I am wondering if I have any hope. I have a 32 ACT and a strong upward trend in my GPA. And some decent EC but nothing earth shattering. I am from NJ. Do I have a chance?
Read the Almanac and CDS. GPA is most important. There are not many students admitted with GPA below 3.6 and most of them would be recruited athletes or in schools that do not require strong academic performance.
Google the common data set for UMichigan (and other schools your are considering) and go to section C. You will see what GPA/standardized test range the schools look for. From OOS it is safe to assume you would need to be on the high side of the stats. I think your stats are a bit low for UM, but check for yourself. If you HS has Naviance that is an other excellent tool.
If you are a junior now I would not lose hope. Retake the Act and take a rigorous senior year (ap’s) and get “a’s” to bring up your GPA. I know many that have done just as I suggest and they are at Michigan now.
If OP is in junior, the GPA would not be drastically changed by the time of application. However, OP should always try the best to bring up GPA and test scores. There are many good schools in US and it does not need to be UMich. Look at the in state schools.
I agree but sometimes it is proving to the school you can handle the course load. I know of multiple people this has happen to at Michigan.
Yes, I am a junior. Prob the best I can bring it to is a 3.6 with a 33 superscored. I may apply elsewhere ED if I don’t have a shot at Michigan but Id rather go to Mich.
The look at both the course rigor and uwGPA as most important. You do need to have good course load but it would not rescue a low GPA. There are only ~7% students with HS GPA below 3.6, while most, if not all, of these 7% students are not a regular LSA/CoE student without hook.
Thanks. My classes are split between regular and AP/ honors. Do you know how Michigan calculates GPA?
I’d say no. Michigan is going to be a high reach for you. You can still apply, but be sure you have some matches and a safety or two that you’d be happy to attend. Focus your search in finding those.
Don’t forget the cost of being OOS at most public universities, too. Be sure to run the net price calculators on the websites at schools you are interested in to see what you might have to pay.
Can your parents afford Michigan at full-pay OOS student rates?
Unfortunately, my in state state schools are not that appealing so it will be a private school or OOS.
Michigan recalculate uwGPA without subgrades from all classes taken in high school.
If you can get your ACT up to a 35, that could help loads.
For better or worse, Michigan seems to care quite a bit about test scores, especially for out-of-state applicants. I am just one data point, but I had a subpar GPA and high SAT, and I managed to be admitted (there were other qualifying components of my application, but I would not classify any of them as “earth-shattering”).
Here are their considerations based on the CDS:
Most important: Course rigor, GPA
Important: Test scores, application essay, recommendations, character/personal qualities, first gen
Considered: EC, talent/ability, geographic, state residency, volunteer, work experience, interest
Not considered: class rank, interview, religion, racial/ethnic status
Per the last admissions session we attended, UMich recalculates GPA as follows: 4.0 for A-/A/A+, 3.0 for B-/B/B+, 2.0 C-/C/C+ and averages. These are for your main courses, so health, drivers ed or other classes that are not full year courses do not count.
All classes counter if they are on the transcript. Probably not for the driver ed though.
https://umich.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2259/~/recalculating-the-gpa-for-freshmen-applicants
Depends on whether you’re LSA or COE. Coe definitely won’t be possible with scores like that.
Try University of Maryland, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin, and Ohio State University for a similar feel. Those might be more reachable for you.
UMich (asmost public flagships) has a meritocracy for admissions so GPA and test scores are by far the most important things on the application. EC ‘s can help but they need to be extraordinary to overcome a weaker GPA.