<p>It’s NOT lying. It’s just a neutral answer that cant address the myriad possibilities of a situation in holistic admissions. There is an assessment sheet. The same criteria and
weight is used to evaluate the candidate. Spots are reserved. A candidate can receive a “high admit” rating but can also end up on a waiting list. Another candidate could receive an “admit” rating instead of “high admit” but if they’re from a underrepresented geographic area or instate when the IS spots are still available, receive an offer when the high admit didn’t. And vice versa. It’s conceivable for a high admit in-state applicant to have an “easier” regular admit than an out-of-state EA “high admit” applicant due to the vicissitudes of applicants, yield, etc.</p>
<p>If Michigan isn’t one of her top choices why are so you concerned??</p>
<p>I don’t think it really matters how your daughter applies RD or EA. Naviance is usually a very good indicator of your chances of acceptance provided you have enough former students applying. Also, depending on her program of study, each college has their range of acceptances, which could be higher than the general overall stats.</p>
<p>Also, don’t think the health issue will be a factor helping with admission, there are plenty of kids with health issues that manage to mantain grades</p>
<p>“All applications are reviewed using the same standards regardless of when they are submitted.” True statement. It’s the competition and the number of available spots that change EA vs. RD.</p>
<p>Many schools do that with EA and ED. They will swear up and down that it is equal or more difficult (due to the qualifications of the early crowd) and then when statisitical analysis is done, it shows a whole other answer. </p>
<p>When you apply EA ore ED, you do gain some advantage right up front for being early. Admissions’ primary purpose is to fill a class. Early in the process they have a big empty room and they need to fill it. You have a good app, and they will likely take you. Later in the process when the room is nearly full, they are going to be squeezing those “tomatoes” twice to get the best one. By then they have read hundreds of essays saying the same thing, seen thousands of distance runners, pianists and kids traumatized by their parent’s divorce, illness and have prevailed. They can stack the violinist and AP calc kids apps so they are two feet high. All of those things that are truly great accomplishment become one of many when thousands of applications have to be examined. And you have only so much room. So there is that advantage when you apply early. </p>
<p>But if you need that first term senior year to shore up your GPA, it is a balancing act if you have a borderline app with grades that were dipping lower junior year. In cases I personally saw, those kids who did not show an upward trend junior year were at disadvantage if they did not pull it up first term senior year, and the counselors at DS’s school did advise those kids that EA and ED were not good bets for them. Those trends are something admissions eyeball. If the school does not reject most early applicants but rolls them into the regular round, it is not so bad, as you can personally present your case with your outstanding grades, difficult course load and great accomplishment from first term senior year when that happens. It gives you a chance to show your special interest in the school and highlight your app. But beware of schools that are quick to reject rather than defer because you could lose your chance for admissions by not putting your best foot forward.</p>
<p>This is simple.
This is not about EA vs RD.</p>
<p>All applications are reviewed using the same standards regardless of when they are submitted. But, completing and submitting your application materials as early as you can will increase your chances of acceptance.</p>
<p>Becase they build the probable admit pile early. </p>
<p>So candidate z will be held to the same standards as candidate b. But, at that point, there may not be many slots left to fill.</p>
<p>It’s a semantics thing…Easier/Harder versus More Likely/Less Likely. It’s no easier or harder to get accepted EA versus RD because the same standards are applied to all applications, but as several others have stated you’re more likely to get accepted EA versus RD because the pool of applicants is smaller. RD includes everyone deferred from EA plus all the new RD applicants. Plus, if FA/merit aid is a factor in your decision, you’re MUCH better off applying EA and getting your foot in the door early.</p>
<p>CRD, I am not a big fan of having a student explain why their grades were lower. I’d consider talking to the GC about including that info in her rec letter. Our GCs (at large publics) were very helpful as a sounding board in whether to include certain info.</p>
<p>CRD, historically umich hasn’t seemed to issue many outright rejections from EA, and generally wants to see interim grades from deferred students anyway, so I would be inclined to have her go ahead and apply EA to demonstrate interest since you’re including an explanation around the performance blip. I think she’ll end up with a better chance for review, and you might find if other variables are in her favor that the performance issue doesn’t even end up being an issue. Things may have changed since the switch to the common app, but historically, umich has been decent at reviews that are more “holistic” in nature.</p>
<p>In 2009 when my son applied from a rigorous, in-state school with a lower-than-average
GPA (but high testing and outstanding recommendations/awards) and a bonafide medical
reason for performance gaps his counselor and a Umich counselor had both told him to a)
apply very early and b) address his performance gaps in his application. Umich does and will look at and possibly accommodate performance in trying circumstances such as a disabling medical issue, etc., provided it can discern that the student can/does have the capability and desire to succeed in the face of same.</p>
<p>He took the advice to heart as umich was his first choice, and contrary to the odds, was
accepted by Xmas for the regular degree (he was a dual degree app) with scholarship. (He was also accepted to the school of music after the normal portfolio/audition/interview process later in the year.)</p>
<p>Each case is different and there’s no real Rosetta stone, but I believe your daughter’s app
will receive the most thorough consideration in light of documented issues if it’s submitted
early.</p>
<p>U-M wants students who are interested in U-M. By applying early, you are showing that you have a great interest in going to U-M. Why beat an application deadline for a school you aren’t really interested, especially since the deadline is well before you find out if you get accepted into other selective schools?</p>
<p>There is some advantage, but it’s nothing close to overwhelming.</p>