Hello. I am a female from New Jersey applying to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor under the Early Action plan for the school of engineering. I have a weighted GPA of 3.7 and an SAT score of 1470, but my sister also attends this college. I know my GPA is low for this school, but I took a lot of challenging courses and did a lot of extracurricular activities that are related to my major. I am a first-generation college student and I also come from a low-income family. Since they review your application under a holistic view, what are my chances of getting into this college?
I think it’s going to be a long shot. Engineering has gotten super competitive, especially for OOS applicants.
Have realistic match and safety schools on your list.
They only look at unweighted so an A=4,B=3 and so on… Avg engineering is 3.9 with 33/34 Act. You might want to consider going for LSA and doing a transfer to engineering. You would have to get all A’s senior year. I know people that got in doing that with your current stats oos.
How hard is it to transfer from LSA to COE and how soon are students allowed to begin the transfer process?
If your scores were not strong enough to earn admissions to COE directly, you may find that the classes you need in LSA to meet transfer consideration to be challenging . Once on campus, transfer is still as competitive an option as it will be now. As a transfer from LSA, COE will instead look at GPA earned while at U of M instead of your freshman application.
@NancyG555. Once you are in line to meet the requirements then you can apply by February 1st of the freshman year for transferring. You don’t have to have all requirements complete by February 1st. You will not be considered in engineering till the next fall of that year. My son was accepted like 1 day after the deadline last year. He found out extremely quick and only finished up his first semester requirements. He did take 18 credits with two sciences and two labs with math and an elective. He also worked, played a sport and started a club. But it was not an easy semester even though he already had physics bc and Calc 3 in high school.
Also remember you are taking the basic requirements with the Lsa general population which includes science majors and pre med majors and then throw math majors and engineering kid’s… That is why some of these classes are known as weed out classes.
Saying that the above statement is incorrect. The competition from cross campus transferring is really only meeting the GPA requirements and writing an essay. Michigan really wants to support its own students to do what they truly want to. There is no lock out of what engineering discipline you can apply to. They just want you in that for 1 year. This information came from both the head of admissions and the assistant of admissions from engineering.
Saying all that engineering said that after the first semester that most engineering students will be at a 3.3 GPA from freshman to senior year. Staying above 3.0 is sorta key for internships etc.
Michigan is a very hard school and expect a grade drop from where you are now, I think is a fair statement. Yes, you can get 3.5 and above etc but it’s not easy especially your first year. Keep in mind you need to take like 14 credits a semester so you can graduate in 4 years. My son took 18 his first (I don’t recommend this) 16 his second. Then took a math and a physics in community College over the summer and now back taking 16 credits. But after this semester, he can actually go down to like 12 credits to finish in 4 years or keep accelerating and graduate in 3.5 years.
Apply early, write a great essay and good luck. BTW.,you and like everyone else will most likely get deferred and have to wait till like April for you decision.
Good Luck.
@Knowsstuff Thanks for all that info. Sounds like your son is doing very well!
Are you saying that there is unlimited transfer admission to COE from LSA as long as the GPA requirement is met by any current student by Feb 1 of their freshman year? It is not a competitive application process beyond GPA? Also, what grades from high school are considered in that requirement?
https://www.engin.umich.edu/admissions/undergrad/
I would email the person on the bottom of what I linked. He is extremely helpful . This is the way I understood it from 2 years ago. I did reread the email and that is what I was told by two different people. Again this is a cross campus transfer so from Ann Arbor lsa to Ann Arbor Engineering. Things might of changed so find out from the horses mouth per se and report back.
Not just the GPA requirement but the course requirements.
Also the requirement doesn’t have to be fufilled by February 1st. But the application deadline is February 1st. https://www.engin.umich.edu/admissions/undergrad/cross-campus-students/admissions/
Just have to have them in prior to the fall term when they would be declared an engineering student.
Kids transfer in and out like every semester. Michigan seems to be much easier on this then other schools. I was told that nothing is guaranteed and they can change their policy at anytime like they did for Ross and started preadmits but there would be some notice about it.
@Knowsstuff Thank you for the information. My son is trying to decide which school to apply to. What is your opinion based on his stats:
GPA UW 3.79; W 4.09
1430 SAT (750 Math, 680 Eng).
He is sending in multiple score and his highest math is 770
9 AP classes; (6 STEM related)
NHS, Varsity Baseball, Eagle Scout, 10 years piano (with superior ratings from competitions)
Recommendation from UMich professor
He plans to write the person you recommended but should he write anonymously?
@NancyG555 instate or out of state? They only look at unweighted. I would address the email like any other. There is nothing to hide here. They want your kids to be successful. I would send in multiple scores. They don’t superscore… But will look at all scores given. Being over 1500 would be more competitive for engineering. Having a high math and low English is so engineering kid… Lol…
Apply early and hope for the best.
He is applying OOS. Michigan is his first choice and would jump at the chance to go there! Thank you for all of your help! Fingers crossed.