<p>I hate to ask this question, but I am starting to get worried. My application was completed on October 19, but I still have not heard. Here are my stats:
ACT: 32 (31 in one sitting)
SAT I: 2140
SAT IIs:
U.S. History: 800
Chemistry: 730
Math II C: 700
GPA: 4.124 (weighted), 3.391 (unweighted Michigan)
Courseload: Most Rigorous (7 APs, the rest Honors)
ECs:
Model UN (10-12)
Model Congress (9-12)
Mock Trial (11-12)
Class Council (10-12), Executive Board
Varsity Tennis (9-12), Captain 12
French Honors Society (10-12)
So, do I have a good chance of acceptance?</p>
<p>I am right there with you and I am worried- I hope we can get in</p>
<p>You GPA hurts you quite a bit. You are borderline.</p>
<p>GPAs are not all created equal. A low unweighted GPA could signify a very competitive HS and/or a rigorous curriculum where few students will get an A in an AP or honors class. I mean, a valedictorian from an uncompetitive school might not even be in the top 20% elsewhere.</p>
<p>So high school profile and reputation count along with GPA. I would guess that the GPA is probably calculated according to Michigan standards, but is also probably weighted according to Michigan standards.</p>
<p>nearly all of michigan's applicants have taken a rigorous curriculum. Based on reading about situations with other applicants with GPA's around his, regardless of the courseload, it is low for Michigan.</p>
<p>UMrunner08, I just want to say that many of my classmates who have been accepted to U of M have not taken rigorous curriculums. While knows11's GPA is not excellent for Michigan, it is certainly not too low for Michigan either and, as collegecountdown said, his courseload may explain the GPA.</p>
<p>I"m just saying Michigan is used to seeing rigorous courseloads, so they don't factor that in as much as u might think...</p>
<p>Knows, your application was completed a mere 6 weeks ago. Michigan can take up to 12 weeks to get back to an applicant. Sometimes even longer. Be patient and do not worry. Your Michigan GPA (3.4) is low, but your SAT/ACT is strong.</p>
<p>My point was really more about the weighting of the high school profile(which among other things tells the colleges what GPA is linked with what class rank in that HS). I agree that if you read these boards it gives the impression that very few get in with the lower Michigan GPAs, but if you look at the list of kids from my high school that have gotten in in the last few years, that would back up the point I'm trying to make. It would be a totally unfair system otherwise.</p>
<p>The real thing that I don't understand is my friend who has 100 points lower than me on the SATs, 2 points lower on the ACTs, no SAT IIs, fewew ECs, less rigorous courseload with regular math and science throughout HS, but his unweighted GPA is slightly higher, sent his application in two weeks before mine heard in only 4 weeks. I thought Michigan would want a better complete package, not someone whose unweighted GPA is high due to an easy courseload. I just don't get it.</p>
<p>I think that if you are completed in early October, the process is alot faster. They get tons of apps after that, so I wouldn't read anything into the fact that your friend heard earlier. That said, it gets harder to get in the longer you wait to apply. Nevertheless I think it's a good sign for you that your friend got in - you may just have to wait longer to hear this time of year.</p>
<p>Michigan has always, always placed a lot of emphasis on grades. Grades, more than anything else, are a good indicator of how you'll do in college. Yes, they take curriculum into account, too. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that you don't know what your friends recs looked like, or what his essays read like. Maybe he really nailed the heck out of an essay question. </p>
<p>Most important, the 2-week gap may be extremely meaningful. There are some weeks where Michigan will admit more students. If his app was ready to go that week, and yours wasn't, then there you have it. One week later, it could be an entirely different story (fewer apps admitted, so the same quality app might have to wait). That doesn't mean the later apps will never get in....but it does mean they have to wait for the next time Michigan takes more apps.</p>
<p>OP
Sons app was complete on Oct 17 and he heard yesterday.Don't panic yet!</p>
<p>Knows11, you must also consider some important points. Michigan does not look at the Writing section of the SAT. Is it possible that the 100 point difference between your friend and you were primarily on the W section? Furthermore, Michigan does not consider SAT IIs unless a student's high school does not offer certain subjects. Finally, Michigan only looks at the best score in one sitting, in your case, a 31. So, did your friend get 2 points less than you on the ACT, or did he get a 30? And when you say your friend's GPA was slightly better, do you mean like a 3.45 or do you mean like a 3.6?</p>
<p>Furthermore, is Michigan your first choice? Did the tone of your essays say as Much? Is Michigan your friend's first choice? Did the tone of his essays say as much? Is your friend an URM? How about his ECs? Was he very active in and passionate about some activity? </p>
<p>Finally, you did apply 2 weeks later. In the Rolling admissions process, that can make a difference in terms of response time. Given your stats, you have a good chance of getting in, but you cannot look at admissions as a linear process. Just because your friend and you applied at about the same time and have similar stats does not mean you will hear back at the same time or get the same answer.</p>
<p>Alexandre-</p>
<p>My essays didn't mention Michigan at all- I didn't think that they should. Should I write them or something to say they are one of my first choices? Is this an issue?</p>
<p>No, I never said you should explicitly mention Michigan or your intent to enroll should you be accepted. I said your tone should demonstrate interest.</p>
<p>Ah, I guess I kind of get and did that...</p>