Hi! I working on my why Michigan question right now and I was wondering if anyone had any advice? The question is: Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?
Super fun right? I am not asking anyone to write this for me, that is up to me–I don’t want to be one of those people, I just wanted advice on the “unique” aspect of the question. I love Michigan because I love their spirit, their size, location , internship and research opportunities, they have a fantastic science program (i like chemistry), and they have the opportunity to double major. However only two of those reasons (fantastic science program and double majoring) fit into the why UM question. (I am applying to LSA). And furthermore those reasons are not “unique.” Other schools have those too, but on a whole michigans best suits my goals in life. How to respond to the “unique” aspect? (I know, I know be creative. But how?). Thank you for any help anyone can provide.
Well you’re right that many schools have similar programs, but they are not the same. Take a look at the program pages for the majors you’re interested in, and see what makes them specifically unique. Also, look at the LSA curriculum and talk about how its requirements fit your interests.
UMich prides itself on research. Track down some of their specific current research projects in your field that interest you and talk about the kinds of discoveries you’d like to work on some day…maybe you have a particular interest that fits really well with one of the research projects and you’d like to float a particular idea to a researcher involved. Maybe there’s an emerging branch of chemistry or a particular new application that lights up your imagination. My advice…do some research on what’s going on at UMich in the department you’re most interested in. Go for a visit, write to a researcher and ask if you can come see their work. Really dig in and find a way to sell UMich on the idea that you’re a good fit, that you’re motivated to ask excellent questions and find interesting answers…and that you hope to make discoveries that will benefit society and make the university look good. Talk about something UMich has that other universities don’t that will help you achieve your goals. Do your homework on your department…that’s key.
Read some of these articles and see if anything captures your imagination and lights a fire… https://lsa.umich.edu/chem/research.html. Find a particular area you like, and see how other colleges approach it, and how U of M differs. Maybe they’re like…one of only three schools researching it! Or maybe they have a whole different approach, or are involved with some groundbreaking research development. These are some of the unique kinds of things that might attract you to UMich.