<p>Joining the Common Application always boosts the number of applicants, and it would seem that Michigan is no exception. The University is expecting a 20% increase in applicants this year, up to 37,000 from 31,000 in 2010. </p>
<p>Michigan will probably admit approximately 15,000 of those applicants, bringing the acceptance rate to 40%. I do not foresee a significant drop in the yield rate as Michigan has added two suplemental essays, weeding out many of the less serious applicants.</p>
<p>The surge in applicants as a result of joining the Common Applicantion is not a one-time thing. Its effects are felt for 3-5 years, with the 2nd and 3rd years seeing the most dramatic increases. As such, I project Michigan will receive 44,000-46,000 in 2012 and 50,000-58,000 in 2013.</p>
<p>That will not affect our USNWR ranking. If Michigan wants to improve on that front, it needs to do what virtually all top 20 universities do; game the system. There are many easy ways that those elite private universities do it.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Increase alumni donation rates: Pressure alums to donate by hounding them, publishing their names when they fail to donate. Stress how donations help the university in the rankings. Come up with ingenious donation installment plans up-front payment of $5 but list that donation as a $1 donation for 5 straight years. </p></li>
<li><p>Reduce class sizes: Instead of having a large lecture, have several small lectuares taught by the same professor. Redefine what classifies as a “class”. Limit enrollment into a class to 19 or 49 students. Reduce intro-level courses and introduce seminar type classes. Students will not learn more or better, but class sizes will be smaller because those seminars are neither required, nor do they hold major appeal.</p></li>
<li><p>Lower student to faculty ratios: Only include undergraduate students while also including faculty from the Law and Medical schools. </p></li>
<li><p>Raise SAT and ACT ranges: Superscore the SAT and only include the highest ACT scores to bridge the gap between the total number of admitted students and the number of admitted students who submitted their SAT scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Improve financial resources rating by resorting to loose accounting principles. </p></li>
<li><p>There is not much Michigan can do about graduation rate. Schools with large Engineering departments will typically have slightly lower graduation rates. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Bottom line, given its academic excellence, Michigan could lift itself from #30 to #10 overnight. Fortunately, Michigan’s administration adheres to a code. I would not have it any other way. </p>
<p>This said, if Michigan were to reduce its size from 26,000 undergrads to 18,000 undergrads, it would probably rise to the top 20 without having to resort to dishonest means and unethical practices.</p>
<p>UCB, Michigan’s reputational score is fine. I wish HS counselors gave it a little more credit. Their input drags Michigan’s reputational rating down, but a score of 88 is still solid thanks to Michigan’s PA rating. </p>
<p>Most of Michigan’s academic peers have reputational scores between 84 and 93. Besides, as Cal knows very well, having a great PA score does not land you in the top 20. ;)</p>
<p>MLDWoody, acceptance rate does count, but very little. Michigan going from accepting 45%-50% to 40% this year and probably 35% next year, 30% the year after that and finally levelling off at 25% will probably not affect its USNWR undergraduate ranking.</p>
<p>If anyone asks, I point them to the THE or QS world rankings, even though I’d be an undergraduate and those rankings are more based on graduate programs if I understand correctly. hehe, no.15 in the world sounds mighty fine to me :P</p>
<p>UChicago, the class of 2016 will still be ok. I think the acceptance rate for your year will be reasonable (probably around 38%). But the class of 2018 and beyond will be contending with acceptance rate in the 25%-30% range.</p>
<p>Good! imo the acceptance rate has been the only stigma on UM. Despite it being a public school I’ve always wanted the acceptance rate to be lower; for such a great institution with great PA, ug and grad programs, and good stats all around, people just see through that and look at the acceptance rate and think that it’s a school for avg. kids.</p>
<p>I don’t think Michigan need any more elitists. Keep the acceptance rate high!</p>
<p>Either way, Michigan has a target class size. They admit as many as they feel is necessary to have that number enroll, and no more. That’s simply how it works. The acceptance rate is really just based on the number that apply, nothing more.</p>
<p>I just wish Michigan would learn how to use the waitlist. As it is, it is pointless to be placed on the waitlist as Michigan invites thousands. That is an indication that they have little intention of going to the waitlist. So if they underestimate the yield, they would overshoot the matriculation target and end up with a higher than expected freshman class. That’s what happened every other year in the last few years.</p>
<p>Agreed GoBlue. Michigan should assume a 40% yield and roughly 500 on the waitlist just in case.</p>
<p>Michigan also needs to stick to two dates for replying to applicants. December 15 and April 1 should be the only two days that the University sends acceptances, rejections, deferrals (in the case of EA applicants) and wait list (in the case of RD applicants).</p>
<p>I’m going to start my application today and submit it hopefully by today as well. I don’t think it won’t be so easy to get in with all this increase. </p>
<p>Should have thought of applying sooner I guess?</p>