Interview with Phoebe Clark – University of Michigan

Interviewer: Okay! So today we have Phoebe Clark joining us from the University of Michigan. Super excited to have you. Thanks so much for making time. You’re an econ major, you’re focused on business as well, and it looks like you’ll be getting some experience at KPMG soon. Also, I think you’re originally from Massachusetts—is that right?

Phoebe: Yeah, I’m from Wellesley, so just a little bit outside the city.

Interviewer: Very cool—Wellesley, Mass. to the University of Michigan. I start with the same question every single time: how did you end up at Michigan?

Phoebe: Yeah, sure. So honestly, it was always kind of on my radar—my mom went to grad school there. And I knew right off the bat, coming from a smaller hometown, I really wanted to branch out. Michigan is obviously a big school, and it just had all the resources I was looking for. The work-hard, play-hard culture really stood out to me—everyone seemed super driven. Even when I toured, just walking around campus, I could feel the energy. Academics have always been important to me, but I also wanted that school spirit, great sports, and a strong social scene. Michigan just checked all the boxes. Right when I toured, I knew it was where I wanted to go. No other school really hit all those points, so it was a pretty easy decision.

Interviewer: Yeah, that makes sense. Was location a big factor for you? Did you look all over the country or mostly in New England?

Phoebe: I definitely wanted to be somewhat accessible to home, so I didn’t look at schools in California or anything like that. Michigan is only about a 90-minute flight to Boston, which is super convenient—even in case of an emergency. I did apply to a few New England schools, but I really wanted to branch out. That’s all I’d ever known. Michigan has people from everywhere—one of my best friends is actually from Peru! If I had stayed in New England, I think it would’ve felt more like high school.

Interviewer: Yeah, location, size, culture—all huge factors. Sounds like your mom’s connection helped too. I was actually on campus recently for recruiting and remember seeing the big block M when I arrived. It’s definitely a presence. So once you made that decision, what was your application process like? Did your high school support you with that?

Phoebe: I had an advisor in high school, but I wouldn’t say they were super helpful in the application process. I did a lot of it on my own. My parents were really supportive, and having my mom’s perspective on Michigan was helpful—she gave me some insights that I could bring into my essays. But yeah, coming from a public school, we didn’t have the same level of support that private schools might. Still, overall, it wasn’t a terrible experience—definitely stressful, but it all worked out.

Interviewer: And you can be proud of handling so much of it yourself—that’s awesome. So, you get accepted, which is amazing. Remind me, what year are you now?

Phoebe: I’m a junior.

Interviewer: So you’re wrapping up your third year. What was it like transitioning from Massachusetts to campus life in Michigan? Was there a big culture shift?

Phoebe: Yeah, for sure. More than I expected, honestly. I came from a small town, and Michigan is such a big school. I had only been to campus once before moving in, and I got placed in a dorm on North Campus, which is a bus ride away from Central Campus where most of the action is. That was a challenge at first—it felt a little isolating. But what really helped was connecting with people in my dorm. Building that community early on was so important. Some of those people are still my best friends today—we’re actually abroad together now. So yeah, it ended up being great, but the adjustment period was definitely real.

Interviewer: That makes sense. Just to clarify—are there only two campuses?

Phoebe: Yeah, there’s Central Campus and North Campus. North is mostly for engineering students. I didn’t have any classes there, so it was kind of inconvenient. But we had a dining hall, a gym, a library—so it wasn’t like we were in the middle of nowhere. By the end of the year, I actually loved it. It was a nice break from the chaos of Central. We always joke about the bus rides and how that experience brought us closer.

Interviewer: That’s cool. So after settling in, what else did you do to build community and meet people?

Phoebe: I tried to get involved in extracurriculars. I actually came in pre-med, but after freshman year, I realized that path wasn’t for me. So I switched to econ and felt a little behind at first. I joined a few econ clubs, including the Society of Women in Economics and an investing committee through the econ department. I also joined a social sorority second semester freshman year, which helped me meet a lot of people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Having those different groups definitely helped make such a big school feel smaller.

Interviewer: And just for clarification—“social sorority” is traditional Greek life?

Phoebe: Yeah, exactly. At Michigan, we also have professional fraternities, so we tend to call traditional Greek life “social” just to distinguish between the two.

Interviewer: Got it. So, outside of class and clubs, are there any go-to hangout spots on or off campus?

Phoebe: For studying, we go to the business school a lot. It’s really nice, and it was close to where I lived sophomore year. Then there’s a place called Argus—we go there a lot too. It’s a little more social but has a basement where we study. Especially when the weather’s nice, it’s great to just walk over there and make studying a little more enjoyable.

Interviewer: Love it. What about the social scene—do underclassmen stay more on campus and upperclassmen go off?

Phoebe: Yeah, I’d say underclassmen are mostly on campus. Then by junior and senior year, more people live in off-campus houses, so things start to shift. And once you’re 21, the bar scene downtown becomes more of a thing. Ann Arbor has some great restaurants too—lots of exploring to do.

Interviewer: Totally. So let’s shift to curriculum for a second. You landed on econ—how’s that been?

Phoebe: It’s been really good! I had zero experience with econ in high school. I started pre-med, but I found that lab work just wasn’t for me. I took Econ 101 and loved it. I’ve always liked math, and I enjoyed how econ models real-world situations. Michigan offers a lot of cool econ electives. I also added a business minor, which has been amazing. One of my favorite classes was Marketing Management—it was completely new to me, but I really loved it and could see myself applying what I learned in a future career.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. Michigan’s a big school—what’s the classroom experience like? Is it all massive lectures?

Phoebe: For the core econ classes, like 101 and 102, yeah—you’re in big lectures with 300–400 students. But then you have smaller discussion sections with around 25 people, led by a grad student. That’s where it feels more personal. As far as professors go, it really depends on how much you put yourself out there. They’re super willing to help, but you’ve got to advocate for yourself. Even just introducing yourself at the end of a lecture helps. Putting a face to a name goes a long way.

Interviewer: Totally. Especially at a big school, it’s important to take initiative. So, how do you stay organized with everything you’re involved in?

Phoebe: Freshman year, I struggled a bit. In high school, your whole day is structured. In college, you might only have a few classes a day, so managing free time is harder than it sounds. Google Calendar became my best friend—I use it every day now. At the beginning of each semester, I also make a spreadsheet with all my assignments, which helps me plan ahead. That way, if I want to go to a football game or do something social, I can see what’s coming and work ahead. I’ve learned that balance is key. If I don’t give myself time to recharge, I’m not productive anyway.

Interviewer: Yeah, I totally get that. So now let’s move into the professional side—you’ve got a KPMG internship coming up. What’s your experience with internships so far?

Phoebe: Last fall, I did a remote, unpaid internship in strategic communications during the school year. It was my first real internship, and definitely a challenge to balance with classes, but I learned a lot. The summer before that, I did the Tuck Business Bridge program, which was amazing. I took business classes I wouldn’t have had exposure to otherwise and made some great connections. That program really helped build skills I think will serve me well long term.

Interviewer: That’s so good. You’ve got this awesome combo of academics, work experience, and campus involvement. If you could give one piece of advice to a student who’s just now thinking about Michigan, what would it be?

Phoebe: I’d say just be proactive. At a big school like Michigan, there are so many opportunities—but they’re not going to fall into your lap. Whether it’s internships, clubs, classes, or relationships with professors, you’ve got to go after it. That said, once you find your people and get into your groove, it’s so worth it. Michigan is an amazing place—you just have to put yourself out there and take advantage of everything it offers.

Interviewer: This has been awesome, Phoebe. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. I know this kind of insight is super valuable for students figuring out where they want to go and what kind of college experience they’re looking for.

Phoebe: Of course—thank you for having me! I’m always happy to talk about Michigan. It’s been such a great place for me, and if I can help even one person feel more confident in their decision, that’s totally worth it.