<p>I come from Iraq and have been a Michigan Permanent Resident for only two years? My scores are fine. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, got all A's in my AP classes so far (9 by end of HS), and a 30 on ACT. And I am a member of National Honor Society (NHS) + won 2 leadership and science awards. I was able to overcome the language (ESL first two years to Honors English to AP Lit senior year) and the new atmosphere challenge. Will this help my admission at all? What are my chances? I have a friend with the same profile except for ACT (she got 22), and she got in. However, I think that doesn't happen very often because of the low ACT score. Thank you all.</p>
<p>I’d really appreciate your thoughts. I want to know.</p>
<p>You are not given an admission advantage, but you are considered a competitive applicant like the thousands of others who apply to Michigan each year.</p>
<p>Well that’s a bit sad. And I thought it would at least help me a little :(.</p>
<p>If you are consider a resident of Michigan, which you seem to be, you will be in the same position as other in-state applicants, which is a good thing. Michigan receives far more OOS applicants and accepts roughly the same number. The odds of getting in are better for in-state students…and the cost of attendance is significantly lower. Your GPA is obviously very good, and 9 AP classes shows rigor, which Michigan values above all else. Your 30 on the ACT is solid, but I would try raising it to a 32 if possible. Apply no later than early October.</p>
<p>I think your unusual background will make you a very interesting and desirable candidate.</p>
<p>Iraqis and Iraqi immigrants are not unusual in Michigan VeryHappy. The OP has a strong backround and should be a match for the school.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your feedback. You are right, rjkofnovi. There are many Iraqis (including Assyrians/Chaldeans) in Michigan but so few apply to UofM Ann Arbor. Many apply to the one in Dearborn though. Also, almost all the “Iraqis” I know or found in UofM Ann Arbor were born-here U.S. citizens who have “real” Iraqi parents. That’s why I believe I am different.</p>
<p>In any case lolifofo, I wish you the very best of luck. :-)</p>
<p>Thank you. :)</p>
<p>One other option: take the SAT. While the scores are similar they are not identical and some do better on the one than the other. To make a very broad overstatement, the ACT tends to be a little more knowledge oriented and the SAT tends to be more reasoning oriented. It is possible that taking the SAT could give you a score equivalent to a 32. On the other hand, you might get an SAT score equivalent to a 28. But you get to choose which scores to report. Taking the SAT is a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose option. BTW, I am not saying that the two test scores will be diametrically opposite, but they don’t measure the exact same thing and some are a little better at one than the other.</p>
<p>According to my experience, it will help. My stats are not so outstanding.(international student, ACT Composite Score 30, some extracurricular activities.) And I am accepted to LSA! I know some people who have better or similar stats were rejected. The major difference is that I studied in a high school in Michigan for two years and they remained in China. And you are a permanent resident it will help a lot. Actually over 60 percent of freshman in U of M are instate student. You have excellent achievements! Maybe taking SAT is another way, but I think the vocabulary in SAT is extremely hard. Anyway, do not worry. Permanent residents are regarded as citizens in admission. Being an instate student is much easier</p>
<p>Thank you, soppei. I think the expectations are higher for OOS and international students because UofM wants to admit more in-state folks. It’s good that I am a permanent resident, and I believe I can a put something about my background in my essay. I hope everything turns out fine. And congratulations for your acceptance!</p>