<p>Well, I understand there are probably a lot of people in the same position that I am, but I'll share my story and experiences with Michigan anyway. I applied for freshman admission my senior year to the College of Engineering, and like a fool, thought I would get in with a 26 ACT and 3.75 GPA. I only had 2 AP classes under my belt, and never really stood a chance. Sadly, I didn't realize this until my rejection letter finally came in the mail after being deferred, and then wait-listed. I applied again after my first semester of college, more or less just for fun. Much to my surprise, I actually got a call from them telling me that they were interested and it seemed like they thought my application had potential from what they were telling me on the phone, and to "keep working hard." They basically deferred me again, because I guess their policy is that they don't accept transfers after only one semester. Now I have to send in my grades after this semester, and I'm getting a bit nervous because they aren't as spectacular as last semester (3.8 fall, expecting a 3.6 at least for the winter). Although I did take some harder classes and 17 credit hours this semester, so maybe they'll take that into consideration, and I should have all the engineering prerequisites done in one year by the end of this summer. I've stayed involved, and have done what I could while maintaining good grades at the university i'm at now (Oakland U). Still, I really am starting to doubt my chances at ever getting into this school though, and it just seems like with the whole switch to the common app, it's becoming too competitive for people to even have a chance that aren't the TOP OF THE TOP of applicants. I feel like they are just baiting people to keep applying and making them think they have a chance to get in, when in reality they have no shot. Is this true? I mean does anyone think that Michigan is getting too competitive? I'd like to hear other peoples' thoughts. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Michigan still loves transfers a lot though, but most people just transfer after 2 years in college, or at least 1 year. You’re trying to transfer too quick I think.</p>
<p>Yeah, it’s really not that hard to transfer as a junior - but it’s really, really hard to transfer as a sophomore. Be patient, finish out this year strong, and apply again in January 2012 for junior year admission. As long as you have lots of credits and a pretty good GPA (you should try to bring up your 3.6 a little, it’s not bad but higher GPA is more competitive). </p>
<p>UMich explicitly states that they give preference to junior year transfers, so really, they’re not baiting anyone, or fooling anyone, or doing anything wrong. Don’t try to transfer immediately - listen to what they’re telling you. UMich may have some problems in admissions, but if you just follow what they’re telling you, you should have no problem transferring. </p>
<p>I myself did exactly what you did - deferred/waitlisted/rejected senior year, applied for Winter 2011 transfer -> rejected, applied for Fall 2011 junior transfer -> accepted! I have 56 credits and a 3.75 GPA and I’m in. </p>
<p>Come on, UMich isn’t baiting you or doing anything wrong. Seems like they’re actually being quite encouraging to you.</p>
<p>haha yeah i know thanks iloveumich. It’s just frustrating to wait so long, i’m sure you know what I’m talking about. That’s encouraging though, congratulations! My cumulative GPA should be around a 3.7 by the end of this year. i guess i’ll have to grind out another year at OU. Where did you transfer from? It’s just sad because I feel like my younger years are being thrown away at a place where I don’t want to be. Oakland is a commuter school so it feels like a pricy community college, in my opinion at least. It might have a decent rep but it’s far from an enjoyable experience. There’s really nothing to do besides go to the library and study or go to the gym, honestly. Research opportunities are scarce at best, especially for younger engineering students. I hope this whole transfer thing works out in the end.</p>
<p>I know exactly what you’re talking about, it can be unbearable to have to wait so long to hear back! I transferred from Eastern Michigan University, which as you might know is also commuter-heavy and is basically a community college as well - it sucked, and I hated every second of it, and I was mortified that I was a student there. There was absolutely no social life there either. I feel your pain! It sounds like UMich would be a good fit for you, and a 3.7 is a competitive transfer GPA - but what it really comes down to, as far as I can tell, is credit hours. I don’t know if you’ve been reading it but there’s a University of Michigan transfer thread and your stats would fit right in with most of the other people who’ve been admitted for transfer, including me. Since I applied for sophomore transfer (winter 11) and was rejected, I know how hard it can be/how much it sucks, but I promise, wait it out another semester, apply early next winter, and you’ll probably get your UMich acceptance in February or March - and it’ll make getting through your last semester so much easier. </p>
<p>Oakland is still a pretty good school, and I’m sure it’s no walk in the park, so keep working and I guarantee that UMich transfer will stop seeming so unattainable and mysterious and it’ll start being a reality. Good luck!!</p>
<p>haha yes! your encouragement is music to my ears right now. I haven’t been rejected yet but I can smell one coming after I send in my grades. My buddy had a 3.7 first semester, applied to LSA and got flat out rejected. It’s just tough to keep up a 3.8 when you’re taking 17… especially while you’re trying to stay involved. I wrote some pretty spectacular essays but I really can’t see a reason why they would admit me yet. I’ll hopefully be done with all the prereqs on their website by the end of the summer unless I decide to hold off until the fall. That’s a crazy story though… I’m really glad you got accepted. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t get in by next year. I just can’t take the commuter atmosphere, you know what I’m talking about. Nobody around you gives a rat’s about their grades so it sort of brings you down in terms of competitiveness. I live literally a mile down the road from OU so it makes no economic sense to not live at home, but that gets old after a while.</p>