<p>I was accepted to LSA today but it said that I was a part of the Comprehensive Studies Program. What is that? I've done a little research and it sounds a bit condescending. I realize that my scores are subpar in comparison to others who got accepted but I don't see why this program is necessary for me. Maybe because I'm a first generation college student?</p>
<p>Where are you from? </p>
<p>Although it is not said exactly how or why students are chosen, the program seems like it is essentially geared towards those believed may need help transitioning to UMich. Usually these students are from underrepresented backgrounds or geographic regions. </p>
<p>I’m from Detroit and a lot of kids here get put into the program.</p>
<p>If I may ask, what did your email say exactly?</p>
<p>I wonder too how you know you were chosen? I’m always sure that I will be in the program, but I did not see anything about it in the email.</p>
<p>@detpeace and @MathisAmazing I’m from a pretty affluent part of Grand Rapids. What kind of help because it sounds mostly like academic and not to sound arrogant but I really don’t think I need academic help to the extent of being put in a program. My only guess is that they saw that I’m first gen…my acceptance email said “You’ve been admitted to the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts class entering as a Comprehensive Studies Program participant for Fall 2014” and gave me a link to the program’s website.
@MathisAmazing So if it’s not in your email, you’re probably not in it. Why did you think that you’d be in it?</p>
<p>Is it the mandatory summer program? Or is it optional?</p>
<p>@purple, Just about everybody I know who went to the University of Michigan went through a program called the Summer Bridge, where they take classes before they start with everyone else at the Fall. I thought this was kind of a given. I’m not sure anymore though.</p>
<p>It’s probably a combination of first-generation and a ACT score just above the 25th percentile. It looks just like extra-advising, and then tutoring resources and smaller classes-- if you need or want it. Transitioning to college can be difficult, and being a part of a visible support network can make all the difference.</p>
<p>@detpeace I’m not sure. There’s a Summer Bridge Program that’s related to CSP. I’ve seen this mentioned before on CC and it almost sounds mandatory after reading more of what there is about it. Have you been accepted?
@MathisAmazing Do you know if it’s mandatory? I’m probably being really arrogant right now but I really don’t want or think I need “extra help”.</p>
<p>@purpleacorn Do you know if I can opt out of it?</p>
<p>@purple, the program that the people I know went to was mandatory.</p>
<p>@MathisAmazing Do you know how the program played a part in their studies? I don’t want to be required to be tutored or something. Thanks for all this info!</p>
<p>I was accepted in to LSA with no mention of CSP. </p>
<p>I know three people from Detroit who were put into bridges, but i dont know anyone that was put into comprehensive studies without bridges. My teacher’s boyfriend, a UMich alum, was put into summer bridges. He had near perfect scores and GPA. He’s Hispanic, bilingual, his hometown in Texas borders Mexico and his school wasn’t very academically challenging. He had no idea why he was put into bridges, but they believe it was because he was transitioning into such a new place very different from where he was from. </p>
<p>Anyways, what’s your racial background? How academically rigorous is your school?</p>
<p>I’m African American, first gen, low income, attending a crappy school, and I also thought I would be put into bridges. Actually, I wouldn’t mind being a part of comprehensive studies as long as the summer program wasn’t mandatory for me.</p>
<p>@purplemonkey I believe that this was like a support system that they always had to fall back on. I’m not sure if anything was forced tutoring wise (even though I know the Summer portion was).</p>
<p>Regarding your question to Mathisamazing, My neighbor, who is now a junior at UMich, had a 21 act but high GPA. The Bridges Program was initially challenging for him, but he learned reading skills and study habits and now he’s doing fine! </p>
<p>My teacher’s boyfriend had no problem with the program and his transition was very easy. He told me that the people in the program were “capable”, but UMich wanted to “ensure their success” in college.</p>
<p>@detpeace I’m Asian with a parent who never graduated high school and another who had some kind of education in China but none at all here. I go to a public high school and it’s the best in the area. So I’m guessing that first part is why I was put in because I talked about it a lot in one of my essays. I am also bilingual if that matters. I don’t know, I guess I’m okay with being in the program but the way they make it sounds on their website makes me not want to be associated with it at all.
@MathisAmazing I know for a fact that I won’t even be in the country most of summer…so that might be a problem if the summer portion is mandatory?</p>
<p>I guess that’s really considerate of Michigan but not knowing much about it kinda scared me and made me doubt myself.</p>
<p>I received the same letter.</p>
<p>My stats:
GPA: 3.79/4.0
ACT: 29 Compos.
APs: US History (4.0)
Previous Classes: Mostly honors, foreign languages, independent studies, & general electives.
Current Classes: One AP (Eng. Lit. & Comp.), independent studies, & general electives.
Strong essays, two strong teacher recs, & a strong counselor rec.
ExtraCurric: NHS, BPA, 40+ hours of community service</p>
<p>School stats:
SE Michigan
Urban, Public, aprox. 1500 students
Not extremely challenging.</p>
<p>With all that said, I’m probably on the lower end of those admitted. To be quite honest, I was expecting a deferral.</p>
<p>A student from our school last year had to attend the mandatory Summer Bridges program. If I had to guess, that’s more than likely what this means. I assume it has to do with what kind of school you attend (academically challenging or not). If that’s what I have to do to attend, so be it.</p>
<p>@kyyzey I was expecting a deferral as well. Do you know what happens if you can’t go to the summer program because I will most likely be out of the country for most of summer</p>
<p>@purplemonkey33 Ah, that I do not. I’m still not even sure if that’s what this CSP thing really means. We’ll see in the coming weeks I assume… I’m sure at sometime you’ll be able to talk to someone and work something out.</p>
<p>@kyyzey I emailed them asking about it so as soon as I find out, I’ll either PM you or post on the thread!</p>