UMich College of Engineering chances? How can I improve?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>Currently a junior from New Jersey with a rigorous schedule -- will have 9-10 APs + numerous honors courses completed by the end of senior year. Also, I will have taken 6 lab sciences (a mix of AP/honors) and Calc 3/4 through dual enrollment at my local community college by the time I graduate.</p>

<p>Stats:
UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.55
SAT: 2050 - 610 CR, 790 M, 650 W (first sitting, will retake in June hoping for a 2200+)
ACT: 28 - 33 E, 30 M, 24 R, 26 S, 7/12 W (first sitting without any preparation at all, will retake in Fall hoping for a 32+)</p>

<p>Recommendations:
I will be getting them from my math teacher who I'll have for 3 out of my 4 years at high school, my biology/anatomy teacher who I had for 2 years, and my physics teacher who I'll have for 2 out of my 4 years at high school. My math and physics teachers both have PhDs in their respective subjects, and my biology/anatomy teacher is a doctor as well as he is a former surgeon. I know I will get amazing recs. from them, so will their credibility help my application a lot?</p>

<p>ECs:
Math Club - (9-12, President) - active participation the past four years and attended a multitude of local/regional competitions
Physics Club - (9-12, Vice President) - active participation the past four years and attended a regional Physics Olympics this year
Academic Challenge - (9-12, Captain) - active participation the past four years
Key Club - (10-12) - active participation the past three years</p>

<p>Other activities:
Weightlifting (3-5 times a week)
Extended range guitar (play a 7 string, plan on getting an 8 string soon)
Collecting basketball cards
Miniature coin collection (still getting there)</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
2013 Central New Jersey Brain Bee Finalist
Certificate in 2014 New Jersey Science League Biology II Competition
National Honor Society
National English Honor Society
Math Honor Society
Science Honor Society
Foreign Language Honor Society</p>

<p>Volunteer work:
~30 hours right now, will volunteer at local hospital this summer and get my hours up to at least 100</p>

<p>Work experience/internships:
Calculus tutor
Paid researcher at Rutgers University for QuarkNet 2014 where 19 other students in the state and I will analyze data from the Large Haedron Collider in Switzerland for two weeks over the summer</p>

<p>Hooks: First generation college student, low income (<30,000 per year), parents never graduated high school</p>

<p>I am an extremely chill/social person, and I hope my essay shows that I am as such instead of as a no-life non-social kid who studies all the time as some aspects of my application may indicate. I know I don't have the best ECs, but what can I do to immensely improve my chances?</p>

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<p>Does anyone even offer any help around here? 23 views not a single reply…</p>

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<p>I’m going based off of me bc I’m from NJ, my sat score was a tad higher cuz I had a 2060 with a 800 in math, and my extra curriculars were not as solid as yours. Sometimes I wonder how I got in, but I remember how strong my recommendations and my essays were. If you write really really really awesome essays and have teachers that you are close with to write you a really awesome letter, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t get in. I also feel we’re really similar because you’re first gen and so I was I. Good luck! Hopefully it all works out and you get in!</p>

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<p>1) There is no “help” anyone can offer really. There isn’t much you can do between now and when you apply that will change much, unless there is some amazing program over the summer. In which case you should probably do that regardless</p>

<p>2) No matter what anyone says your chances are on here, you should apply anyway. We aren’t the final word.</p>

<p>3) Some on here are much more reliable on knowledgeable than others. You’ll get everything from other high schoolers that have no idea what they are talking about chancing you, to guys like Alexandre that actuall know things.</p>

<p>4) Saying things like you did in your second post makes you come off as an ass.</p>

<p>4b) Did you go to a private school by chance?</p>

<p>I would say you are a match. My biggest concern would be the lack of non-academic involvement (work, sports, etc). I don’t think that will be a huge issue though because your GPA and course rigor sound very good (though your test scores are kind of low). </p>

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<p>Your test scores are too low for UMich CoE as oos. Particularly, you need to improve your CR score. You will have a decent chance if you do get 2200+ with CR at 700+. It is a reach for now.</p>

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<p>Thanks
and @ThisIsMichigan No, I go to a public school and sorry if I came about as an ■■■■■■■</p>

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<p>I’ve been wondering @ThisIsMichigan cause you asked, but does a private v. public make a difference for admissions at Michigan?</p>

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<p>I don’t think HumNation’s SAT score is too low for the CoE. A 4.0 GPA unweighed and a 1400 on the M+CR is certainly not shabby. If he can write good essays, he definitely has a shot. Obviously, for OOS applicants, Michigan is a reach regardless, so improving the SAT CR without dropping too much in the M will help.</p>

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<p>The admission average at CoE last year was 1410 in CR+M. For oos with below average CR+M, chance is not good although not impossible. In addition, CR at 610 is below the 25% for UMich overall from last year. I do think it is really too low for CoE oos to have a decent chance. I would suggest to aim at 700 in CR for a better chance.</p>

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<p>billscho, Michigan does not obsess about standardized tests. If an applicant’s only flaw is a 610 on the CR, the odds of getting in aren’t going to be a heck of a lot worse than an applicant with a stronger CR score. I agree that improving his SAT will help, but the odds of getting into Michigan for OOS students are bad regardless. </p>

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<p>^ Agree. I just read one of the real result post that two posts back to back uwGPA4.0/ACT35/SAT2320 from oos got rejected. There was another one posted above him rejected with CR+M1520 too. It is certainly very competitive particularly for oos students.</p>

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<p>Thanks, I appreciate the feedback a lot, but I took the SAT without preparation so I believe that I can achieve mid to high in the 1400s in the upcoming one. </p>

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<p>@HumNation Good luck to you. It is a very bad move to take any test without preparation. Also, what is the point to chance with a non-representative score?</p>

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<p>Apply and you will find out. No one can really ‘chance’ you as out of state for Michigan is always a crap-shoot. On top of that you’ll have the financial issues to be concerned with so Michigan should be in your ‘reach’ category both for admittance and for cost since Michigan doesn’t guarantee to meet need for OSS applicants. Apply EA (get it done right away this fall) and find out in the spring if you get in and if you can afford. Good luck and best wishes. </p>

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<p>Even though the OP is an OSS, he should still qualify for decent financial aid with that income level. </p>

<p>See: <a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/AboutUMFinancialAid/SampleAidPackages.aspx”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/AboutUMFinancialAid/SampleAidPackages.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some tips to @HumNation: </p>

<p>1) Apply EA. Do not wait until near the deadline to apply. Try to have your application in by mid October. You do not want to be one of the last EA applications they review; trust me.</p>

<p>2) Take the essays seriously. Show the university who you are. Be sure to express your interest in your “Why Michigan?” essay. Do some research into the COE and mention specific things about the school that attracted you to it. </p>

<p>3) Find out who is the admissions counselor for your region. Start building a relationship with them during the late summer and early fall. Introduce yourself and ask questions about the university and admissions. Having a relationship with your counselor helps demonstrate your interest and should help when they review your application. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you! </p>

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<p>Yes, OP may get some aid but it is not guaranteed and they do not meet full need for oos.</p>

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<p>Miw, with a family income under $30,000 the OPs family cannot afford even half of what Michigan costs per year…it is most likely greater than the family’s annual adjusted gross income. The OP can put Michigan firmly in the reach and wishful thinking category, apply and see what happens come spring. </p>

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<p>Match-reach.</p>

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<p>@billcsho I took it to get used to the testing conditions (and I wasn’t totally unprepared as I had taken two PSATs free in my school before) but I’m not sure if I’ll do better hence why I still posted with that score</p>

<p>@momofthreeboys Thanks and financially I’m not in too bad of a situation because my parents saved a good amount of money for college and I have some other family willing to help</p>

<p>@Miw140 Thanks for all the valuable advice I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone else who posted.</p>