I know we’re already past this point, but can someone list the best ways to demonstrate interest in the University of Michigan up until the Nov. 1 deadline? This is information I would’ve found useful a few months ago.
Bump…
Applying EA obviously helps. Writing essays that show a complete and specific understanding of the University and how you fit within it. Having your school counselor guarantee that if you are admitted, you will attend.
I called the UMich admissions office about this and they said they’d prefer a personal email from you to ecredentials@umich.edu where you displayed your interest rather than receiving a call from your counselor. However, I bet that both would help tremendously.
tarun, the personal letter is especially relevant for deferred EA applicants. The personal touch is naturally effective. However, the admissions office will approach such a letter with great caution. A letter from the school counselor is considered more official, as the school would not put its reputation, and future applicant’s chances of admission, at risk by guaranteeing the matriculation of a current applicant without certainty.
@whizkid98 There are many ways to showcase demonstrated interest. I wrote a blog post on this very topic.
MODERATOR’S NOTE: link deleted.
(I used to work with Admissions at Michigan)
^^^Pretty sure you just violated the TOS. Better take town the blog link before the moderators suspend you. @collegeappcoach
^Too late. 
@brantly thanks for the warning! @skieurope thanks for the informative message, I’ll avoid including blood links!
I got in EA and displayed interest by attending the debate camp a few years earlier, putting on the “Contacts” section that I had gone to an on-campus football and volleyball game, and mentioning a LOT of Michigan-specific traditions in my essays so they knew I really took the time to know the school.
Campus visit and attend UMich organized events such as Tech Day, Nano Camp (both for engineering), or other activities.
If you were deferred, then definitely send in an updated transcript after your grades for the semester have been posted, and the inform them through email (so they have the intent in writing). But make sure you can tell them specifically what you have done since your application to justify your interest.
Yeah, I’m doing that as soon as the admissions office reopens at 8:00 on Monday. @umcoe16