So the AOs are like the first reach to get your child into Michigan. They refer and fight for certain student’s against all the other AOs trying to get their kids in. Than it goes to like two rounds of other’s reviewing the same applicants. At some point it goes to Ross. Maybe during this cycle.
Jeff Selingo has a great book on this. Explaining this process.
So many schools counselors do reach out to the AOs at Michigan on behalf of their student’s.
As far as your child reaching out… When going to college fairs and getting the AOs card is a prime opportunity for a light touch. I have known many families that knew their AOs pretty well. I have had students write a quick brief two sentences with maybe a question. Usually in Junior year going to the college fairs. Saying hello if they hear them talk live etc. I haven’t heard of an AO wanting to help with a student in this way but… If there is a connection maybe she saw something unique in your daughter. We will never know.
Remember. The AOs want to refer students they believe will be successful at Michigan. This goes beyond just GPA and scores. This again is why it’s holistic. I have posted this before but on Facebook etc once your accepted a student can read their file. Many post this online. What they tell people can be eye opening. Have a look.
I’ve watched a few of those vids, and, with my college critical thinking cap on, I always wonder what all those 10s of 1000s of rejection files say… And, what a comparison of the two sets would show.
Imo, with so many applicants and so few seats, after a certain level of qualification, the process is looking for reasons to split hairs… some people end up having the right hair, at that moment.
In life, being adequately prepared is just a passport; in these types of situations, luck helps buy the ticket.
Yep. The stats of many of the denied students are similar to those of many admitted students, this is especially true at highly rejective private schools. I would expect at Michigan, like many other popular state flagships, that some of the admitted in-state students have lower stats than many of the OOS students. After all, much/most of the app volume is coming from OOS students, but in state students are prioritized (although Michigan’s ratio of in-state/oos is more balanced than at UNC, UVA, Ga Tech for example.)
In addition to stats/rigor/essays/LoRs, Institutional priorities are a big factor in admissions, and those can vary from year to year.
I think that’s normal when looking at any non-transparent selection process. I promise you the Michigan AOs are highly capable and go to work everyday trying to make the best decisions they can, while balancing all their rubrics and institutional priorities…which is quite complex.
Really not unloading on Michigan or the dedicated workers, per se…
And I appreciate your responses.
I just get tired of the hype about how fair the process is, then hear people saying something like, ‘well life is unfair’… like we don’t already know it.
Exactly. She did follow up with a light email after that. Perhaps she should again now. Can’t hurt.
I very much appreciate kind and helpful AOs. Even if just doing their jobs and also promoting their schools so more kids apply. It takes A LOT of effort on our parts as families to travel, research, and stand in line at the college fairs. And I always appreciate their kindness. We’ve interacted with a few flat out unkind AOs (Columbia I’m looking at you and I went to grad school there and worked there)! I get it, it’s competitive. My kids appreciate the kindness too. Purdue is another one that was just a phenomenal and super nice AO.
My Junior is in the midst of about 15 super selective summer apps and those are not for the faint of heart either. I need a vacay when my junior and senior are off. A break before the next two. I do appreciate all of this insight. It’s fascinating. This board has been so helpful and if nothing else somewhere to find people going through the same things.
I understand and appreciate this distinction. I know several students from my son’s HS that applied LSA economics and added Ross, know if they didn’t get into Ross, they would be studying economics and could take classes in Ross. I understand that they could not transfer into Ross, but could major in economics and still take Ross classes. For many students, this was a perfectly acceptable situation, and they could still apply to Ross or elsewhere for an MBA, if they decided on business rather than an LSA major in economics.
I know I have said this before but students at Michigan like in Economics as stated do well going into business. They can actually interview for the same jobs as the Ross kids. Not all but a lot. My friends daughter is there now and she knows many students that have fantastic offers. But… If you really want business school than you got to apply.
I agree the econ majors do well, but the student has to like econ! (I know plenty who went to college thinking that would be their major and well, that didn’t work out) The other good thing is that students of many majors can go into business, and/or students from any school/major can get a minor at Ross, if that’s of interest.
The Michigan imprimatur is really the ticket, biz school degree is the cherry on top. Any graduating wolverine with good stats and gmat has excellent shot at the top MBA schools… and don’t despair, this holds for many other schools in the T100. Good school + experience + drive + rightplace righttime is what counts in the long run.
… That might help 
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