Do I have a chance? - University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

My dream school is the University of Michigan. I have a 1200 SAT score (on the lower side, but my school’s average is a 930), an unweighted 4.0 GPA, I’ve taken/will have taken 7 AP classes in total (Comp Science Principles, Biology, US History, Physics 1, Calc AB, Psychology) - my school only offers 8, My junior and senior year are my strongest years (rigor-wise), I have 300+ hours of community service, etc. I’m president of NHS, executive officer of Student Council, I’ve been involved in EMS (my local first responder’s club) for all four years (I would like to be a doctor/nurse - in broad terms something in the medical field), I plan to job shadow a nurse/doctor at my local hospital, and I started a GSA club at my school.

I’m not sure if it’s worth mentioning, but I also attended a month-long marine science course in the summer between my junior and senior year. This was a college-oriented course that was designed as an introductory course to marine science (covering almost all basic topics of the field). Only 30 people out of the nation are accepted into this program and I was one of the two people to be awarded a full-ride scholarship to attend.

To give you an idea of my school, it’s rural-based, the class sizes are 90-100 (mine being 104 and I’m #1 our of my class according to my GPA). I’m also a first-generation college student for my family.

This is my dream school, as I said. I want to get in not only for me but for my parents (they have no money saved for college - U of M’s Go Blue Guarantee would pay a significant portion of my tuition and would help them tremendously). I suppose I’m just looking to see if I have a shot. There are a few students in my class that received 1300- high 1300 scores on the SAT and that’s what really making me doubt myself. If anyone has any advice I’d love to hear it. The 1200 SAT was my retake and I don’t have time to retake it again (Early Action deadline).

Find out and contact the admissions counselor for your region. You have done well in school given the courses offered. you have many hooks.

why is it such a dream school for you? there are a lot of similar schools that aren’t quite as hard to get into, like Wisconsin, Indiana…It’s pretty hard for out of state to get in, and it’s very expensive for a public school.

I would be suspicious of any guarantee that’s not in writing as a scholarship. Can you add about 150 points to your SAT? If you can, you would qualify for 2 near-tuition scholarships at Univ of AL and Univ of AZ.

https://finaid.umich.edu/go-blue-guarantee-eligibility/
Reach out to your schools AO for your school and ask the question. Plus it gives you a nice soft touch to your AO. Michigan wants to know that you want to go there. Don’t know if anyone with a 1200 got in last year BUT you are compared to your peers at school. and you are doing well in that regard. What state are you in now?
Also you can apply EA and still take retake your Sat and submit it later if the score is improved. Michigan has a reputation of deferring lots of applicants anyway.
Has anyone in the past gotten in from your school? Find out from your counselor what the scores were. If you have Naviance look that up. Also have many safeties.
The good thing is Michigan OOS is a tough get for everyone. BTW - totally mention the month long Marine project you were part of. Don’t hold back on ecs. Let them decide if it’s worth it not you. Good Luck.

I’m from Michigan… It’s the only IN-STATE option that makes sense for my family financially and the education offered is nationally renowned.

The middle 50% of the SAT scores at UMich for the Class of 2023 was 1,380-1,540, but OTOH, UMich values GPA and course rigor as their most important factors in admission. Is there a chance? Sure, but make sure you have some other targets and safeties on your list of colleges.