<p>I'm wondering if I should retake the ACT test this year as a college freshman. My highest score is currently a 32, which I believe is right at 75% in the Michigan average. I'm wondering if I should try to increase that to at least 34 because I do want to transfer to Michigan or some other better school. I only had a 3.6 gpa in high school so I obviously had difficulties getting accepted to Michigan since I am not particularly special in any other regard. Also if I get a say 3.8 my freshman year at my current university (still one of the nation's top 50 universities), have a job and a leadership position at that job and have various other activities, such as clubs, would I be a competitive applicant and have a decent shot at getting admitted to Michigan as a transfer? Also I have heard from someone else that Michigan still takes into account your state of residence as a transfer student. I'm wondering if it's true because I was an in-state applicant and that would make my life somewhat easier. I don't really want a chance me since I've had enough experience as that being bs so I just want to know if I would be among their competitive applicants. If I am still not competitive, could I get some recommendations as to what could make me more competitive, even if I am competitive, what else could I do to become more competitive? Thanks</p>
<p>I don’t think you should retake the ACT so you can apply as a transfer.
Sure Michigan looks at your high school records, but if you’re transferring as a college freshman or sophomore, it’s not going to affect you as much.</p>
<p>You might have an advantage because you’re a Michigan resident (I’m not too sure about this part), but make sure your essays express WHY you want to go to Michigan. Strong essays make you competitive. </p>
<p>At your university, try to get close to a 4.0 and do extra curricular activities since it sounds like you didn’t do many in high school. The person looking at your application might realize that you changed after you went to a university, and that change will help you be competitive.</p>
<p>Also, take classes that will help YOU be competitive. Applying to U of M as a potential transfer with a 4.0 in four gym classes is ridiculous (I’m making this part up, but you understand the idea, no?).</p>
<p>Well I’ve already signed up for my first semester classes and I’m taking anthropology, honors Western Civ, Astronomy, Macroeconomics, and comparative politics. Would you characterize that as a strong enough schedule? Also I did do extra curricular activities in high school but I think I was fairly average and unremarkable in those. I think what hurt me the most was my gpa because frankly a 3.6 is not very good. So thanks for the advice Sprints, I think it will definitely help me in my second attempt to gain admission to the University of Michigan.</p>
<p>bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>Hi Anthony,</p>
<p>I transferred into the engineering school for the winter semester, so I do have experience with the transfer process.</p>
<p>First, do you know what you want to major in? By the courses you’re taking, I would guess that you might be PoliSci. You should take courses that would be in-line with that degree at U-M (it’s a much bigger deal with something like engineering, where you don’t have very many free electives).</p>
<p>Second, do not re-take the ACT. As a transfer student, they want to see how you do in a competitive college environment. Getting a higher ACT score does not reflect on how you perform in college.</p>
<p>What you need to do is just do well in your courses. And I’ll say, it’s not imperative that you get into U-M next year. When you graduate, you’ll be able to put U-M on your resume, that’s what matters down the road.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re going to State right now. Is there a reason that you want to transfer, does U-M have a much better program?</p>
<p>Let me know if you have other questions.</p>
<p>Not to hijack the thread but I’ve got a question. I thought the engineering school only took fall transfers?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is not true. I applied for the winter term and got in. You can look ([Michigan</a> Engineering | Apply](<a href=“http://www.engin.umich.edu/ugadmissions/transfer/apply.html]Michigan”>http://www.engin.umich.edu/ugadmissions/transfer/apply.html)) and see that there are application due dates for both Fall and Winter.</p>
<p>I’m not sure this is true for all departments, but I am pretty confident that you can transfer as soon as you have all your pre-reqs finished. </p>
<p>There are graduate programs that you need to start in a certain semester. For instance, the Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) program requires that you attend an intensive summer “refresher” semester before starting the program. There is nothing like this for undergrad though.</p>
<p>The transfer class in the winter is usually much smaller than the fall class. Depending on the applicant pool, that could make it much more competitive.</p>
<p>Chasely,</p>
<p>Just one question first. Would it actually be of any harm to retake the ACT? Because if not, I think I will retake it because from my experience, the admissions officers only look at your ACT, and will rarely check when you took it. So I’m under the impression that a 34 is more impressive than a 32 even if I do retake it now. And you did guess right that I want to major in PoliSci, although I am also thinking of maybe something in economics. </p>
<p>The reason I want to transfer is that Michigan has a far stronger PoliSci department than where I’m going right now. I think it would be very beneficial if I go to UM for PoliSci since it is among the top in the nation.</p>
<p>So thanks for all that info, it really helps and I appreciate it.</p>
<p>you definitely do not need to take the act again!
i’m a new transfer, starting at u of m in the fall.
i didn’t have great grades in high school(about 3.2) and a lower act than yours…then i did much better in college and got a 3.9 my first 2 years in college and was accepted.
and i didn’t participate in any clubs or activities. my parents are both alumni though so that may have counted in my favor…
anyway, though, based on my own experience, you have a very good shot at being accepted!
i doubt they looked at my high school grades much…i even failed one class in high school. but i got all A’s in college so i think that’s all they really cared about. for transfers, i think they’re mostly interested to see how you’ve done in college so far so they know you can handle it at michigan.</p>