Chances and some additional questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>I am just wondering, percentage wise, what do you think the chances are that I will be accepted next year? I am planning on going into economics and I live just outside of St. Paul. I really, really want to go to UMich, but I am not sure if I will get in or not. Aside from chances though, I have a few specific questions I would like answered.</p>

<p>-How easy is it to get financial aid for an OOS student. Michigan is far and away my top choice and I feel the experiences and education I could get there in four years would be unbelievable. But the OOS tuition is really high and I wouldn't be able to afford it, especially when I could go to Madison for instate tuition.
-Will not having many AP's hurt me. I only have one of the four my school offers.
-Is it true that freshman GPA does not get factored in? Do they view the classes I took in freshman year? If so, my GPA would be 10 or so points higher than what I have listed.
-Does not being in the top ten percent of my graduating class hurt my chances. I have an almost perfect GPA with only one B in 10th grade, two in 9th, and none so far as a junior, but my school is very competitive and those B's, along with a lack of some AP's, are enough to bump me out of the top 10%.</p>

<p>Thanks, and here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.92 W 3.85 UW
RANK: 32/216 (Top 14%)
ACT:32
-English: 35
-Math: 31
-Reading: 33
-Science: 30
-Writing: 10</p>

<p>Have a number of honors classes, but not the hardest possible schedule. Only will take one AP, American History which I will take the test on in a few weeks.</p>

<p>My EC's are Weak Though:</p>

<p>-High School Golf Team (10-12)
-MN Junior PGA (9,11,12)
-Work at UMN Gopher Hockey Game Concession Stands to help pay for high school tuition. (9-12)
-Caddy at Country Club (9-11)
-Work as a Baseball Umpire at nights (11,12)
-MN Gopher State Traveling Baseball (9, 10)
-Peer Tutoring (11,12)
-Church Service Trip to help restore homes in N Carolina (11)
-Other various awards like academic letter, student of the month, bronze service award, etc...</p>

<p>I might get another summer job on weekends at Domino's or something to help save up for college.</p>

<p>Anyways, do you think I have a good shot at getting in?</p>

2

<p>Also, would raising my ACT to a 33 or 34 make any difference in getting admitted/getting merit aid? I will be going into the Liberal Arts School (or whatever it is called) for economics.</p>

3

<p>If you apply early you have a very good shot of getting in. If I were you, I would mention that you’ve taken all the AP classes that your schools offers. Also, U of M gives VERY little financial aid for out of state students. Just giving you the heads up.</p>

4

<p>Yea, I’ve heard that. </p>

<p>But I don’t think you read my post correctly cause I haven’t taken all the AP’s offered- that’s the problem. I transfered into my high school from another school which had a different sequence of courses and therefore I didn’t have all the prerequisites to get into the most advanced tracks in english and math at my current school.</p>

5

<p>Either way, I would just provide an explanation. You have a solid courseload and it’s not like you were taking blow off classes. On top of that, U of M isn’t an ivy league school so they’re not counting out students because they haven’t taken 8-12 AP classes. Whether you get in will also depend on what your intended major is as well. Finally, it can’t be said enough times, APPLY EARLY. If you’re like me, you’ll have to rule out U of M very early because of its extremely high cost for out of state students. It was the most expensive school I applied to. You should apply for multiple scholarships. If you have any more questions you can PM me. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>Thanks alot.</p>

7

<p>RP It’s also worth noting that your need-based aid will depend on your EFC – so if your stats are strong (which yours are) and you are on the “high admit list” the generosity factor increases if you have high need because Mi does have grant programs to make attendance possible for highly desired candidates. Although it is rare, I have seen the odd poster who ended up with preferential aid that equalized it to about the same cost as in-state through $20-25k or more in grants. Two that I can think of had EFC’s between zero and $6k, and were left with about $5500 in loans, $2500 in work study, and then maybe a little additional gap (eg. up to $5k…). Now, with your stats, U of M is unlikely to beat your instate flagship in terms of generosity. Just know that it is possible – you may wish to check your efc (you can use a calculator on U of M site, it is a FAFSA and CSS school, so the EFC they calculate for you is a hybrid of federal and institutional methodology). </p>

<p>The OOS students who seem to have the hardest time financing are usually the ones who are not eligible for much aid – families with EFCs $15 or $20, for example – or ones who are deferred, waitlisted, not Early Response. U of M also makes abundantly clear it is NOT a “100% meets need” school for OOS – as you’ve heard.</p>

<p>Awesome reccs and essays will help your plight as well. If you “score” really highly with admissions, there are $10 k merit awards, plus the more selective/competitive Shipman scholarship that for LSA can be full ride. If you’ve ever participated in a TRIO or Upward Bound type of program in an urban school, you might be eligible for the Michigan Experience award of $10k.</p>

<p>Last but not least, make sure U of M KNOWS that its your first choice, and include a letter telling them why you’re a mutual fit – including the contribution you expect to make to the campus community.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful. Good luck!
Keep staying ahead of the curve.
Cheers,
K</p>

<p>PS – My s. had a similar issue re: AP and it did not, in the end, affect him, but there were a number of other mitigating factors including the strength of the school program he was in. He also (since all his school kids are gifted/talented/motivated) had the same rank issue, which ALSO did not affect him in the end. He was also a merit award recipient. This is why I want you to know that it is do-able. Just compensate and be very clear about what you have to offer; why your course selection was as it was; and what sets you apart!</p>

8

<p>Thank You very much. I sound like I am in a very similar situation as your son. Anyways, I will definitely follow your advice about letting them know it is definitely my first choice and will apply before school on the first day possible. I could right fifty pages on why I would be a perfect fit at UMich, so I think I can condense it into a nice little essay. (I’m ****ing my pants right now just thinking about going there)</p>

<p>I am not sure exactly what by EFC is, but unfortunately, I am guessing it is somewhere in 12-15K range. By parents make somewhere from 85-90K. Not enough to afford 40K a year, but too much for any great fin aid package.</p>

<p>Anyways, thank you very much for the advice. And I am going to retake the ACT and hopefully get a 34. By the way, would my interest appear higher to UMich if I visited before I applied. I have been out to Ann Arbor twice, but never on an official visit and it might be tricky to get there next fall.</p>

9

<p>It’s really nice to read someone from OOS who really wants to attend Michigan as far and away their first choice. I wish you the best of luck.</p>

10

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>And by the way, I calcuted my GPA as UMich does it, not counting my freshman classes and only counting the core subjects. Anyways, I have 14 A’s/A-'s and one B in the first three semesters so my UMich GPA is 3.933 if that helps at all.</p>

<p>Any other chances are greatly appreciated.</p>

11

<p>apply early… everything in by the end of september and i’d put your chances for admission at 75%.
Be sure you can afford the education. talk to your parents because you will be taking out loans and don’t be shocked if umich gives you a very lousy fin. aid package.
Just curious… Why do you want to go to Umich so bad?</p>

12

<p>You have good chances but Carlson at the U is hard to get into.</p>

<p>Do you go to S.SP?</p>

13

<p>See if you can raise your ACT composite to 34. That could help with merit aid. Write great essays and, as blackpen and Taxi have emphasized, see to it that your application is completed (including school transcipts and recommendations) as early as possible, no later than early-mid October.</p>