@theleenbean They definitely deferred you because you are an extremely strong applicant, and U of M feared you might’ve been applying as just a safety, as you are obviously Ivy material. If I were you, I would send a letter of interest to U of M in the next few days, as long as you are very serious on attending. I don’t think you will have any problem getting in after that 
UMich does not fear of accepting high stat students. Indeed, there are plenty of high stat (ACT35+ SAT2300+ GPA4.0) students got accepted and reported in the forum already. However, UMich’s admission is not based on stat alone although GPA and course rigor are considered most important. On the other hand, no one can claim UMich as safety particularly from OOS. Admission to UMich from OOS is about the same as applying to lower Ivies particularly for Ross and CoE. Of the 30,000+ EA applicants, they would defer 85% of them and that would include many applicants with strong stat as they are not just accepting the top 15% students in score and GPA. Otherwise, the admission mid 50 would be 34-35.
@angelacgeorge Thank you for the kind words and advice, I’ll be sure to do that! @billcsho I think most of us are fully aware of that – no one here is claiming he/she used Michigan as a safety. We are simply asking what we can do after we are deferred other than keeping up grades, improving scores, etc.
@theleenbean My comment was responding to @angelacgeorge who said “you might’ve been applying as just a safety”.
@billcsho No I said that might have been the reason for the deferment, but obviously, we have no way of knowing lol
I was deferred from early action, my app was sent into the Stamps art school. I heard back and got in on January 31st. So, depending on the school you apply to you might hear back at different times.