I was recently informed that my application would be stronger if I switched from applying to the CoE to LS&A. I plan to major in astronautical engineering, but I also would like to get in haha. If I were to switch my major to Physics or Math at LS&A, what would that mean for my plan to study astro? Would I be able to switch into the CoE? Would I be far behind students already in CoE in my field? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!
Check out this over here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-michigan-ann-arbor/1857517-coe-2015-admission-and-enrolled-freshmen-data.html
When you work it out, CoE had an acceptance rate last year of 24% (according to those numbers) while the University as a whole had 26%. So you’d potentially have a VERY marginally better chance applying LSA. To be eligible to transfer in you’d have to take some basic math/science prerequisites with a 2.5. The essay for the transfer application is literally the exact same one as the primary essay on Michigan’s Common Application (“Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School to which you are applying. How would that curriculum support your interests?”), except you’d have to write it for the College of Engineering instead of LSA.
Also you’d need to complete (according to their site):
MATH 115 and 116
PHY 140 and 141
CHEM 130/125L/126L or CHEM 210/211L
ENGR 101 or EECS 183
plus one of a number of English courses that I won’t list here. You can get out of some of those with AP credits.
Just apply to Engineering. The improvement in chances is so marginal, transferring between colleges isn’t necessarily a given (and you have to write your essay all over again), and you’ll probably be able to write that essay for your Freshman application better for CoE since that’s the school you’re actually interested in anyway.
It may be too late for the change.
Thanks for the info Cautious Optimist. I heard from admissions that I would be “much more competitive as an LS&A student”. I’m not sure if that’s their way of saying: switch schools now because you won’t be getting in to CoE, or rather, I simply have a better chance with LS&A (the second ones the more optimistic of the two). Would I be missing out on many classes that the CoE offers freshmen year by being required to take those LSA courses you mentioned?
Also, billcsho, I was told that there’s still a little bit of time to change.
When did you submit your application? RD deadline was 2 weeks ago and it is rolling. If they still have not review your file, you may still try to switch. The admission to LSA is a bit easier but it really depends on your stat. You will not miss anything if you are admitted to LSA as you can still take equivalent courses in LSA.
Note that not only the admission rate is slightly lower for CoE, the applicant pool has higher test score and GPA in average too.
Billcsho,
I applied early action and was deferred soo maybe they haven’t completely reviewed my file yet? My scores are probably okay for engineering: 30 for math on the ACT, 3.96 weighted, 90’s in physics/calc, 4 on calc ab.
It sounds like your recommendation is that I go with LSA for the higher chance, though? As a side note, I think my overall application is stronger as a whole than just looking at the math (i.e. Extracurriculars, other classes).
If you apply to transfer into CoE from LSA, they don’t care what your LSA major was. You just need to have certain classes done at UM, and all of that is described on the CoE website. You just need to write convincing essays regarding “why engineering”. That’s it.