College Discussion - View Single Post

mnozzi · 12-26-2006, 01:43 PM

Hopefully I am not too far off with my statements. I interface with a lot of people. My brother went through the admit process three years ago when we lived in another state. My family is in academia. These are my observations.

Although a lot of you have a thorough understanding of what is required for admittance to UM, you same people have no idea of what most HS juniors and seniors are thinking/doing.

First of all the AVERAGE high school student knows that high test scores and good GPA's translate to admittance to good colleges. Most have no idea what it really takes to get into a top 25 LAC or "ivy/ivy-like school'. In MI, most info comes from GC's, parent conversations at cocktail parties or sporting events, and feedback from current students. High schoolers rarely listen to alumni, especially those over 40, most went to MI years ago and much has changed. These same alumni rarely visit the school -- Alexandre and others, this is not meant for you-- their info is as accurate as the cocktail circuit they are on (HALF RIGHT, HALF WRONG).

These are my observations about UM.

I know there is safety in numbers. There’s a lot of a UM alumni and it’s hard to standup against all of you – but I am trying to give my best effort.

UM undergraduate is a great school but it is not as intellectual as you want to believe. Nor can the majority of the students compare to the all-around students at some of the top US schools. The Honors college is impressive. But I can’t tell you how many people I know who study 4 and 5 hours a night to get high GPA’s and who have parents that send them to classes or hire tutors to get their ACT’s from 24/25 to 28/29. These kids actually stop playing a sport or give up a club so they have more time to study.

At the same time the school is turning down kids with ACT’s in the 31-33 range with GPA’s of 3.4 to 3.5. Really bright kids who want to want try multiple activities or are forced to work and are being punished. This would not happen at Northwestern or Chicago or even CMU or Williams.

Yes I know you are going to say that happens at the top schools too. But it’s different. Those schools demand their kids to be “all dancing and singing”. And if you have good EC’s they are forgiving of lower grades if the intellect level is there. UM is not.

It seems all we discuss on this thread is ACT/SAT and GPA scores. What about the all the other qualities that make a true intellect. UM is not always building a total person but rather caters to the top academic students (mostly defined by GPA, not always considering the number of AP or Honor courses taken and regardless that they may lack leadership, service, etc skills) – this may be why they may not have as many winners of prestigious graduate awards or many well known humanitarians. Most schools want everything. UM has taken many of my friends with ACT’s of 25-26, GPA’s of 3.9 or above and no impressive EC’s.

HA -- GOBLUE81 – GPA’s of 3.9 and ACT’s of 31. Hardly -- believe it if you want.

UM may be a very good school but it is not nirvana. HYP aren’t either. Yes it has weaknesses.

12-26-2006, 01:43 PM	#249
mnozzi Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 79	ACT scores Hopefully I am not too far off with my statements. I interface with a lot of people. My brother went through the admit process three years ago when we lived in another state. My family is in academia. These are my observations. Although a lot of you have a thorough understanding of what is required for admittance to UM, you same people have no idea of what most HS juniors and seniors are thinking/doing. First of all the AVERAGE high school student knows that high test scores and good GPA's translate to admittance to good colleges. Most have no idea what it really takes to get into a top 25 LAC or "ivy/ivy-like school'. In MI, most info comes from GC's, parent conversations at cocktail parties or sporting events, and feedback from current students. High schoolers rarely listen to alumni, especially those over 40, most went to MI years ago and much has changed. These same alumni rarely visit the school -- Alexandre and others, this is not meant for you-- their info is as accurate as the cocktail circuit they are on (HALF RIGHT, HALF WRONG). These are my observations about UM. I know there is safety in numbers. There’s a lot of a UM alumni and it’s hard to standup against all of you – but I am trying to give my best effort. UM undergraduate is a great school but it is not as intellectual as you want to believe. Nor can the majority of the students compare to the all-around students at some of the top US schools. The Honors college is impressive. But I can’t tell you how many people I know who study 4 and 5 hours a night to get high GPA’s and who have parents that send them to classes or hire tutors to get their ACT’s from 24/25 to 28/29. These kids actually stop playing a sport or give up a club so they have more time to study. At the same time the school is turning down kids with ACT’s in the 31-33 range with GPA’s of 3.4 to 3.5. Really bright kids who want to want try multiple activities or are forced to work and are being punished. This would not happen at Northwestern or Chicago or even CMU or Williams. Yes I know you are going to say that happens at the top schools too. But it’s different. Those schools demand their kids to be “all dancing and singing”. And if you have good EC’s they are forgiving of lower grades if the intellect level is there. UM is not. It seems all we discuss on this thread is ACT/SAT and GPA scores. What about the all the other qualities that make a true intellect. UM is not always building a total person but rather caters to the top academic students (mostly defined by GPA, not always considering the number of AP or Honor courses taken and regardless that they may lack leadership, service, etc skills) – this may be why they may not have as many winners of prestigious graduate awards or many well known humanitarians. Most schools want everything. UM has taken many of my friends with ACT’s of 25-26, GPA’s of 3.9 or above and no impressive EC’s. HA -- GOBLUE81 – GPA’s of 3.9 and ACT’s of 31. Hardly -- believe it if you want. UM may be a very good school but it is not nirvana. HYP aren’t either. Yes it has weaknesses.