Based on my previous post, someone wrote me a personal message asking more about Michigan. I thought I'd add it here in case others are interested. Let me know if you have questions, anybody.
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On the post I wrote that the coursework wasn't "extraordinarily time-consuming." I chose those words carefully because it was definitely still tough -- I spent most evenings doing at least some homework and periodically had to do some all-night study sessions -- but my impression is that other programs are pretty similar. It's hard to put it in terms of hours-per-week... I found that if your study sessions are focused and productive, you have a good amount of down time in the evenings. But if you're unfocused and lazy, studying could eat up all of your free time.
You should be aware that Michigan is heavy on statistics compared to other schools. Something you'll find out pretty quickly is that most of the Michigan curriculum is based on the SAS programming language. If you want to be successful at Michigan, learn SAS early and well. Also, take advantage of the 12 credits they give you to study at other professional schools. That's a pretty unique part of Michigan's program. I used them to get an Environmental Justice certificate at the School of Natural Resources and Environment.
After exploring several options for a capstone project (the school makes them easy to find), it turned out that working with my adviser was best. As part of the International Health program, I did research on dengue fever in rural Ecuador. It was pretty incredible to do door-to-door surveys at over 200 households in a very poor area. I checked all water containers in and around the home for mosquito larvae, then grew them up in a lab and identified the species under a microscope. I then analyzed the data to understand why the mosquitoes that carry dengue (Aedes aegypti) were found at some houses and not others. Pretty cool. Michigan advertises that funding is guaranteed for capstone projects, but that wasn't true for me. I paid for my own flights to Ecuador and didn't get a stipend, although food and lodging was taken care of once I arrived.
To answer a question specifically, your adviser is assigned to you when you arrive. There's no "speed dating" process or anything; the match is based on your application materials.
The atmosphere in Ann Arbor is really great for students. The university is by far the biggest thing going on in the city, so the shops and restaurants really cater to student culture. I usually went to State Street to study at coffee shops and get lunch, and that's a 10-minute walk from SPH. There's a proper downtown area on Main Street for fancier restaurants and shopping, but it's a longer walk. Also, if you're into live music, The Ark is a great place for live shows, usually acoustic.