<p>First of all, if you guy's really think that UM evaluates their applicants individually you are kidding yourselves. Haven't you ever heard of the chart that they use for regular admissions??? It basically is set up in rows and columns (at least I KNOW it used to be like this only a couple years ago), and then it evaluates you on certain criteria, e.g., ACT score vs. race. Anybody black with 26+ ACT score is in, Asian with 33+ is in, etc. If you are in the midle ground you get deferred. Not too mention, just about everybody knows that a school as big as Michigan does not look in depth at each applicant.</p>
<p>Also, gomez, when they publish their list of criteria in order of importance for admission, essays is nowhere close to the top. I believe it goes (1) secondary school record (2) class difficulty (3)Accomplishments, then essays is labeled as "considered" much farther down the list. However, a recent Penn graduate helped me work on my essays, and I consider myself a pretty good writer, so I would say that they are at least above average, and certainly not a reason i was rejected.</p>
<p>Also, I am not criticizing the student body. Although I certainly feel it is not as strong as it could be due to their admissions practices, it is certainly very good. (I could publish a novel about UMs sometimes baffling admissions practices, but that would be a huge waste of time. Here are a couple that shocked me:</p>
<p>1) Absolutely NO consideration as to school you are transferring from. Strictly GPA. (Unless transfering from "peer institution," which I was told where the Ivies, and MIT... again,ABSURD)</p>
<p>2) For transfer students, students attending out of state schools are punished. Students attending private, out of state schools are punished further. Even if I am originally from Michigan, and my parents have paid taxes to the state my entire life, it is irrelevant. Also, community college kids are given preference over those at 4 year institutions. (all of this information was given to me by an admissions counselor) So, as you can see, they have it COMPLETELY reversed. The in-state, CC kids have a tremendous advantage over somebody attending a good 4 years OOS institution.</p>
<p>3)Affirmitive Action</p>
<p>You are right gomez, however, about the admissions office, and how it doesn;t have much bearing on the rest of the University. However, if the experience I would have dealing with UM faculty, administration, etc. compared ANYTHING to my experience dealing with the admissions office, there is no way I would want to go to Michigan.</p>
<p>Lastly, let me just say this. I asked an admissions counselor whether or not I should send a letter of recommendation with my app. As well all know, a detailed written letter from a professor that has had you in your class, is one of the BEST criteria for determining the true character and ability of a student. However, she replied, "well, yes you could, I guess." When I pried her more about it, she said, "too be honest, for transfer admissions, we don't even look at them usually...unless you have someone with Michigan connections." Now, if you are not completely appalled by the fact that an admissions counselor openly told me how much politics play a part in UMs admissions process, you clearly are in denial.</p>
<p>Anyways, enough of this nonsense. I have a project due tomorrow, and I have a feeling that most people in this room (and what can I expect, this is UM's board) are not going to be convinced by anything i say here. Clearly, Michigan would not have rejected me twice without good reason, as they seem to have the whole admissions process figured out.</p>
<p>Signing off.</p>