<p>I live in Ann Arbor and know they have staff who read the essays and this year with the increase in applications, they are swamped! The UM is currently looking to hire someone who will be an admin person for all the documents for students who come from outside the country. More overall applications and more applications from students outside the US. But they do read the essays.</p>
<p>Prediction: many students will get waitlist letters this year, who would have been enrolled last year.</p>