I’m a rising senior and Michigan is my dream school, even more so after visiting last spring. The new proposal for free in-state tuition to a lower income bracket now makes it an accessible and realistic school for me when it formerly wasn’t, even with in-state tuition.
I’m an in-state biracial female from a moderately competitive public high school.
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.26 W
ACT: 34 C (34 E, 36 R, 31 M, 35 S)
SAT: 1380 (730 CR/W, 650 M) (A weaker score for me, but hopefully my ACT makes up for it)
APs: By the time I’m done with high school I will have taken 8 APs: Calc AB, Calc BC, US Gov, Studio Art, Lang, Lit, Bio, and Chem
AP Tests: 5 on US Gov, 5 on Calc AB, 5 on Bio (this also puts me at AP Scholar)
Class Rank: 10 of 301
Extracurriculars: NHS, marching band (4 years), symphony orchestra (3 years), private study of piano (10 years), job as a substitute pianist at a church (2 years), Link Crew (2 years)
Volunteer experience: Art festival in my hometown, food pantry, community breakfasts for low-income and elderly people, concession stand for my school band, counselor at 6th grade science camp
Summer activities: volunteer work, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for piano (freshman, sophomore, and junior year)
Essays: Haven’t started yet, but I am a strong writer, so I anticipate this should not be an issue. (All As in AP Lang, good relationship with my Lang teacher, placed 3rd in a county-wide essay contest)
Letters of Recommendation: Will most likely be quality as my counselor, biology teacher, and Lang teacher have all personally offered to write letters for me this fall.
Intended Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Income Bracket: <65,000
I have been told by teachers and fellow students that Michigan is something I will have no problem with getting into, but any input or advice would be greatly appreciated as I am both very nervous and very excited to see how my senior year plays out!
I would just submit the ACT score instead of the SAT score. Your stats look good for Michigan, Make sure you put a lot of thought in your essays, and you are able to show your leadership (through positions, but more importantly through actions). I think your chances are solid. You just need to follow through in your application. Good luck!
P.S.: High subject test scores can solidify your application even more, but may not be necessary.
Thank you! I appreciate the response. I am currently waiting patiently for the Common App to open, and I am applying EA, so hopefully I can get favorable news by Christmas.