<p>Hey guys,
So I got accepted into UMich LSA Class of 2017 :D Now, I'd love to join a Michigan Learning Community, so I've been researching some of those.
I am currently interested in applying to WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and MRC (Michigan Research Community). Both are residential learning communities, and students live in MoJo.
I know that both of these learning communities turn down applicants every year. The problem is, I still have no idea how competitive they are overall. After looking this up, I've barely heard anything about acceptances into WISE (all I've figured out for certain is that they take about 100 freshman each year), and I've heard a lot of varying reports about the difficulty of MRC. Almost nothing useful regarding this is stated on their official websites. Basically, I'm just trying to figure out if I can count on getting in, or if I should apply to more.</p>
<p>So, can anyone let me know of the difficulty of getting into these two learning communities, and comment on the qualities of either if you happen to have specific experiences with them? Also, you can chance me for them if you're up for it:</p>
<p>Major: Cellular Biology (doing Pre med)
UW GPA: 3.84 (3.91/4 W)
ACT: 31
Most difficult course load taken at my school (8 APs, 7 Honors)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Medical Science Club President
HOSA President
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist, 3rd Place regional grand award, lots of other regional level awards, state level awards
National Merit Semifinalist
Key Club, Student Government, NHS Member
9 Years of Piano (3 awards)
200+ Hours of volunteering (tutoring... random stuff)
Featured in school's art exhibit (2 years)
Bunch of other small things...</p>
<p>In-State (idk if that helps for this)
Thanks guys! As always, go blue!</p>
<p>Congratulations goblueUM, on your acceptance! Such an exciting time for you. I hope you will love UMich as much as my daughter does.</p>
<p>I can’t write about MRC, but my daughter got accepted into WISE as an incoming freshman. It was a good experience. Here are some comments she has made about the program:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>MoJo is a great dorm. She loves the location, the facility itself, and the students who live there. She felt she had to make an extra effort to meet people in the beginning because she is OOS and didn’t know anyone, but that could happen in any dorm. A lot of girls in the program are from Michigan and applied with someone they knew, so they had a friend going into the program. (Which makes me think it isn’t super hard to get accepted if that can be arranged on a pretty regular basis). Some girls candidly told her that they applied with the main goal of obtaining housing on Central Campus instead of chancing a room assignment on North Campus. Getting a guaranteed dorm room in MoJo is definitely a strong benefit to being in the WISE program.</p></li>
<li><p>The program itself is beneficial. There is a required class for credit, but it is a reasonable one. Through WISE she has attended interesting seminars, listened to guest speakers who work or teach in the science and engineering fields, and has even been on a couple of interviews with faculty to help determine what major she might eventually declare. Everyone has been helpful and supportive of eachother, and the program provides every opportunity to enhance her academic and recreational time: regular study groups, social functions, test and quiz reviews. . . most of her closest friends on campus are girls she has met in WISE. She wasnt sure if shed find the group to be outgoing and fun (I think she originally worried it would be a bunch of nerds) but like UMich itself, every kind of personality is represented in WISE. (Except maybe the career partiers. The girls in WISE are serious about doing well in school, but still know how to have fun!)</p></li>
<li><p>Now the other side of the coin: Meeting guys. If that is important to you, boys are not conveniently located if you are in WISE. The girls in the program reside on the top floor of MoJo, and it is an all girl floor. While my daughter has made many good friendships with girls, she has said multiple times she misses having good guy friends like her group in high school. Most of the guys she has met has been through classes or sports teams, and she feels the interactions have been too surface to make any sustainable friendships with them. Not having guys on her floor has been a disadvantage, in her opinion. But as her parent, that part doesnt bother me! :)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>All in all, WISE is a great way to meet friends, cultivate good study habits, enhance your investment in your major (and your future career), and live in one of the nicest places on campus. Just be sure to get your application in on time, and stress why the program would be of interest to you, and why they would want to accept you. Your listed qualifications are stellar. Good luck!</p>
<p>This is very informative. I will take it into consideration. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>scrappy doo, Im also applying to wise for this fall. being an all girl floor, are male overnight visitors allowed?</p>