For All Parents
MTU Parents FB group is an unofficial online place for Parents of Michigan Tech students to share, network and gather information. This page is a gathering of frequently asked questions on the site.
Michigan Tech Prayerline A space for prayer requests and praise
Michigan Tech Inspired A group of crafty people who love their black and gold!
Michigan Tech Husky Parents A parents' group to share information and Husky camaraderie
Road conditions in Michigan - Mi Drive
Road conditions in Wisconsin - 511WI
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First Year Parent Info
Planning a visit to campus - https://www.mtu.edu/admissions/visit/plan/index.html
Information for the newly accepted student - Michigan Tech Admissions
What kind of laptop does my engineering student need?
"Tell me about the Aleks Math Placement test, please."
Packing & The Answer to all your Pool Noodle and Dorm Bed Sheet Questions
Information about all undergraduate housing - each dorm includes virtual tours of each room type, and approximate dimensions of the room type.
"Does anyone have dimensions of the dorm room furniture?" Yep, we sure do. :-)
Build a great end-of-bed shelf for the bed in the dorm room using these simple plans
Move-in Day, Orientation, and other good information is found here, including links for even more information
Dorm Dining Service Info - <font color="#0066cc">https://www.mtu.edu/success/orientation/parents-family/diningservices.pdf</font>
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Upperclassman Parent Info
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Important Dates - Reserve hotel rooms early
Preview Day (for incoming students, especially those undecided) - Saturday, March 23, 2024 https://www.mtu.edu/admissions/visit/previewday/
Freshman move in - Friday, August 16 - Saturday, August 17, 2024 http://www.mtu.edu/admissions/life/orientation/ and http://www.mtu.edu/success/orientation/undergraduate/
Returning students move in - Instructions will be emailed out in August, 2023. Students will select a day/time between Sunday, August 20 and Sunday, August 27, 2023. [Will be updated when dates are listed on MTU website https://www.mtu.edu/housing/housingwelcomepage/returning-student-move-in/ ]
Support Pack Weekend (formerly Family Weekend) - October 4-6, 2024 https://www.mtu.edu/success/parents-family/support-pack-weekend/
October Recess- October 17-20 (Thursday through Sunday)
Mid year commencement: December 14, 2024
Winter Carnival - February 6-9, 2024 http://www.mtu.edu/carnival/
Spring Commencement - Friday, April 26, 2024 - Graduate School; Saturday, April 27, 2024 - Undergraduate Students
Career Fair- Tuesday, September 17, 2024 from 12-5pm (class recess from 2pm to 4pm) First year students should attend this, along with activities and events that lead up to Career Fair. (Bring your dress clothes to campus)
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Visiting Houghton
For popular weekends like Move in Weekend, Support Pack Weekend, Winter Carnival and Graduation. It is important to book hotels as early as possible. A year in advance might be required for Winter Carnival and spring graduation weekend.
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Where to Go
Things to do when visiting MTU
Places to visit en route to Houghton
Waterfall hikes - here are a few links: Map of Michigan Waterfalls, Webpage, "Waterfalls of the Keweenaw", Upper Peninsula travel page with waterfall information
Books to read or listen to on the ride
Campus Visits
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Helping your student
Ride Sharing
There is aFacebook group for students only where they can post openings and requests for rides. They must use their "@mtu.edu" email address!
Struggling Students (it will happen)
Suggestions: Student study groups, department's learning center, instructor's office hours, upperclassmen majoring in that subject
**If your student is weak in a subject, have him/her sign up for a recurring appointment in the appropriate learning center at the start of the semester.**
Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
Financing College
Parents are often asking about loan options and what the different types of loans are. Student loans, including those for parents, come in two types: Backed by the Federal government (which I'll call "Federal") and those backed by private banks (which I'll call "private").
Federal loans for students are also called Stafford loans, can be subsidized or unsubsidized, and are paid directly to the student. First-year students are limited to a combination of subsidized or unsubsidized loans that total $5500 for the year. That amount goes up $1,000 each year until reaching $7500, at which point Stafford loans max out regardless. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest at the time of disbursement; unsubsidized loans do. The amount that is subsidized or unsubsidized depends on the parents' FAFSA results.
Another type of Federal loan is called a Plus loan, and these are available to graduate students or parents. The amount an individual is allowed to borrow is limited by the maximum cost of attendance the University provides the Federal government. So if Tech says "Hey it costs $30,000 to attend here," the limit is $30k. Anyone who does not have an account in collections is going to be able to get one of these loans.
Both the Stafford student loans and the Plus parent / graduate loans are backed by the Federal government. As such, they entitle the borrower to certain rights, including income-based repayment, deferment, and forbearance. These are also the student loans that can be "canceled" by the Federal government if the borrower is in a community-service type job.
Private loans do not really have limits on the amount you can borrow, but they do have tighter restrictions on repayment. You would arrange for these through your own bank, or through a company like Discover or SoFi. Typically the interest rate on these loans is higher. Another catch is that they do not offer any of the protections that Federal loans provide, in terms of income-based repayment, deferment, or forbearance.
In *both* cases, whether private or Federal, student loans do *not* go away with bankruptcy like other kinds of debt can. And, if a person is defaulted on student loans, any income tax refund or other Federal money is withheld and applied to that debt. Something to keep in mind.
We have used parent Plus loans to cover what our kids' summer jobs and their Stafford loans have not covered. Some parents use home equity loans which typically have a lower interest rate but they essentially are like having a second mortgage on your house. Federal loans can be consolidated later on, and you don't have to pay anyone to do this. Also, you don't have to pay anyone to get your loans put in deferment or forbearance. Just call the loan service provider.
Recommendations - General
Shipping packages using the economical USPS Regional Rate
Recommendations - Local Businesses
Cell Phones -
May 2019 Update for Cell Service - Coverage has evolved, agreements among actual tower-owning companies and others change market possibilities. Now Sprint and T-Mobile DO claim data service in Houghton, and talk and text other places on the Keweenaw. Verizon still shows the "most" coverage (although their towers are used by other, less costly brands) but a handy map to compare coverages is at https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/lte-comparison-map
Cell phone plans that work in Houghton - Not all cell phone plans work in the U.P.!!! A poll conducted in our FB group in March, 2016 indicated MTU parents overwhelmingly recommend Verizon (65%), with 27% recommending AT&T and the remaining votes were for other service providers like Tracphone, Cricket, etc.
Western Upper Peninsula is serviced by the major cell providers, which cover Houghton and area well. But be aware that either of these services is available for significantly lower cost through other providers brands. In particular, Cricket is a discount brand OWNED by AT&T, so provides the same coverage, and very good deals, particularly for several phone lines on an account. See discussion initiated March 2019 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechParents/permalink/2223824347699198/
Help! My kid left his dorm key at home!!!
Travel information for you and your Student
These parents live near airports Tech students may need to use, and can pick up or drop off, provide a place for rides to coordinate
NEW TAXI Service - 24 Hour Service - 906 Taxi LLC (906) 281-9431
Driving - includes links to Road condition websites & Bridge closure information
Twin Cities <-> Houghton - route advice for driving from the Twin Cities
Tips for the Drive to and from Houghton in the winter
Hotels near "The Bridge" or what to do if you are stuck at the Bridge when it is closed.
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Etc.
