University of Michigan Class of 2023 - Deferred Applicants

OOS daughter, white female no hooks, 34 ACT (36,36,34,31); 4.0 unweighted, school doesn’t rank, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar - deferred LAS. First time through the college process but help me out. I see kids with incredible scores deferred at UM. In our case we were willing to commit, pay deposit…whatever…as UM was her #1. It seems counterintuitive to defer kids if UM rationale is that kids are using UM as a target/safety and not likely to accept. Doesn’t it encourage kids to move on and pursue other schools for January EA’s or earlier acceptances? apologies if naive question…trying to determine if it’s worth it to send LOCI and wait until a month before graduation before we know if she would attend UM.

@UMDreamer - My OOS daughter got the same email (version)

Trying to determine best next steps…on one hand consensus seems to encourage sending a LOCI after a deferral to demonstrate continue interest but the email is also very specifc re: “The most successful candidates send us only what we require.”. This message is consistent with what we heard from an admissions office rep we met with during a campus visit in A2 this summer as well, with the subtext being “our AOs get so many emails that sending them too many/unecessary messages will potentially work against you”.

That said - would obviously like to let them know UoM is still her first choice.

To LOCI or not to LOCI…that is the question

@tireddad It can be quite frustrating, right?!?! My personal opinion is that if she is truly interested in UM, she should pursue both paths. Assume the worst and hope for the best. There is a lot of mixed opinions on LOCI, on whether to send and when. I would err on the side of sending one, but I would wait until after fall grades are final (assuming you expect a solid performance). UM likely won’t be announcing any decisions on the deferred pool until February, so you have some time. Again only my opinion, but I would send a one page letter (no more) in mid January with updated grades, an indication that UM is #1, and any additional new news (any new awards, leadership, etc., if any).

At the same time, I would start to dampen the emotional connection to UM and consider other options. Presumably other applications are pending, but if not, best to move on that before the 1/1 deadline many have. Your daughter has excellent credentials, and she will have good options and undoubtedly succeed…with or without UM.

As has been said throughout these boards, OOS for UM is very difficult. Many try and discern how UM makes its decisions (personally, I think yield protection is a serious factor), but no one really knows. What is indisputable, however, is that even if they wanted to do so, they could not admit every applicant with a 34+ ACT, simply not enough room. Factor in their desire to attract a geographic distribution, needed balance across majors, URMs/legacies/athletes, an interesting class of students with diverse interests and backgrounds, etc. etc., and the large number of high stat deferrals begins to make sense. Having followed these boards for a few years now (several kids), waiting does pay off for a good number of deferred applicants. It is quite possible that your daughter may still be admitted, but it is an impossible guess…and she may not find out until April. Thus, the…“hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” I can say based on personal experience, looking back on this in a few years, I suspect you will be surprised at how emotionally invested you became. It all has a way of working out, especially for exceptional students like your daughter. Wish you and your daughter all of the best.

Beyond yield protection, UMich is also trying to increase enrollment diversity:

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/campus-life/umich-fail-racial-equity

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/statement/numbers-game

Thanks @altmusicman for the advice! She is working on Jan 1 deadline apps and waiting on two EA results to be released in late January. We have encouraged her not to fall in love with one school but she is 18 after all. Even her parents are guilty on occasion. Her school is on trimester system so we will send midterm winter grades when available and see what happens. Good luck to all the deferrals out there!

LOCI or no? what’s the general consensus? i have one drafted but i truly can’t tell if LOCI would be appreciated due to varying opinions on CC. also if yes, when should they be sent? bc i know their emails will be inundated for the next couple of weeks. any suggestions? @sushiritto

Well, if it were me, then yes, I would send a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI), but I’d make it “short and sweet.”

If it’s your #1 choice, then tell them you’re coming, if admitted. If you have some pertinent things you’ve accomplished since your EA application that enhances your application, them briefly mention it. Also, mention the strength of your 7th semester grades, assuming they’re strong of course, and when they can expect them (or if they have already been submitted).

When to send it? Not now that’s for sure, for obvious reasons. All EA decisions may not be out and it’s the Holidays. Classes are back in session on January 9th (although admissions are probably back after the New Year) and “rolling admissions” begins around February 1st, so I’d send the LOCI around mid-January.

That’s my opinion.

@sushiritto Thank you for your input on LOCI timing.

I was deferred and waitlisted and then accepted 2 years ago and I would definitely recommend sending a short LOCI saying you would attend if admitted and any new accomplishments since your application.I sent one at the end of January and then another one after being waitlisted in April. It definitely helps for the waitlist, everyone else I know accepted off of it sent in LOCIs.

Deferred with 35 ACT, 4.00 unweighted and 4.76 unweighted

oops, meant 4.76 weighted

What the subject line should be when you send the LOCI? Can anyone help?

@2019md Personally, I would use a subject line such as “Deferred Applicant from [your high school] with Continued Interest”. Thoughts on this?

@yucca10 Cornell was my first choice - but got rejected there. My counselor is telling me not to apply to any more top schools as the chances for me seem incredibly slim. Ill prolly only go for top35 schools and hope for the best.
I guess I’ll send in a LOCI around Jan - as there would be too many applicants sending in now.
Just hoping for the best

Guys, do international students usually get deferred early? Or am I out of the running for Michigan at this point? My grades are 42/45 IB diploma, SAT 1540, SAT Math II 800, SAT Physics 750, IGCSE 6A*, 2A.

Also whats the EA vs RD acceptance rate?

I’ve asked all around for this but does anyone have a figure for the acceptance for deferred applicants?

also would a campus visit from (far) out of state make a significant difference in your deferral case?

@Ezga3969 - my sense is “no”…I asked an admissions counselor there if a campus visit for an OOS applicant made a difference and the answer was basically “you can mention it but we don’t actively track demonstrated interest as some other schools do…we have over 100,000 visitors every year”.

Good luck!

@projectmgr I’m sure they don’t track it on their own, but in an LOCI if a visit from out of state was specifically mentioned?

My son was deferred and he is international