<p>I'm applying to U of M EA as a safety, but I get the feeling that I'm taking a big risk since Michigan is such a good school. My parents say that I'm sure to get in if I don't screw up my essays, but I still have a nagging feeling... So should I apply to U of M as a safety, or pick a safer school like Michigan State or Wayne State?</p>
<p>Quick Profile of Me: I'm an Asian male with a 4.0 UW gpa in a decent public high school, 2370 SAT, 35 ACT, 5s on six AP tests, 800 in Math II, Biology and Chemistry SAT II. Extracurriculars include 4 year varsity swimming, managing the track team, TA at chinese school, and a research internship. I got Honors in USNCO (a national award i think), became semifinalist in USABO twice, and have an AIME qualification.</p>
<p>University of Michigan has a 50% acceptance rate. With the scores that you posted I have no doubt that you would be accepted to the University of Michigan. Those scores are extremely competitive and could probably get you into the Ivy leagues if you wanted. : )
Good luck, but statistically you should be a shoe-in!</p>
<p>I know what you are feeling. I’m applying to my state’s “flagship school” as a safety and very likely “should” be accepted but I feel like I should be applying to another safety school too.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t ever give them the impression you don’t intend to enroll because they’re notorious for rejecting “safety” applicants. Like many schools they keep getting a record number of apps (probably closer to 40% next year) but yeah, you’re a high match on stats alone, probably even Honors.</p>
<p>U of M is not quite the safety school it used to be. The acceptance rate this year was 36%, not 50%. My son thought U of M was his safety school. They had over 42,000 applications, the highest ever. Based on the stats you listed, you seem likely to be accepted; however, this year there were many 4.0 students with great resumes who were waitlisted and/or not accepted. My son felt very fortunate to be accepted as an out of state applicant for the 2012 freshman class, after being deferred initially, and his resume is amazing. I don’t want to discourage you, just giving the facts. By all means apply - it’s a great school - but you might want to have a more certain safety school on your list.</p>
<p>Are you a Michigan resident? Then it’s probably a safe school for you. Otherwise, it’s a crap shoot…you are obviously qualified for admission but it can be hard to predict when you are from out of state, especially if you seek any FA.</p>
<p>As an in state student I think you’re fine. If I were you I would apply EA, and if by some chance you aren’t admitted apply to Michigan State in December!</p>
<p>Agree with recommendation to apply EA. Even if you are interested in applying SCEA to HYPS, I believe they allow an exception for application to an in-state school despite the “singe choice” restriction. If you are sitting with no better acceptance by mid-December, you can apply to additional safeties at that time.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your essays for U of M. They barely read them. Also, you might as well apply to MSU, too, because you’re vastly overqualified and could end up getting mad scholarship money.</p>
<p>At least one of their SCEA/REA plans limits the public school exception to in-state public schools, but others allow early action application to any public school. Other early action exceptions may include schools with rolling admissions, scholarships with early deadlines, and non-US schools.</p>
<p>A selective school with rolling admissions can sometimes be considered a ‘safety’ because you have a lot of time to apply elsewhere if you aren’t accepted. I don’t think EA works nearly as well; you may miss out on some other good safety opportunities while you are waiting for a reply.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to WashU, William and Mary, BU Honors, UF with an Honors invite and several other schools…mulitiple scholarships. He visited UMich two times and applied early and didn’t need financial aid. He was deferred and then didn’t accept the waitlist. </p>
<p>Your stats make it appear that UMich is a safety but as others have said it has gotten increasingly competitive. It’s easy enough to submit apps to one or two of the other potential safeties you mentioned in case.</p>
<p>Based on the numbers UM reports – I think you are very likely to be accepted. However, there are too many inexplicable decisions from this school for anyone to consider it a safety.</p>