@coffeeconverter if you are certain UMich is your #1, I would urge you to write your AO and tell them that you would accept if offered a spot. I’ve failed to convince my son to do that. He’d sent a LOCI after being deferred (OOS CoE), rec’d a reply saying thanks, but please don’t send anything else and now he won’t even write them to update on his National Merit Finalist status much less tell them they are now his #1.
His Counselor says no college would suddenly deny a student they otherwise would have accepted if they sent unsolicited yet meaningful updates, which she said includes telling them you’d immediately accept an offer if accepted.
@cofeeocnverter - My son was waitlisted last year. Michigan was his #1 choice. He sent a LOCI to his AO stating that if there’s ever a spot for him at Umich before school starts, he will be there. He got off the waitlist in June and he’s very happy at Michigan now.
Of course, don’t send it if you are not going to follow through.
@LuvsLabs. I tell my kids that sometimes you need to bet on yourself. “only” good things have ever happened to both of them. Another word this is, is persistence. Schools like kids that don’t give up. Also if he won an award like that he would be foolish not to send something in. Like a good “BTW - I don’t know if this is important but I was honored to get xxxx. Michigan is my number one school I would like to commit to today. Looking forward to a favorable response.” “Go Blue”.
If he’s anything like my son just have him copy /paste /send.)
@KnowsstuffI agree with you, 100%. He didn’t even want to send the LOCI after being deferred and believes sending it - after his deferral notice said not to send anything other than mid-year grades, or something like that - is why he’s still deferred. He has loudly told me this is HIS process not mine, and his decision and he’s going to listen to his AO and just wait to hear. He says they knew he was a semifinalist and would ASK if they cared that he was now Finalist. (I’ve asked his college counselor to please try to find a way to let them know, but she says he really should send it himself. I’m sure the AO absolutely doesn’t want to hear anything from me, other than we’ll send the deposit check if he’s accepted.)
The AO’s obviously don’t want a lot of meaningless communication, just begging for admittance, but it’s very unfortunate that they don’t say it’s ok to send meaningful updates to these kids who want to do what’s right. It’s funny that THIS is when my kid is a stickler for following instructions.
He’ll be fine, he has UMiami and Case Western Reserve to choose from, but he’d sure be a happier camper if he’s accepted to UMich!
(I’ll give it one more try - will copy, paste and send to my son, asking him to please just send it to give me peace of mind. It won’t surprise me if he doesn’t do it.)
@LuvsLabs, I had much the same experience with my son and the LOCI, except he doesn’t even talk with his college counselor (about anything).
Congrats on UMiami and Case–those two were very nearly on my (son’s) list. I use the parentheses since his list was basically the list I came up with after spending a thousand hours on CC.
My S has Michigan Tech as his backup–we’re still waiting on Northwestern (hopefully today!), Vanderbilt (next Tuesday?), and UMich (please let it be next Friday).
@TwoHearted I hope your son had better luck than mine with Northwestern! We knew that one was a shot in the dark - they barely ever accept anyone from my son’s tiny school.
Also waiting for likely rejections from Vanderbilt w/same lack of enthusiasm for his HS, and UPenn which was the one Ivy he applied to.
Was your son appying for Engineering? Mine wants MechE and likely Aerospace too. UMich is supposed to be one of the best in the country for that, so fingers are seriously crossed that we have a reason to visit in April!!! (He’s captain of football & lax and had a good role in the winter musical, so very little chance to visit schools that were far.)
@LuvsLabs. One thing my son told me was that the process was not fun due to me keep telling him what to do. Yes, I am absolutely correct) but at some point the stress is not worth it. That is where your son might be at. We had a few “loud” discussions then I stepped away. I didn’t realize how much stress these kids go through. Except for me looking up some classes he takes (I am a tech nerd), I am surprising him how hands off I am.
Word of advice : if he doesn’t get in don’t say “you should of sent a letter in” We went through this with Georgia Tech and the reality was he just didn’t care. He had Michigan already. Your son might be at this point with his other choices??
@LuvsLabs I’m a rules follower. As are my kids. If that deferral letter said to send nothing but grades, then I’d listen. But if you’re a “rule breaker,” and the update to UMich will “help you sleep,” then do it!
Of course, I’m using those phrases in a light hearted way.
@jfghveriuaga. Elite in what way? What are you asking? Is it one of the best schools in the United States and worldwide, yes. Most of its disciplines are ranked in the top ten. That’s pretty good.
but at some point the stress is not worth it. That is where your son might be at. We had a few “loud” discussions then I stepped away. I didn’t realize how much stress these kids go through. Except for me looking up some classes he takes (I am a tech nerd), I am surprising him how hands off I am.