We watched the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, grow up in the White House. It was amazing! Americans love it when we have presidents young enough to have little kids in the White House. We got to see them as little kids coming into Washington, getting their first dog and going to fancy DC private schools, and then we watched as they grew up into lovely young ladies who were embarrassed by their father’s dad jokes. Malia graduated from high school in 2016, and she announced in her dad’s final year that she would attend Harvard in fall ‘17 after a “gap year.” Sasha wasn’t through with high school when her dad left office, which is why the Obamas stayed in Washington – so Sasha wouldn’t have to switch schools in her final years. And it looks like Sasha will not be following her family’s Ivy League path – Sasha will reportedly attend the University of Michigan.
Former President Barack Obama’s younger daughter, Sasha, is poised to begin her college career at the University of Michigan next week. Sasha, whose legal name is Natasha, was seen by students attending summer freshman orientation and again this week accompanied by men believed to be Secret Service agents.
“I was walking by pushing a vacuum and she walked out right in front of me,” said Zach Lassen, a third-year film student from Redford. “I said, ‘Excuse me.’ It was a crowded hallway with her and some Secret Service dudes.”
Asked what he thought about her on campus, he said some people he worked with were a tad annoyed with the added security. But Lassen added: “It’s pretty cool.”
Another student, an 18-year-old freshman from Southfield who declined to be named, said Wednesday she saw Obama during her student orientation. The woman, who was in UM’s Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the time, said she saw Obama near the university’s undergraduate library. She said they have mutual friends and said she’s just “a normal student to me.”
Sasha Obama is enrolled for classes that start Tuesday, The Detroit News has learned, which puts her on a path different from her family members: attending a public Big Ten university instead of seeking an Ivy League education. Her sister, Malia Obama, took a gap year in 2016 before enrolling at Harvard University, where her parents attended law school. Malia Obama begins her third year at Harvard this fall.
I really love that Sasha isn’t going Ivy League, and that her parents weren’t trying to force her to go to their alma mater. Some kids truly don’t *want* the Harvard or Princeton experience, you know? Some kids would prefer a university experience that suits their personalities more than the Ivy League. Isn’t Madonna’s daughter Lourdes also attending University of Michigan? I’ll look that up…YES, Lourdes already graduated! Lola is already 22 and a Michigan grad. I hope Sasha has a great college experience! Also: send some good vibes to Barack and Michelle, both of their babies are out of the nest.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Agreed. Good for her going where hopefully she wants and good for her parents not pushing. Live your best life!!
Good for her! Although as a 4th generation Ohio State Buckeye…I say boo. Lol.
Love her and her family so only best wishes to her.
As a PSU alumnus I send a good natured boo to both Ohio and Michigan. 😁
In all seriousness, it’s a good school academically if you put the effort in (just like anywhere). Hopefully a bit more low key and less of a fishbowl than Harvard.
As a Badger, a boo to all your houses. : )
And yes, most of the B1G schools are hard AF and I recall someone in my class saying Wisconsin was way harder a university than Harvard after having attended both. I suspect that Michigan et al are the same.
Happy football season!
Boilermaker–boo to all of you and we look forward to losing to everyone in football.
As a U of M alum – booooo to allllll if you! 😂 (#leadersandbest #rahrahrah)
+1 #GoBlue!
O-H!
I converted to the Buckeyes when I got married but I wasn’t a huge football fan before then so I didn’t consider it a great loss. And I LOVE Ohio State. However, Ann Arbor is absolutely gorgeous in the fall-my husband used to live there while his ex did post-grad work, so we went back to visit and it was sooo beautiful walking around campus, going to Zingermann’s, etc.
Boilermaker here too! Nice to see the Big 10 getting to represent…even if it IS Michigan.
UM is one of the “Public Ivies” along with schools like UCLA, UVA, and UNC (my alma mater). It’s a great school and I hope Sasha has a great experience there!
Yeah, it is a great school and it’s definitely not a typical Big 10 school. My son almost chose it but then got intimidated as his qualifications but him very near the bottom of the barrel, lol. He’s at a school that’s a bit less prestigious but feels more much comfortable for him. I know he would have gotten a kick out of being on the same campus as her…he loved imagining what her life was like in the White House when Obama was first elected.
Wishing her the best!
This exactly. U of M is most definitely one of the best schools in the country and extremely prestigious.
I’m a proud Wolverine and am thrilled by this news! It’s a great school, she’ll get a fantastic education, and it’s away from all the Washington political crowd. Good choice, Sasha!
This. 100 percent. I went to Indiana University and spent a summer up in UM while I was doing an internship in Detroit. Was so bummed I hadn’t even considered applying there for college. The campus is gorgeous and it’s a great school. I hope she has a great time!
When I saw the headline my first thought was “isn’t UM one of the best schools in the country?” It’s funny how people think only Ivy league schools are good.
I was reading an article recently that said an Ivy League education isn’t somehow automatically a better quality education, and there were state schools that offered comparable or slightly better educations in whatever fields. The difference is the connections you’ll make for the most part.
Which… it’s not like Sasha Obama needs. She’s going to have connections just from being Sasha Obama automatically – so I’m glad she’s going to the school she wants to, and I hope she has a great time. I genuinely look forward to seeing what both daughters get up to in the years to come.
She looks so much like her mother while Malia looks like her aunt Maya.
Wishing both Obama girls the best in school and life. Next question: now that they don’t have an obvious reason to stay in Washington, DC, will Barack and Michelle stay there, go back to Chicago, divide their time, or what?
They’re buying Wyc Grousbeck (Celtics owner)’s mansion on Martha’s Vineyard. Not clear if they intend to use it year round or just as a summer place.
Probably a summer place, they vacationed there often.
I’d imagine they’ll always have a residence in DC because they are still involved in political things, but maybe won’t spend as much time there now.
I can’t believe Sasha is old enough to go to college! Time flies. I’m glad she’s going where she wants to, and I wish her the best.
Sigh, a spread on Martha’s Vineyard. They deserve all of it and more.
Maybe winter in Hawaii, summer in Martha’s Vineyard and May and October in DC. That would be my ideal!
Great school! Wishing her a wonderful college experience. M Go Blue!
It’s not like U of M is a glorified community college and it is about as hard to get into as an Ivy. One friend turned down an Ivy and another a West Point commission to attend U of M and have never regretted it.
They are both so grown up! I feel old….
It’s a good school. I wish her privacy.
Fine school! She got into Yale, I heard, so it’s not like she didn’t have Ivy options. She clearly made a thoughtful personal choice…good for her. I have very smart vibes from this young woman!!
It’s not like UofM is a run of the mill uni. its definitely up there and on the cusp of being “ivy league” Its such a beautiful school in lovely Ann Arbor , MI. I’m sure she will have a great experience there. So happy she’s coming to the MidWest ! Lucky girl !
Great school and nothing at all to sneeze at. It is a very competitive school to gain acceptance. Good for Sasha. She won’t be disappointed. Go Blue!
Michigan is an excellent school.
Michigan is nothing to sneeze at. Good for her, especially since it seems she made a personal choice and her parents didn’t push for Yale just because it’s Yale. I foresee great things from both Obama girls.
Both my sons are UofM grads as is one DIL, yeah not going to lie, I am giddy, go blue!
I feel she will have more privacy in Ann Arbor than her sister did at Harvard, hopefully!!
It is so cool to know Sasha will be there although I have one at State so I have to chime in with Go Green! My son has teammates who were accepted at U of M but chose State because they offered a lot more money. My other son almost chose U of M and my Sparty was very relieved he didn’t.
I always say that my boys going to UofM is the reason I don’t have beachfront property in Hawaii, out of state at that, ouch, it hurt!! My DIL was in state and she got some nice $$ from the school. Then again I bet the Obamas aren’t really concerned about what $$ the school is giving them, like you and I are.
My state college has a agreement with the state university and community college, where you could take a class there and transfer it over (in case the classes you needed didn’t fit in your schedule there).
I did this once taking a biology class at the state community college, and it was by far the best college class I took – great professor and great content.
Sadly, a lot of professors aren’t that good at teaching.
Yep. My son took a community college calculus class and found a teacher who, (shock) actually stayed in the classroom for the entire period and stayed to talk to students and help them understand the problems. At the state school, one of the calc profs would write a problem on the board and walk out (total of 5 minutes in class, tops). I guess he had research to do.
I wanted one of my kids to go to Michigan. They picked Skidmore and RISD instead. Brats. LOL
I wish the best for her and the empty nest sucks, at least for now, so I can empathize with Michelle.
Both great schools, too, and the size might be a better choice. Both my kids are at huge Big 10 schools and at times the vastness is a liability. It can be harder to find resources when you’re struggling, I think. Which I distinctly remember from my own experience at another large Big 10 university. You really can feel like you’re on your own.
I struggled mightily coming from a large high school pond where I was a big fish and going into the ocean of a Big 10 school. Learning that no one was going to seek you out to make sure you were doing ok and having to find the resources for help on your own was a massive lesson I learned. Nobody cares about you until you make them.
I also learned to go to the library as soon as I got my syllabus and check out every single book on it and just keep renewing until the end of the semester. I saved so much money that way
My spawn are truly exactly where they want to be and I am so proud of them. I went to Skidmore for my undergrad. Loved it. Then I went to UCLA. So so big compared to Skidmore.
Sasha has such a cool vibe!!!
She’s beautiful, as is her sister. I love them!
Between Maddox Jolie-Pitt going to college and Sasha Obama off to Ann Arbor, I have never felt so OLD. MY GOD.
But seriously, thoughts and prayers to Barry O. ’cause we know he’s going to be crying himself to sleep in Sahsa’s bedrooom while MObama takes care of her dear garden, slightly exasperated.
This hit me in the feels. This is the kind of hot mess we need from a president. /Heads off to ugly cry.
Great school and good for her for forging her own path.
Do the Secret Service agents stay in the dorm? Particularly if it’s an all girls’ dorm, that would seem weird and a bit off-putting – especially when you’re getting up in the middle of the night when nature calls.
Now I want to know this answer! I’m assuming she’ll rush a sorority eventually and then do they stay at the house? Perhaps she gets to have a private apartment and is exempted from freshman dorm rules
Sororities aren’t really a thing at Michigan the way they are at other schools.
The secret service agents aren’t hers. They are her parents, and when her parents leave the secret service leave. She aged out of it, and her parents didn’t request more from the current president, I believe, not that Trump would give them, but who knows. My understanding is it has all been fine for her. I live around the DC area, Sasha didn’t have them at her prom. My kid knew Sasha’s prom date, and saw the pictures on instagram. Funny how this just came out, we heard this the beginning of the year.
Now Tiffany Trump does have secret service at Georgetown Law, and my understanding is the school and everyone make accommodations, not generally in the same room though, although she has an apartment. The colleges may not be used to secret service, but some really wealthy kids have bodyguards so I think it’s a case by case basis and what’s comfortable for the kids.
I recall Jenna Bush saying that she was at the University of Texas on 9/11 and she made reference to how her secret service guys rushed her out of there.
Yeah, I remember seeing Chelsea Clinton in Palo Alto when she went to Stanford and her SS detail were dressed like college kids trailing after her, so they didn’t stick out. But her dad was still President then, so she probably had to have them. Hopefully Sasha doesn’t want or need them.
There are female Secret Service agents.
Not disputing that – I would hope that in 2019 it’s open to men and women.
When Sasha was spotted on campus, another student who was vacuuming in the dorm when she was there referred to the agents as “dudes”.
I wish both girls luck and hope they are successful in whatever they end up doing.
Having said that, my country is f….. up in so many ways but I am really glad that children of politicians are completely unknown. I know our president has kids because I heard her refer to herself as a mother but I have no idea about how many or their age or gender.
Michigan is a great school, but if you’re going Big Ten, always and forever go Northwestern. GO CATS!
Let’s be honest, Sasha Obama could have gone anywhere even if she had straight D’s in high school. So she picked Michigan for any number of reasons and I’m so happy that she had all the opportunities to make her own decisions. As the younger child, I have to wonder if she’s just starting to flex her independence a little. She grew up with people constantly telling her where to be/ where to go x10000 w/ secret service, etc., and I bet she can get a little more autonomy and privacy in Michigan.
Congratulations to our darling Sasha. This is wonderful!
Dear Light Purple,
Are you related to the Obama family? I love your insider knowledge of our last real president and his family. You may of course tell me to MMOB, but I adore your posts on this sight. Thank you for sharing with us.
Uhm, no. The news about them buying Wyc Groussbeck’s house on the Vineyard. has been all over the local news.
How have I never known before that her real name is Natasha?!?
What? I didn’t know that either !
Also does anyone know what is Malia studying at Harvard? And what is Sasha going to be studying at U of M?
So glad to hear this!
My daughter says she thinks Malia is studying either Film or History & Literature.
Oh man, America’s Mom and Dad are empty-nesters! He must be a wreck.
You go to a school that works for you. Ivy League, while nice, is overpriced and overrated.
I think Eminem’s daughter graduated from University of Michigan too. I’ve heard its a good school.
Gerald Ford, James Earl Jones, Gilda Radnor, Tom Brady, Christine Lahti, Lucy Liu, Clarence Darrow, Raoul Wallenberg, Iggy Pop, Jessye Norman, and my boss all went there.
Am currently reading Michelle Obama’s book – what an amazing woman she is and I’ve no doubt between her and Barack those kids are going to go places if they’ve inherited half their parent’s brains, focus and compassion.
That book gave me hope during these dark trumpian days.
Good for Sasha!
I get the feeling that, unlike her sister, Sasha isn’t about the ‘glamourous’ life. She seems more down to earth.
Both those girls have a special place in my heart and I pray that they both have happy, healthy and successful lives. Neither one has given their parents or the country a reason to be ashamed of them. The US can be just as proud of them as their parents are.
God bless you Sasha and good luck at school!
GO BLUE!!
Hi Kaiser! Madonna’s daughter transferred (very quietly) out of Michigan several years ago. She is currently finishing up at a different college (one of my kids is in her year there). Everyone at the school seems very chill about her being there, which is great.