Chance of Getting into UMich

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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Hi! Just wanted some input regarding my chances of getting into UMich. I am currently a Junior in high school and will be applying to UMich class of 2022.

Objective:
SAT I: 1450 (CR/W: 730 M: 720) However, I am taking it again in a week and I am expecting to get around a 1500 (I’ve taken several practice tests and that was my average score.)
ACT: 30 (Not going to send)
SAT II: Yet to take. I am taking Math 2 this upcoming summer.
UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.1
Rank: 5/~170
AP Tests: AP Stats, AP Bio, AP Lang. Haven’t gotten scores back yet. I am positive I got a 5 on Stats. Not too sure about the others. Senior year I will take AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Calc, and AP Physics I, but I will not get my scores back in time to send to colleges.
Junior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Stats, Anatomy, Precalc, AP Lang, MSA Research (basically a research class for a STEM program I am in)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, LINKS (help kids with disabilities learn/make friends), AP Calc, Psych 200 (dual-enrollment through Lansing Community College), AP Lit, AP Physics
Awards: Qualified for round two of Michigan Math Prize Competition, Honor Roll, BPA State qualifier in three events, IDK what else–probably a few more that I can’t think of at the moment.

Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Varsity Tennis (team captain for one year), BPA, Peer2Peer (help kids with disabilities), NHS, Mu Alpha Theta (served as VP for one year), Student Gov
Work Experience: Host at a local restaurant (work 10-15 hours per week)
Volunteer Work: Lots of tutoring (~100 hours), food bank, various other things. Plus, I have recently been helping to refurbish a house that a few adults with special needs will live in and the lady who runs it said she would write me a great college rec letter
Summer Activities: Work. And this upcoming summer I am going to a two-week pre-college program at Harvard (taking a course in Intro to Neuroscience)

Other:
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Intended Major: Pre med, Neuroscience, or Biochemistry
Income Bracket: >250,000

Here’s the catch: Earlier this year (junior year) I was suspended for three days for bringing a vape or “e-cig” to an overnight school event. My counselor told me that it won’t show up on my transcript, but I know the common app asks about suspensions and I plan on answering truthfully. I am going to show that I used this as a sort of “wake-up call” to start making better choices both inside and outside of school.

I know the essays are a very big part as well. I consider myself an exceptional writer, so I am sure I will do well with those. The suspension is what concerns me most and is the primary reason for my writing this. So, with all considered, where do you think I stand? Thanks.

2

Are you in state?

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@EnthrallingEgg Well, your SAT score is already avg and your GPA is above avg for UMich so the only thing really is to write AMAZING essays to explain/counter that suspension. However taking the SAT again could never hurt, but if you get above a 1500 expand you list and aim higher because you have a great application.

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@callogan44 Yes, I am

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@VANDEMORY1342 Thanks for your input! I’m fairly confident I can get at least a 1500. Would you recommend taking the ACT again? I already know I perform better on the SAT, but it would be nice to be able to send a decent ACT score as well.

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@EnthrallingEgg If you want to, and can handle the added stress for studying for it go ahead, however I think its unnecessary. You are instate, study for the SAT some more and really hone in on these essays, you’ll be fine.

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Considering you’re in state I would be surprised if you didn’t get in. The suspension thing is so minor I don’t think it will overshadow all your other accomplishments.

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@callogan44 Would I be better off applying EA or RD?

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@EnthrallingEgg Absolutely apply Early Action because most of the class is filled with EA applicants and it is a sign of your strong interest in Michigan, which Michigan considers important in the selection process. And it’s especially important to apply EA in your case because I believe the suspension will hurt your chances of admisson. I disagree with @callogam44 --the suspension, any suspension, is certainly not minor. I would strongly urge you to contact your guidance counselor (and perhaps also the head of your high school guidance department and/or school principal) to discuss a strategy for how to deal with this. You may want add a separate Note along with your application explaining how you learned and matured from that. Or you may want to reach out (perhaps with your guidance counselor or principal on the phone) to your regional/local UMich Admissions counselor who is in charge of the area where your high school is located, because the local admissons rep is the first reader of the admissons applications. The purpose being to explain what you would say if you wrote the separate Note I suggested above. Michigan is a world class university with over 50,000 applicants this past year for freshman admission. .Many more qualified applicants than the school can admit. Your high school suspension likely will disqualify you immediately from further consideration despite all of your other excellent credentials unless you take extraordinary steps as I suggest above to deal with it.

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There is nothing holding you back from applying EA. If not admitted, you will be deferred to the RD pool anyway. There is not enough data on the new SAT score admission range yet. The mid 50 of 1440-1570 from 2016 entering class is from a rather small sample size and appeared much higher than expected anyway. As an instate student with 4.0/30/1450, your chance should be higher than 50% already (in state admission rate ~45% in average). If you feel your score(s) can be improved, your chance would certainly be higher. At this point, your ACT30 and SAT1450 are within the margin of error. It is fine if you choose to focus on one of the two. For both test, you have at least one more chance before the EA application deadline. If you do submit earlier score(s) before EA deadline, your October test score may also be considered the EA application reviewing process.
Your school suspension may have a negative impact on your application. Try to turn that into “a lesson you’ve learned” to make a bad thing good in your assay.

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Yeah definitely apply EA there isn’t really any downside to doing so.

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@trackmbe3 So without contacting the UMich Admissions Officer, my chances are pretty much shot? Even though this was just a one time thing and a relatively lesser infraction (compared to like physically hurting someone or cheating)? I am already planning on writing an essay explaining how I learned from the situation.

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I don’t agree with it being absolutely necessary to contact an admissions officer. Just talking about the situation as you were initially planning is definitely enough. I wouldn’t say that your chances are shot by any means. Yes, suspension will seem like a negative on your application, but it isn’t the end of your application. From my own school, a kid who got suspended (don’t know how severe) got in , so you should be fine. Just do what billcsho suggested above.

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@EnthrallingEgg In my opinion Michigan has gotten so competitive and selective for admisson that a suspension may have shot your chance. But it ain’t over till it’s over so don’t give up–I just think you should get advice from your guidance counselor (or perhaps whoever you think is most knowledgeable about Michigan admissions in your high school) to seek an opinion on whether addressing it in your essay would be enough or if you should take an additional step of contacting the Michigan admissons representative for your area to discuss your concern and express strong interest.

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U should be fine as long as u are instate resident

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Not sure OP is coming back to read this thread, but 2 out 3 recently suspended students from my D2’s class got accepted in the EA last week.

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The OP got accepted in EA–he is in-state and listed his stats and mentioned his “minor” academic suspension in one of the EA threads.