<p>Consider the following quotes:</p>
<p>Dates</a> & Deadlines | University of Michigan Office of Admissions</p>
<p>
[quote]
Without question, Michigan is one of the most respected universities in the world, attracting the best and brightest students from every corner of the globe. So when it comes to your admission here, you’ll want to put yourself in the ** best possible position for acceptance. That includes completing and submitting your application materials as early as you can. Not only will you increase your chances of acceptance**, but you’ll also position yourself for the best possible financial aid package.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>Application</a> FAQs | University of Michigan Office of Admissions
[quote]
Is it easier or harder to be admitted through Early Action?
All applications are reviewed using the ** same standards ** regardless of when they are submitted.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>D had medical issues which resulted in rough junior year and just based on Naviance, she has about a 40% chance of getting in EA. She intends to get higher grades senior year and her senior grades should help validate the medical excuse for the rough junior year and also raise her GPA. It's not one of her top choices. She intends to apply ED somewhere else. </p>
<p>I can't figure out the best strategy. If the standards are the same as indicated by the second quote, it makes sense to wait because she could get rejected outright EA, and she might not need to apply at all if she lands her ED. </p>
<p>However, if it's actually rolling as indicated on the common app and as indicated by the first quote above, and Nov 1 is really a "priority" deadline, then it makes sense to apply EA.</p>
<p>I can't believe they've contradicted themselves on their own website. How can you rely on what they say. </p>
<p>Does anyone really know the truth?</p>
<p>Since there’s a lot of randomness in college admissions, your chances might be higher if you apply EA, but if you are far out of the admittance curve in either direction, it won’t really matter.</p>
<p>I don’t believe anyone gets rejected from EA. What happens is that they defer you to regular admissions time frame and then they reject you or accept you.</p>
<p>More ambiguity</p>
<p>[School</a> Zone blog: The new reality of admission into University of Michigan | MLive.com](<a href=“http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/12/school_zone_blog_the_new_reali.html]School”>School Zone blog: The new reality of admission into University of Michigan - mlive.com)</p>
<p>“Now Michigan has moved the system used by many private colleges. Students who apply by Nov. 1 are notified before Christmas whether or not they’ve been admitted, denied or deferred. Those who apply between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1 will be notified in the spring. **There is no advantage for applying early **, U-M officials say.”</p>
<p>I’m not an expert, but I believe the acceptance rate for Early Action applicants is higher than the regular applicant pool. I’m not sure by how much but if she doesn’t get in during the first go around, her application would be rolled into the regular applicant pool. I’m sure the “…no advantage in EA” line is used by the adcomms so they don’t get 20,000 early applications to muddle through. </p>
<p>As Michigan switched over to the Common App a few years ago, the number of applications received has been growing exponentially. My advice is to get the application in as early as possible, as thousands of students who do apply are qualified, but by the later stages of the process (January-February) the admissions committee starts to really tighten up on acceptances so as not to over enroll the incoming freshman class.</p>
<p>I would advise applying EA to get the application in ASAP. Michigan not binding so she can still apply elsewhere early (whether those schools are non-binding or 1 is binding). If she is on the cusp, they will likely have her send in her final grades for 1st semester senior year.</p>
<p>Good luck to the college application process. How stressful that was</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Are you sure about that? I can’t find chapter and verse. Can’t she get denied outright in the EA round?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure but I know that it never/almost never happens to anyone.</p>
<p>[Early</a> Action | University of Michigan Office of Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.umich.edu/drupal/early]Early”>http://www.admissions.umich.edu/drupal/early)</p>
<p>“Note: Students who apply via early action but dont meet the requirements or deadlines will be rolled into the regular decision applicant pool. All materials must then be postmarked by February 1 and decisions will be released by mid-April.”</p>
<p>I take “requirements” as the strength of the overall application relative to the other applicants in the EA pool. I’ve never heard of an outright denial from an EA applicant. Usually they defer it to regular. I suppose they could deny but if they did, it would be due to very low grades relative to the rest of applicants. To put it bluntly, if someone got denied from an EA application, waiting until the regular application period wouldn’t change their final decision.</p>
<p>Again, with the volume of applications they’ll receive, I think waiting out the EA period is just shooting yourself in the foot.</p>
<p>Apply EA…have your daughter explain in her essay why her Junior year in high school was so rough. Explain how it has made her stronger, make it heart felt. She will get deferred, but she will send her 1st semester grades that will hopefully show the improvement. If you apply EA her application will be read several times which is better then just once or twice during RD.</p>
<p>I would apply EA like Lisa suggests. If they need to see improvement in senior year, they will defer until you have something to submit. They don’t seem to do lot of rejections in December.</p>
<p>You may want to check last year’s U of M threads. There may be some insight there, although there will be a lot to weed through.</p>
<p>Why would they outright lie then in the FAQ?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>From what everyone is saying, It seems like RD requires a higher standard.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that RD requires a higher standard, I think it is just a lot harder to get into the school RD because a lot more qualified applications have been received at that time. Keep in mind, many top high school applicants in this country may not regard Michigan as one of their top choices. So they will not apply there EA, and then apply RD. Once all of these top applicants apply, the competition gets harder and harder. Colleges don’t accept students based on a set guideline, they accept students based on how they stand among the rest of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>Well said, SoccerWolfP :)</p>
<p>I believe the distinction is that the same criteria, weight, etc. is given to all applications whether they’re received early or during regular admissions.
However, if you have 40,000 qualified applicants, common sense tells you that applying early at the VERY LEAST demonstrates interest, and that it’s entirely possible spots available toward the end of the process are comparatively diminished.</p>
<p>If UMich is a top pick for your daughter, apply early. She will most likely be deferred (EA acceptance seems to go to straight high-stat students…or obvious admits) and they will most likely request her interim grades anyway – so as suggested, explain and submit!</p>
<p>SoccerWolfP, I agree with you but this was a response to a FAQ</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The FAQ asked a binary question - easier or harder-</p>
<p>The answer they give to their own question is total BS. It’s harder. </p>
<p>What’s the point of putting this in the FAQ if they are going to lie. </p>
<p>That they are LYING and MISLEADING on their website annoys me.</p>
<p>I don’t understand ClassicRockerDad, is it your point to prove that U of M are liars/that it maybe an error on their website… or the best way for your daughter to get accepted into U of M which is to apply EA?</p>
<p>It’s pretty much unanimous that it’s easier to get in EA. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input. </p>
<p>The rest was me just venting. Putting misleading statements into your FAQ by an admissions office puts a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>I don’t think you will find any college website stating that it is “easier” to be admitted EA. But, the general consensus is that he odds may be better EA due to less competition and the fact that the student is demonstrating interest.</p>
<p>If they won’t admit that it’s easier, then why bother to even put the question in an FAQ on their admissions website? Just so they can obfuscate the answer?</p>
<p>Other schools have a “priority” deadline, which indicates that it’s easier to be admitted if you meet that deadline because the spots start to fill up. That’s in effect what people are saying Michigan’s EA is anyway. Why not just say it straight.</p>
<p>To be honest, if I were a Michigan Admissions Counselor and I had to answer the question: “Is it easier or harder to get into Michigan if I apply EA?” I would have this response…</p>
<p>Why does it matter? Our EA is not restrictive or binding like ED. There is absolutely nothing to lose by applying EA. If you really wanted to go to our school, you would apply as soon as possible. The question should never be a “is it easier or harder?” It should be “how badly do I want to be a Wolverine?” If the answer is “really badly,” then I would apply EA… which is what your daughter should do if she wants to go.</p>