Demographics:
White Female
CA resident
attends large public HS
Intended Major:
Film&TV/writing concentration
Applying to LS&A
GPA
~4.7 (W) 4.0 (UW) Rank: 1/550
Test Score
ACT: 35
2 AP exams: both 5s
1 IB exam so far: 7
Coursework
Full IB Diploma, plus some APs
4 HLs
Awards
some regional writing awards
some school awards, so nothing truly notable
Extracurriculars
4 year JV/Varsity sports (year round)
PT job, 20 hours a week
2 notable community volunteer leadership positions (competitive positions)
a number of writing courses taken outside of school
Essay
strongest part of application. Very happy with the essays. The Why Michigan essay is thoroughly researched and specific to her interests and goals.
Budget
not applying for financial aid
Specifically: D is applying EA and not applying ED anywhere b/c Michigan is her #1 choice. I feel she is a very strong candidate but may get overlooked since she is out of state and Admissions might assume she will not attend, maybe in favor of a UC. She isn’t applying to any UCs even. Is it important to get across that this is her top choice and if so, how?
Does anyone know if Michigan is need-aware for OOS?
And since someone will ask: yes she has safeties. 7 schools total: 4 reaches, 2 likely, 1 safety.
My D18 just graduated from UMich. She had a similar profile to your D, including graduating from a large public HS from the SF Bay Area. She was admitted EA in December 2017.
I’d say your D’s chances are very good, but EA admittance is less than 20% for OOS applicants. And we’ve seen plenty of 4.0’s/1,600’s get deferred and admitted or deferred and rejected. So, her essays will be key and also her HS’s record of yield will also be important.
My D18 loved her time in A2. She didn’t want to leave.
Her HS probably has little to no record of yield. Very few students apply out of state, especially to public OOS. Is it worthwhile or totally wrong to reach out to her admissions rep?
Sure, I would have her reach out to her admissions rep and convey her sincere interest. I think it’s worthwhile. At D’s HS, an admissions rep comes to campus for a visit each admissions cycle and this is an opportune time to share an applicant’s interest in the school.
FWIW, as to a HS’s record of yield, UMich appeared to accept more applicants from “non-feeder” HS’s in the last cycle, but that may have emphasized more for their in-state applicants.
I would suspect your daughter has a good chance of being accepted. I also think it would be a good idea for her to reach out to her admissions rep. She might mention how interested she is in UMich and wanted to know if there was any additional information she could acquire/provide about her high school for the admissions team since her high school doesn’t send many students OOS, or doesn’t have much history with Michigan, or whatever. Basically, a big, “I’m super interested and what can I do to get accepted?” without being quite that obvious.
Thanks, this is exactly the type of advice I was looking for!!! Our schools are so hyper UC-focused its impossible to get any guidance about anything else.
You’re welcome! But that’s just me as a non-college counselor/admissions officer person…I’m just a regular parent! But it sounds as though your daughter has a really good grasp on what Michigan will offer for her, and so she may not necessarily have any questions about UM that the admissions materials don’t cover that she doesn’t already know. I have no clue whether the admissions rep would ask for anything about her high school, but that fact that she would be willing to is a way to signal genuine interest in the college, I would think.
By the way, I didn’t see who was posting this thread originally, and was really impressed by how well the background info it was put together. After I replied, I looked and realized why…you’re a regular!
I suspect that all will turn out well, and I think you know that, too. It’s just the not knowing and the not knowing where they will end up, even though they’re bound to end up at one of the places on the list. Speaking from personal experience, I can acknowledge something mentally while still being very anxious emotionally. Sending you hugs, and wishes for deep breathing and better coping techniques than I have (as my chocolate coping mechanism has negative impacts on my weight).
Michigan takes a lot of students from. California. Everything looks good but they like rigor in her classes. As far as reaching out… Yes and ask to talk to a student in her major and her interest in the school. Applying EA is a must and no reason for her to go RD. There is a Michigan thread that will start to get very busy soon here BTW.
Good Luck.
Have her really work on the essay. It’s a great way to find out about her.