I’ve posted something similar before, but I wanted to give updated information. I toured the UMich campus on Friday to figure out if it was right for me, and I fell in love. I really want to do everything in my power to get in. At the admissions meeting, she emphasized “holistic admissions”, so I hope that will work in my favor. My main weakness is my GPA. With a 3.65 recalculated gpa, I’m worried. I just got my SAT scores back on Thursday and I got a 1460 (680 english, 780 math). Hopefully that is good enough.
I have a part-time job at Target, I volunteer at a horse barn every week, I just got into NHS, I have a leadership position in one of my clubs, and I just finished my science Olympiad season with states. Hopefully with great recommendations and essays, I could have a shot. I need your input: do I have a shot?
If you are instate, your chances are better. It also depends on your major. If you are looking at engineering, the GPA is going to hurt you. For some less competitive majors, it maybe OK but it depends on course rigor as well. Keep working as yard as you can to get your GPA up. Michigan will ask for midterm grades if you are deferred from early action.
Definitely not going to engineering, looking at LSA. My schedule for next year looks like:
AP Biology
AP Lang
AP Calc BC
AP CSP
AP Physics
French 4
(I doubled up on social studies this year, so I figured it was unnecessary for senior year)
Input for my chances of getting into UMich is greately appreciated, thanks @momofsenior1 . Any tips are welcomed!
Reposting with better title so it will be seen more. I’ve posted something similar before, but I wanted to give updated information. I toured the UMich campus on Friday to figure out if it was right for me, and I fell in love. I really want to do everything in my power to get in. At the admissions meeting, she emphasized “holistic admissions”, so I hope that will work in my favor. My main weakness is my GPA. With a 3.65 recalculated gpa, I’m worried. I just got my SAT scores back on Thursday and I got a 1460 (680 english, 780 math). Hopefully that is good enough.
I have a part-time job at Target, I volunteer at a horse barn every week, I just got into NHS, I have a leadership position in one of my clubs, and I just finished my science Olympiad season with states. Hopefully with great recommendations and essays, I could have a shot. I need your input: do I have a shot?
@hmchmc first you are reposting the same information in your post…
If you are still a junior I would retake the sat. While your score is good it’s not good enough with your GPA. They are going to want a better English score also so it’s worth doing. You are just a few correct questions away from a much better score. Get help honing down your weakness, but still review your strengths.
Getting help next year and trying to get all “A” ‘s will also help your cause. I know someone in your exact situation that got in to Michigan after sending in first semester all Ap all A’ a. She had 6AP’s and multivariate Calc 3 in the senior year so it can be done but ACT was 34 and why I am saying retake the Sat.
Make your essay unique, personal and passionate with your voicing. To many times it just reads like everyone else’s.
Reach out to your regional counselor that is listed on the Michigan site and ask these questions also. Having contact is important. When they visit your school or region go say hello.
Sorry for the error, it got messed up when I attempted to do something else. Thank you so much for your input. My schedule for next year is AP Bio, AP Physics 1, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, AP CSP, and French 4 (no ap offered). I do want to improve my reading Subscore but am unsure if I will be able to. Thanks!
I think you are in the ballpark but your senior grades will matter to bring up your unweighted average. Take the June and then the August SAT but go into the August relaxed and with just light review on math. I improved my reading by 60 points on that test by doing just that. I was accepted EA OOS with a 1470 SAT 760M/710V but a 3.90 unweighted in the most rigorous classes coming from a private school in the NE, I had all A’s at mid term that counselors submitted just prior to decision as well even though they were not “official” as we are on semester grading. My essay for why M was detailed and passionate about the school and what I saw myself involved in. I also believe my recommendations were very strong from my Honors Physics teacher and English teacher as well as my counselor. Good luck, you can do it!!
You have a shot. Michigan’s Fall 2017 admitted students middle-50% SAT was 1350-1530. Attending students’
SAT range was 1330-1500. So your 1460 SAT is well within the range given serious consideration by admissions. And you shouldn’t believe that simply increasing your SAT score will compensate for a somewhat below average GPA. Remember, we’ve seen it reported here that students with perfect GPAs, 1500+ SATs, Valedictorians, exceptional ECs, etc., get rejected just like students with lesser scores, grades, more mundane ECs. It’s about making the strongest, most authentic case based on who you are and what you’ve achieved. @FoxRulz makes a good points about the importance of senior year grades (you already have a rigorous curriculum…) and a thoughtful supplemental essay demonstrating not only what Michigan can do for you but what you can bring to the campus community in terms of your ongoing academic and personal interests. So sure, take the SAT again if you want but I think you should focus your energies on your fall classes, writing essays that communicate in your own voice who you are, and identifying recommenders who can/will write passionately on your behalf.
How does your gpa compare to others in your graduating class? UM doesn’t use rank, but if 3.65 uw still puts you within the top 5% of your school, it will work in your favor.
Use this summer to do something “interesting” or demonstrate your passion & exploration in an intended field of study. Make sure your common application highlights something unique. All qualified candidates are usually NHS or Science Olympiad - but perhaps not experienced in, say, horses (especially if you might be interested in veterinary… or evolutionary biology… or sports management…).
That’s funny that you mention horses @098123Student , because I volunteer every week at a horse shelter in my nearby. I am in other things, but science Olympiad and nhs are just some I mentioned. I have a job and I’m a few other clubs.
@hmchmc I know 
You mentioned it in your post. That is the kind of little thing that jumps out to people who see the same terms (NHS, class president, debate club, etc…) over and over again. Remember - be interesting in your application.
You are getting some great advice here. My son never applied for NHS since like everyone had done that and in his mind didn’t separate him. Plus he didn’t want to do the mandatory car wash etc at his school… Lol…he actually stated this in his essay…
But his essay was very unique and passionate. Your horse shelter does make you different. It’s not something many people do. That makes you unique. Maybe there is an essay in there somewhere and link it to your field of study.
I still stand by increasing the sat and listen to foxrulz… That is what I am going for.
As already stated, students with 28 Act (not many) have gotten accepted and some with perfect 36 scores get refused. It’s all in the make up of the class Michigan is trying to build for that year. Also maybe the ones with lower scores were just more interesting. This is key… Be different and interesting. Reviewers are sick of reading about kids going on vacation in Mexico and volunteering at an orphanage for a day… Boring…
Volunteering at a horse shelter… Very cool and interesting… I personally want to know more and so will a reviewer.