experiences help you build a life beyond academics, a life that feels whole.

UMich, Ann Arbor, as a Home Away From Home

As an international student, finding a place away from home is essential. Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan can be that place.

You may have limited years here as an international student. Use them fully. Grow with what you have. Let it propel you toward what you want to be and where you want to be tomorrow. 

Because in the end, maximizing your time at UMich may not be about having everything, but about making the most of everything you have.