<p>Hi, I am advising my student who applied to UM last year but got waitlisted.</p>
<p>He had something like 4.8 GPA (with 8 APs in his senior year), but he is not a good test taker, scoring only 1250 on his SAT.</p>
<p>In retrospect,the timing was also an issue as he applied in early February.</p>
<p>After waitlisted at UM, he decided to pursue his alternative, so he ended up going to......drum roll........ Tulane University.</p>
<p>He came back to give another shot at UM since he is very certain that this school is where he wants to be for the next four years.</p>
<p>So my question is should he wait till December to apply to UM with improved SAT score, or should he apply right now with the identical GPA, SAT score, much better TOEFL score (from 240-260), and a couple more ounce of "sympathy" from adcom? :)</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Is timing that important to the admission to UM?</p>
<p>Apply now. You can write down that he's taking the SAT on this date and the applications committee will look at it. They may decide he doesn't need the higher score and admit him, or maybe delay until his new scores are in.</p>
<p>I have a few friends at school who have gotten formal deferral letters telling them that Michigan would wait for a boosted ACT score (and in one or two cases first semester grades) before making a decision.</p>
<p>He is taking a year off, and he has been studying for SAt but to no avail. By the way, his GPA is 4.8/4.0 b/c of his AP classes. In other words, he is straight A student, but for some reason, he is just not a good test taker - he isnt disciplined enough.</p>
<p>You might suggest he try the ACT. That is the test the Michigan wants in the first place. And from what I've read on this board, some people find it easier than the SAT.</p>
<p>Wait a minute. With 4.0 GPA(UW) and 8 AP classes, he should have a good shot last year. His 1250 SAT should be good enough. I suspect he was waitlisted because he applied past the deadline and probably put together his application in a hurry.</p>
<p>He should apply as early as possible and take care to put together a good application. The only catch is that this year Michigan requires the new SAT ... which I presume he has yet to take.</p>