I am in a bit of a dilemma here. My intended major is computer science and Michigan offers it both in lsa and engineering.
The advantage of me applying to lsa is that the acceptance rate is higher and I could transfer to engineering if I get in. The disadvantage would be that im not a fan of the English or foreign language classes in lsa and I only took a foreign language for 2 years in high school.
Should I bet on myself and apply to engineering? I have a lower chance of getting in but if I do I won’t have to waste time transferring. If I don’t get in I wouldn’t be going to Michigan at all opposed to just transferring from lsa. Any thoughts? (I’m in state btw)
If your stats are high and you’re in-state, then apply to the CoE. I’m sure transferring from LSA to CoE isn’t easy and as you mention, you won’t like the foreigh laguage and writing classes. All (maybe with a few exceptions) LSA students have to take First Year writing and foreign language, unless you took AP Foreigh Language class and received a high score on the AP test. And it doesn’t sound like you did.
Is the 3.9 UW? You’re definitely in the ball park, but the SAT score may be a little low. The CoE experts here like @Knowsstuff might say that your SAT needs to be in the 1,500 +/- range. But I’ll defer to them.
Well not really sure I am an expert but will to try to help @sushiritto.
Engineering is 3.93 with like 33/34 Act. Yes kids get in with less. Being instate 1460-80 but yes anything over 1500 is where you want to be. My son applied LSA with a 3.95 and 34 Act just because getting accepted to engineering for OOS is tough and he was looking at Actuary also.
A misconception on your part. Transferring is pretty easy and you don’t have to take a language if you know your transferring. My son applied like now last year and was accepted on the due date of February 1st.
You have to take a level one writing course. Look at the cross transfer for engineering
Do those classes. You just have to complete them before your sophomore year but can transfer also as a sophomore… Warning… My son took full boat 18 credits a semester and took two classes at a community College over the summer… It’s not easy…
LSA is 3.83 with like 32 instate and 33/34 out of state as a random idea. So it’s not that much easier going just LSA.
Thank you for all of the info! Another question,because I only took a foreign language for 2 years wouldn’t that hurt my application to lsa since they recommend 4?
If there’s nothing you can do about it then don’t think about it. Hitting their recommendations is part of the game. But many get it with less. I would of suggested at least 3 years. But again you don’t and nothing can change that now. Hopefully the rest of your application is strong.
My son was worried about not having 4 years but mandarin and AP microeconomics where held at the same time and he really wanted to take micro… But he had the 3 years. The recommend is something to achieve and then excel if you can.
Yes they will… I didn’t see you were a junior. So 3 years is your minimum and that’s OK. On the common app there is a question to explain something you want the reviewer /colleges to know. Well… If you would do it again you would start Spanish in freshman year and not sophomore year… That would be a fine explanation
“I can take Spanish 3 as a senior,don’t know if they will see it on my transcript if I apply early action though.”
Not on your transcript if you apply early but they will see it in your senior course load, which you will be required to list. If you are deferred or apply RD, they will then see it on your transcript.
Would highly recommend the third year of F/L. Applicants to LSA should ideally have four years. Two is the minimum - necessary but not sufficient. It may keep your app. from getting rejected altogether but you won’t compare well against others with 3 - 4 years, including honors and AP F/L. The suggestion of the do-over starting freshman year is good; another one would be that you simply couldn’t fit everything you wanted to into your schedule, and you had to make some tough choices during junior year, with the plan to make it up during senior. That absolutely was the case for my own kid (who ended up having to get approved for independent study finally!) and it has to be a pretty common problem among kids who are outperforming their peers and befuddling the poor administrator tasked with finalizing the course schedule LOL.