I’m an international applicant from Germany applying for UMich RD.
I took my Abitur Exams with an average of 1.5, which roughly equals a GPA of 3.85.
I got 1950 on my SAT I, I’m gonna take the ACT in december and see if I can improve my scores… I’m also taking three SAT IIs, in US history, World history and Latin. I want to major in political science, so I’m applying for LSA.
My ECs are very good (and related to politics), my teacher recommendations as well. I’d say my essays are good tool. I won’t apply for financial aid.
I’m afraid that, as an international student, my chances of admittance aren’t very good. Should I even apply?
As a German citizen, your chances of admission are actually solid. Not many Germans apply to US universities. Definitely apply.
I’ve heard that as an international student, you have way worse chances at public universities? Do you have any experience with that?
Full pay foreign students are pretty welcome, actually. But higher test scores would help, not sure those will get you into Michigan. Do you have any other schools on your list? You should include some schools where your test scores are at ir above the 50% mark for the school. You can usually see what the score ranges are by Googling " Common Data Set".
Have you tried a practice ACT? Some people test better with the ACT than the SAT. There is still time to try it. Michigan is a very numbers oriented admissions process and higher tests scores would really help. Good luck.
“I’ve heard that as an international student, you have way worse chances at public universities? Do you have any experience with that?”
Not just public universities…all universities, private or public, have a limited number of spots open to international applicants. Very few universities enroll classes where more than 10% of their students are international, and yet international applicants make up 20%-30% of the overall applicant pool.
That being said, universities want a diverse group of international students. The vast majority of international applicants are Chinese and Indian. In their case, admission is indeed much harder. But for Europeans (and Africans and other underrepresented countries), given the relatively small number of applicants, admission is reasonably difficult. It does not mean you will have an easier time getting in, but being international will not hurt your chances.
I’ve already signed up for the december ACT. I’m sure I’ll score better on the ACT, but I don’t know by how many points I’m gonna improve my current score… That’s why I only told you the 1950 on the SAT.
How much does UMich value social activity? I founded a social LGBT organization when I was 16 and I’m currently teaching German to refugees… Do they appreciate that?
I already got an offer from a university in London, so I don’t really need another match college… I’m only applying to colleges better than that university in London…
@Alexandre so I’m neither competing against US citizens nor people from China and India? That’s good news! 
It is not a question of competition, but your application will be evaluated by an admissions officer responsible for Europe.
Because of the sheer numbers applying, Michigan is more of a numbers game. They recalculate your gpa with A=A+=A-=4 and B=B+=B-=3 and so on and rumor has it that you need at least a 3.7. Your EC are good but your competition are valedictorians, physics olympiads, may have cured cancer! So ‘good’ EC’s might not be good enough but then again it might be. Get your ACT or SAT scores up and give it a try.
By the way Michigan is very strict with their deadline so you may have to submit what scores you have now. They will consider test taken before the deadline with results that come in after but your application has to be complete with test results on the deadline. Also remember that the ACT don’t send scores to colleges until the writing score comes in (even though the composite scores are available earlier). So you need to request completed score be sent from either ACT or SAT at least three weeks before the application deadline. Then send in results that arrive later as soon as possible and if that’s before they have read your application, they will be considered.
Good luck!
Definitely include the LGBT and teaching refugees! Michigan will surely appreciate that.
Do you know how they evaluate my German Abitur transcript? They won’t recalculate that, right? Also does it help that I always had 13-15 (roughly equals A - A+ in the US) points in all social sciences and humanities, and 10-12 (roughly A-) in natural sciences (this decreased my Abitur average grade) since I’m not applying for a science major?
Those are just two of my ECs, I also play the piano on a high level, took additional aural music classes and participated in various sports (that level of ECs is way abovr average in Germany since you don’t have much time for ECs when you’re attending). Also, this LGBT thing is not just some club, but the only organization of that kind in my city…
So you recommend me to send my SAT scores although I’m gonna be better on the ACT? Isn’t UMichs deadline on 2/1?
@itsmyusername I wrote my common application essay on how teaching the refugees made me become aware of white privilege and my supplemental essays on playing the piano and founding this LGBT organization,
Not sure about the German transcript. Wait to see if you can improve on SAT/ACT and send that score. Yes, Feb 1 is the deadline, but I would recommend really dedicating a lot of time to studying for the December tests (do tons of practice) and hopefully do well on that one and not wait until January. Don’t send the 1950 unless it’s the best you have. I personally think your CA topic is great, but maybe some others could weigh in on if it’s too political perhaps.
Looks to me like you have a good shot if you can get your scores up, since I have no idea what your transcript means. If you do well on SAT 2 it will help as well. LSA isn’t as numbers-based as Engineering, though. Also, I’m in-state and it’s considerably harder to get in from OOS so I may be wrong on some parts, but I think you have a pretty good shot. Do you know if anyone else from your area is applying?
They may recalculate your transcript to compare it to other European systems but that’s a question for admissions. Michigan gets over 50,000 applications that’s why it’s a numbers game and your test scores and grades are very important. Your ECs like high school level sports are not going to make up for poor test scores - you need to be a recruited athlete or a URM to be in the bottom %25 scores and an instate student from Michigan to be in the middle 25%-75% scores. To be out of state or from a highly represented country you need to be in the top 75% scores. Now Germany seems like a lower represented state so my guess would be that you need scores around the %50 level (ACT=32 or SAT= 2180) but that all depends on who else is applying from Germany.
You should send the best completed scores you have by 1/1 or so and for ACT’s completed means having the writing score results. Then if you get better scores, send them in asap
I’m not saying that your EC are not important as they will round out your application along with your essays. But make no mistake they will not get you in. The best thing you have going for you is that you are from Germany and have good grades. Now if you can get your test scores up you have a much better chance. Good luck!
I just realized the Michigan is rolling admissions for applications after early action. Yes the absolute deadline is 2/1 but many of the spots are filled up well before then. So get in your application as soon as you have some better test scores like next month is possible - the sooner the better!!!
@itsmyusername according to wikipedia (I know, not the best source), my translated GPA is something between a 3.85 and a 3.9. But I guess nobody knows how UMich evaluates Abitur scores, right?
@KathleenA Thank you for your honest estimation, it helps a lot!
When should I submit my application? Immediately after taking the ACT (and without knowing my scores)? Or two weeks later after I’ve received my composite score?
My son’s college counselor always suggested waiting until you see the scores just incase there was something way off. You may want to apply to an Ivy like Columbia which really likes displaying international flags representing current student’s countries. Of course you will have a slim chance like everyone else but not much different than UMichigan and better test scores would help.
I’m definitely applying to Columbia, as it is my ultimate dream school, but I never thought I’d have any chance…? I’m excited about the ACT and about my scores!
At Columbia on Convocation day they march in the flags from countries of the new students. I’m sure their will be a German flag, maybe it will represent you? Study for the ACT’s and you have a chance. Good luck!