<p>This should go on the chances thread, but my situation is weird. So, here's the deal:
I graduated this past June. I had a pretty terrible experience with college applications - I applied to a whole mess of schools, but I only got into Michigan State and Loyola Chicago. I got wait-listed at Oberlin, the University of Chicago and U of M. Still, I really want to go to U of M, so I decided to take a gap year and give it another go.
My high school stats, as they appear on my application: 3.5 GPA. 31 ACT. 5 years martial arts. 5 years in jazz band, 4 years in concert, marching and pep band. Two years drama. School newspaper. Had a bi-weekly column in the local newspaper for three years, starting in 7th grade. Eh, that's about it.
Right now, I'm in the middle of a three-month stay living and working at an orphanage in Calcutta. After this... well, I'll figure something out. Anyway, supposedly, I have no shot. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Dude, you should’ve just gone to MSU or Loyola and then tried to transfer. Why are you wasting a whole year?</p>
<p>If you can show to UMich that you used your gap year wisely an/or contributed to society, you have a fair chance, if your HS stats are highly competitive relative to this years class. You’ll have to show improvement or self-betterment since you were wait-listed last time and it gets more competitive every year.</p>
<p>If you just slummed around with a bag of Cheetos, you won’t be a good candidate for admission.</p>
<p>Gap years can be wonderful and after 12-13 straight years of school, I’m surprised more people don’t take them (though usually the procedure is to apply, be admitted, then defer enrollment, not turn everybody down).</p>
<p>JFRUTE - If you were waitlisted, that means you WERE good enough to get in, but perhaps not as competitive or PERHAPS you did not apply early enough.</p>
<p>SO it’s just about Oct. 1 – You do know that applying early helps, right? So get your app in gear, so to speak ; ) Write an essay about how your Calcutta/orphanage experience is influencing your interest in whatever passion fueled it; talk about your increased capacity for performance via the extra year’s maturity, etc. and be up front about any areas of weakness on your transcript/profile.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Good advice form kmccrindle. Get your applications together now and really focus on why you are a stronger candidate now than last year. Put that 3.5 in some sort of context that is meaningful to the admissions office combined with how you spent your year. If you are in-state chances are they will be familiar with your school so keep that in mind when addressing the 3.5. If you applied to Oberlin, Chicago and UofM with a 3.5 there must have been support from your school that those were reasonable applications, too, tap that. Figure out what you have in you that made those reasonable schools to apply to and get that on paper.</p>