University of Michigan is my DREAM. SCHOOL. I just wasn’t sure if I’d get in with these chances: So everything that I’ve done is relatively good… except my SAT/ ACT scores. I’m in all Honors, AP, full schedule classes since my 8th grade year to senior year, I have a cumulative 4.4 GPA, a marking period of 4.8 GPA, I’ve been in Student Council for 3 years now, National Honors Society for 2 years, Volunteer Groups at my school since 8th grade, French Club since 8th grade, Junior Class Representatives, I’ll be in Senior Class Representatives(more extra-curriculars, It’ll be too lengthy if I put them down, so I’ll just put the important ones) , I have over 200-500+ Volunteer hours, I won the Jefferson Award along with 3+ Academic Awards. I am Top 10 at my school, my rank is #8. Also I’ve had these following Leader Ranks: Sophomore Representative of Student Council, Summer Camp Teen Leader at Imagination Station for 2 weeks, Junior Class Representative Secretary, Top leader in my Volunteer Group at my school, and wayyyy more. I’ve tutored fellow classmates, I helped with research purposes within 16 year olds, etc… (As said before, if I write everything that I’ve did, this forum would be very lengthy.) I’ve done a LOT with my community, I’ve worked very hard in school to maintain higher than a 4.3 GPA, I’m in a lot of extra-curricular groups, etc. The only problem, as I stated before, is my SAT/ACT scores… my SAT score is a 1030, which is converted to a 20-24 in ACT terms. (Most schools I’ve seen take 1030 as a 20-24 converted to ACT.) I know that probably just knocks my chances into getting there JUST because of my scores. I’ve done wayyyy too much just for a school to belittle me JUST because of my scores? They won’t look at everything else I’ve done/did? They won’t look at my academics? Please, can you tell me if I have a slight chance of getting into my dream school…? Thank you.
What grade are you at now? Originally I want to ask for your uwGPA, but your current scores have made it impossible already. It is not likely for anyone to get a 10 point boost in ACT (or 400 points in SAT) within 8 months.
Right! My unweighted is a 3.9. Unweighted only goes up to a 4.0 right? Anywho, it’s sad that an exam score totally tarnishes my chances into getting into my dream school? Have you read everything else I’ve done? Do you see my academic accomplishments? Is a school really going to not look at my app at all just because of a silly score…?
Anyways, what kind of schools should I be looking at with everything I’ve stated? Any suggestions?
@deanbean101 Do you have any hooks other than the EC’s stated? Your record is great and don’t let your SAT define you. I would apply anyway to see what happens. If you can get at least a 1350. You have a solid chance. Look at Michigan State.
Thank you @VANDEMORY1342 I wish the SAT wouldn’t define me but sadly it does in UM’s eyes… I’m not sure if I can get SAT up to 1350, but I can try! It was pretty easy until the math, which totally drained my score! I wish I had a chance in UM. I was just trying to see if I had the slightest chance coming from experienced knowledgeable people who know more about this topic than I do!
and what do you mean by other hooks?
They consider GPA and course rigor as “most important”, test scores as “important”, while EC is just “considered”. As there is no standard in GPA, it would be looked at in the context of your high school. The test scores from other students at your HS school would be used as a reference to gauge the grading scale of your school. Your test scores is right around the national average (i.e ~50th percentile) while UMich is a university among the top 1% in the country. Some hooks they consider include athlete recruit, first generation college student, legacy, etc. But even athlete recruit needs to reach certain level academically. After all, they have 55000+ applicants every year with very good academic achievements and many with outstanding EC also. The mid 50 ACT of enrolled freshmen was 29-33 and the average HS uwGPA was 3.87.
You need to take an ACT or SAT study course, and sit the test again. And again. Until you get your score up. Otherwise, you won’t get in. If you’re going to send that score, save your $75. A 1030 on the new SAT is equivalent to a 20 on the ACT. There must be some testing strategy issue, or something going wrong for you in the test with anxiety or something. If your GPA is that good, and you’ve completed Algebra one and Two, and Geometry with A’s…there is no reason your SAT math should be that low. Take a prep course and take the test again.
If you can’t take a prep course, get a prep book. Study each section, review all your math, do every problem, do TONS of practice tests. Read about strategies for test taking. If test anxiety is your issue, talk to your doctor about a touch of anti-anxiety medication the day of the test (like they might prescribe for somone who is afraid to fly). There is no reason for a student who is getting all A’s to do that poorly on the ACT/SAT.
- If you really want to go to the University of Michigan, then apply. Apply and see what happens.
- As @MaryGJ suggested, study for the ACT/SAT and take the test again. You may want to take it multiple times.
- If you don't get in as a freshman, then kick butt for 1-2 years at another university (like U-M Dearborn) and transfer.
On another note:
You need to understand that the University of Michigan is very selective. You are complaining about low test scores potentially preventing you from being admitted. Keep in mind that not every student with high grades and test scores will be admitted.
@777Blue77 @MaryGJ @billcsho Okay, so what you guys stated is totally right. But the schooling system I come from is… pretty bad lol! We’re probably one of the worst schooling systems out there. People in my highschool typically get an ACT score between a 16-23… So like @billcsho stated, the test scores of other students in my school would be used as a reference.
So they’d use other students in my school as a reference and compare my scores to theirs? Not sure how that works.
Are you in-state? That is a very, very important factor in admissions because UM admissions people know the schools in the state.
Even if you are in-state, you would be unable to get into the school with that test score. The reason that standardized testing exists is because it is “standardized”. Grades at one school may be easier to get than at another school, but the SAT/ACT is the same for everyone. This gives the school and easy way to compare people from different schools that they don’t know anything about. I’ve ranted plenty about standardized tests and their worthlessness, but they do have value in this sense.
I would recommend studying hard for the SAT/ACT again. I do not mean this in a negative way, so please don’t take it as such: if your SAT/ACT is still in the 1000/20 range after studying, you would not likely be academically successful at the UMich level. Their courses are exceptionally difficult, and even students with perfect test scores and a 4.0GPA at private schools struggle with them.
Michigan is a very competitive school. I know of some students who had 3.95/4.4GPA’s at some of the higher ranked schools in the country who had ACTs of 34 and 35 who got rejected. The harsh reality is that, even with those leadership positions and activities, you need a competitive SAT/ACT score - on top of your other activities - to get in to the University.
You should also take the ACT. My son had a 1920 on the old SAT (a 28 equivalent) and a 36 on the ACT. Some people just do a lot better on one test over another. Sometimes it is just strategy, sometimes mistakes like skipping a question and filling in the wrong choice.