- Female
- Southeast Asian
- Applying from out-of-state
- Unweighted GPA: 4.0
- Weighted GPA: 4.8/4.9
- SAT: Best composite is 1510, 770 CRW and 740 Math. Best sections are 770 CRW 770 Math, and 23 on essay (I know UMich doesn't superscore, but they encourage submitting all sections for their "holistic" review)
- Leadership positions: Vice President Key Club, Event Manager Red Cross Club, Senior section editor for countywide student run newspaper, on the Special Elections Committee for the regional student government body.
- Other: Inducted into the Thespian Honor Society for getting 10 credit hours e.g. 7 total mainstage productions since freshman year, In Math Spanish Science and National Honor Societies (most likely will only mention a few of them because they're all peer tutoring based), Afterschool unpaid volunteer as an office assistant during the school year at local art gallery/camp center for 2 years and this summer became a classroom leader.
- General Awards: AP Scholar and AP National Scholar with Distinction (or something like that), National Spanish Exam Bronze rank, Maryland Seal of Bilingual Achievement, Countywide Bilingual diploma recipient, Distinction (special tassel and certificate awarded at graduation ceremony) for logging over 260 volunteer hours, Honor roll all throughout middle and high school.
- As you can see from my Awards section, Spanish is one of my strongest selling points, and I plan to minor in it. Likewise, from my editor position and essay score, hopefully you can tell that writing is another one of my strongest areas.
- Recommendation letters: Honestly don't know. The one from my Spanish teacher is pretty strong because I had her sophmore year first semester, when I was just about ready to drop the class, and junior year second semester, when I started racking up all my awards and she recommended me to skip level 6 and go straight to Spanish 7. The one from my Psychology teacher is somewhat shaky because I barely spoke in her class, but it's my tentative major and I always got perfect grades in her class. Also, she got over 100 requests because she writes great essays, and chose me as one of the 20 she decided to take on. In short, I'm pretty hopeful they'll work out in my favor :)
- I go to a HIGHLY competitive public school in one of the richest and most diverse counties in the country. As you could probably tell from my weighted GPA, my school offers just about every AP course, and I've taken as many as they'd allow me. Currently, I am pursuing the IB diploma program, which my counselor marked as the "most difficult" course selection on my recommendation + transcript.
- AP Scores: Lit (5) Art History (4) Stat (4) BC Calc (4 with AB subcore of 5) Psych (5) Euro (4) Spanish Lang (5) Gov (5)
- No legacy or connections, only interest I've been able to demonstrate is attending their visit at my school because I live so far away :(
- Selling points: First generation college student in the U.S., minority (don't think I'm the right kind but still)
- Will definitely be applying for financial aid, but wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't get a great scholarship package.
- UMich is my top choice, and it is (hopefully) evident to anyone reading my personal essay that if I get in, I am going ;)
Being out of state is always tough but you seem to have great stats. Even if you are match over 10,000 were on the wait list. Since your stats are high, I would reach out to the regional person from Michigan for your school
This is the person that helps decide your fate. Ask a question and let them know you want to go there. They might assume you would go elsewhere.
Also apply early and don’t be surprised if you are deferred. Most people are.
Excellent stats. Did you take any subject tests? Michigan takes a large amount of their students from Maryland. And Michigan is 65% Caucasian, so I think being any minority helps. Demonstrated interest is considered, but I don’t it matters all that much. Good luck.
I´m taking my subject tests tomorrow, but I´m not really considering sending them to schools that don´t require or recommend them, neither of which UMich does. In terms of SAT, would it be advisable to send in all my scores if one is lower, but it brings up my composite? I know they don´t superscore but the website also says they look at all sections to make the student ¨as competitive as possible.¨ This is really tricky for me, especially because I got a 23 on essay on my lower scoring date haha. Thank you for your feedback!
Question - I know it´s frequently asked on here, but I´ve never managed to get a clear answer for UMich specifically. Does applying early help chances of admission in any way? Thank you sm!
I posted on a different thread that the overall UMich acceptance rate is 23.5%. The acceptance rate for OOS was 19%.
Someone by the name of @SingingBusDriver , who seemed to know inside info this past UMich admissions cycle said that there were around 8,000 accepted of “almost 40,000 EA applications” (per UMich admissions Blog), which equates to about 20% acceptance rate. Total acceptances for the Class of 2022 were 15,468. Thus, around 50% of all acceptances were made during EA, assuming @SingingBusDriver was correct.
So, while the acceptance rate for both EA (20%-ish) and RD (23.5%) were about the same, I would definitely send my app in during EA, since about 50% of all acceptances were made during EA. However, being OOS makes it more difficult.
If you get great results from your October (tomorrow) subject tests, then have them sent immediately before the EA UMich deadline of 11/1. I think SAT Subject tests can enhance your application, assuming great results.
As for your question regarding your SAT score(s), send both, if UMich encourages it and you feel it helps your application.
my son ended up with a 34 act on a few tries. He sent in all his scores. We are oos. After meeting with his counselor she told him they like students that don’t give up and improve. Even though they don’t superscore they will look at all your scores in a positive light. They seem to get it.
Also showing interest is a big deal.
that’s what I’ve heard. I wish there was a way to demonstrate interest for kids that live on the other side of the country ?
FWIW, my OOS kid showed zero interest, other than submitting an EA app, and was accepted.
There is a way to demonstrate interest @Ezga3969 - if a Michigan rep is in your area, go to the presentation. Follow Michigan admission on social media. Not sure what major you are applying to but engineering offers alumni interviews - request one. You can reach out to the regional admission rep and ask if there are upcoming events in your area (assuming you’ve already looked on the website and can’t find the information).
For OOS high stat students like yourself as @knowstuff states this is a very important concept: “Also showing interest is a big deal.” If I was you and UM is my #1 choice, find a way to visit the campus and show love to your local adcom. Yield protection for out-of-staters is alive and well there.
It is illegal in the state of Michigan to consider race or ethnicity in college admissions. See: Gratz v. Bollinger
First gen can help.
A simple thing you can do as stated is reach out to the regional rep for your school. My son met with some professors and used that in part of the essay… You can still email a professor. How much that helps who really knows but it shows you researched the school. Some kids do nothing and get accepted and some kids have a great interview and get denied.