What Does Michigan Value More?

Because I live in California, I am familiar with the UC system and that many of them (UCLA) value numbers (GPA and SAT) a more heavily than privates just because the school is so large/public so they don’t have the same resources as private schools.

My question is, does University of Michigan operate in this same way? I’m very interested in the school, and am worried because I’m out of state and my application is far heavier on the number side. I’m afraid my extracurriculars and essays won’t be good enough.

Any personal or statistical insight would be helpful. Thanks!

I was accepted EA. I’m out of state, Illinois. ACT 33, SAT 1500, top of class of 235, GPA 4.45 weighted/4.0 unweighted, rural public high school, woman in STEM and ECs to include basketball, band, math team, WYSE, yearbook, big brothers big sisters, and other volunteer work. Dual enrollment for 2 college classes but my school does not offer AP classes. Hope this helps! @bluedeer

If you don’t have great extracurriculars, you will need to make up for it in your essays!
They are a school that says they’re holistic and means it! So have the numbers are great, but they want to see you as a person as well. So make your essays SHINE!

According to umich common data set gpa and class rigor are most important then test scores recs and essays are important and everything else is considered

Michigan is somewhere between the data driven UC system and the mostly holistic privates. Race is not considered.

Most important is course rigor. The more challenging your curriculum, the better. Second is unweighted GPA looks for unweighted GPAs in the 3.8+ range. Test scores, essays, demonstrated interested, ECs etc…are all factored in. Once a student’s academic credentials are determined to be acceptable, Michigan focuses on everything, much like most other highly selective universities.

Your scores=your smarts. Challenge of curriculum=how tough, confident and determined you are. Your GPA=your ability to prioritize, your work habits. Your letters of recommendation=the impression you make on others. Your extra-curriculars=evidence you play well with others and won’t blow up the school. All selective schools want smart, tough, confident,determined kids with good priorities and work habits who make a great impression on others and won’t cause problems or blow up the school. All of these elements must be there. The last element: Your essays=your sales pitch. Make it count. Be a creative freak. Be an activist. Be a cutting edge researcher. Be something they don’t expect. Be 100% authentic. No lip service…they already know their college is terrific, blah blah. No playing it safe with cardboard language about neutral topics…boring and forgettable. No endless lists of your million accomplishments, there are enough divas in the world. Pick a couple of things that that sincerely matter to you, that you can say something intelligent about. Something they haven’t heard a million times. Use a little humor. Entertain. Endear yourself. Make them think. Make them like you.