The University of Michigan (UMich) in Ann Arbor is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and the world. Founded in 1817, UMich is a prime example of the academic excellence a public institution can attain. The university offers students a wide range of opportunities in which to specialize. Undergraduates receive a grounding in the liberal arts and sciences in immersive, cross-disciplinary programs that encourage classroom participation and research. With the availability of 19 Schools and Colleges and over 275 degree programs and an esteemed faculty, students have the resources and support they need to reach their full potential.
Of course, students aspiring to attend this great university must first get admitted to it. In this post, we present UMich undergraduate admissions information and provide potential applicants with tips that may improve their chances of admission.
Early Action and Regular Decision
UMich has a non-binding Early Action (EA) admissions program with a deadline of November 1st. Each student applying EA receives one of three decisions by late January.
Admit,
Defer a final decision until later, or
Deny admission.
Regular decision applicants have an application deadline of February 1st.
At College Choice Counseling we encourage all of the students we work with who apply to UMich to apply EA unless they have a compelling reason not to.
Some students who are deferred are placed on the waitlist. In 2022-23, 21,078 applicants were offered a position on UMich’s waitlist and 15,076 accepted the position. Only a select few students were later admitted.
Applicant Assessment Process
As with all colleges, the applicant’s GPA and the rigor of the high school curriculum are very important factors in admissions. These factors, together with SAT/ACT scores (if available) are considered. Other factors are also vital to UMich’s holistic admissions process, including essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and strength of character. Additional factors that are taken into account include state of residency, geography (e.g., rural, suburban, urban), community service, and demonstrated interest.
Talents and skills are important for admission to relevant schools, especially performing arts, visual arts, and architecture. For these schools, a demonstration of the student’s talent through an audition or portfolio comprises a significant part of the evaluation for admission.
Supplemental Essays
Responses to essay prompts are also important for admission. Here is the first supplemental essay prompt:
"Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)”
UMich admissions officials seek assurance that applicants want to attend their university. Applicants should consider highlighting their interest in UMich in their response to the second supplemental essay, quoted below:
“Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of UMich. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words /maximum 550 words”)
This essay is an important element in admissions decisions. UMich wants to identify what applicants are likely to gain and contribute if they enroll at UMich.
SAT/ACT Scores
Table A presents scores in the SAT and ACT exams for students enrolled in UMich’s Class of 2027. It’s noteworthy that 79% of applicants submitted test scores even though the university has a test-optional policy. UMich is more accurately described as a “test-recommended” school, and at College Choice Counseling we agree with this description.
Students aspiring to attend UMich should prepare rigorously for either the SAT or ACT and take it early so that it can be taken more than once if the initial score isn’t satisfactory.
Recent Admittees
The best way for high school students to understand the requirements for admission to is to review statistics from the last classes to be admitted.
The average GPA of admittees was 3.9. Applicants to UMich are not required to submit class rank, but it is estimated that about 80% of successful applicants placed in the top 10% of their high school class.
For the Class of 2027, 56% of degree-seeking, first-time, first-year admittees were women (3,964) and 44% were men (3,060).
Source: Common Data Set 2022-23
Students seeking more detailed information about the students admitted in the 2022-23 admissions cycle can enter “University of Michigan Ann Arbor Common Data Set” into an Internet search engine. This database is shared by colleges and rankings publications to assure that a standardized set of data is available for colleges. It is available to the public.
At College Choice Counseling®, our counselors and tutors are here to help you with college counseling, college essay and application help, test prep tutoring, and academic subject tutoring. Reach out … we’ll help you succeed!
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