It’s not a matter of “blaming” UM. It’s a matter of the outside factors that cause this stress that UM is only adding to by having such a sporadic notification process. My best friend and I both had UM as our top choices. She was accepted in the 3/2 wave. While happy for her, I can tell you that it does kinda suck not knowing at this point.
To finish my rant, it’s reasonable for us to have expectations. We aren’t all expecting acceptances. Just decisions in a manner that follows suit of the years prior. Whether UM meets those expectations or not doesn’t matter in the long run, but it certainly adds to the stress that is the admissions process. Try to have a little bit of freaking empathy.
@curveboi While UMich defer those not admitted in EA to allow reconsideration in RD so some students would have a second chance to submit improved score and GPA, and yet that gets people to complain. When other schools like NU in the past that reject all ED applicants who were not accepted, people said it is too harsh. UMich used to admit a lot more in EA and defer a lot less, then those applied RD complained. There is no way to satisfy everybody. Nevertheless, one should noted that the admission process is posted on their website and they do release the EA and RD decisions ahead of their deadlines. These have not been changed since they started EA 6 years ago. One may check the WA as frequent as you want and get disappointed, but that is not what the schools suggested. One should take their own responsibilities.
@billcsho I think you’ve answered your own question. If you’ve noticed more people complaining on U Mich forum than others, there has to be a reason for that. Something about this process is inducing more stress than others. I’m not saying that Michigan should change their process because of how people feel. I’m just saying that it’s ok to vent.
@billcsho Have you ever tried saying “Calm down” to people who aren’t calm? That’s the effect your “defense” of the school is having on the people who are stressing and venting. The people that aren’t calm know that they aren’t calm. They just don’t want to be told to calm down.
We have every right to be frustrated. I agree that telling someone to “calm down” doesn’t help the situation. We are entitled to comment on the admissions process. You can defend Michigan all you want, but please do not pass judgment on those that are still waiting for a decision. They applied EA and it has been a long few months. And it is odd, IMHO, that in so many HSs every single applicant was deferred.
@billcsho, you seem to be more defensive than understanding. Yes, folks under INTENSE pressure and stress may go overboard in their comments but I would think people would understand and have empathy rather being simply defensive.
As to why the Michigan process adds more stress, and this is not to blame but just to point it out, is that most of the other schools with a single RD date have that one major stress point to build to while, when you have waves of admissions, there is point after point of stress which build on each other. I have little doubt that there are excellent reasons as to why Michigan chooses to do it as such but it does not lessen the stress.
To all… Bilscho and others are very giving of their time and expertise. He has helped many people for years get into Michigan on his advice. He is a numbers /facts person since speculation only brings on false hope and untruths. He and others have a lot of experience of what Michigan wants in admittance. I really think we should be thankful for his insight. We are all giving of our time since we have all been there /done that.
I am taking my daughter to Northwestern today. I just pursued their thread there. There are no experts there and they having similar dilemmas and uncertainty.
I just got a personal message from someone I gave some advice to in the transfer thread. She said she believes my advice got her accepted recently into Michigan. That is why we do it!
Good Luck to all.
@Knowsstuff stuff No one is questioning or not being grateful for Billscho’s help on this forum and I hope this doesn’t stop him from helping people with his knowledge. That’s what these forums are for. Even in my first post, I acknowledged that. At the same time, I’m just pointing out an unintended consequence of his constant “defense” of the school’s process. He might even be 100% right in explaining the process and why Michigan does things the way they do. But, still doesn’t help reduce people’s frustration. That’s the only point I’m making. People venting their frustrations and anxieties on this forum shouldn’t be termed “RIDICULOUS”.
@Knowsstuff I appreciate a lot of his posts as they have had useful information but you can say this is why Michigan does things this way and that it makes sense without insinuating folks are whiners.
Totally understand your feelings and this is a time of high anxiety. Honestly, my kids just never were on cc or checked their portals etc until they got a notice OR a large amount of kids at their schools got notices. We are all human and have different personalities. There is also no question that the Michigan cc is very active compared to a lot of other schools. Your decisions are coming and final and really not much you can do about it either way. Stay positive and don’t shoot the messenger… Lol… 
@billcsho EA applicants should have priority over those that applied RD. That’s why they applied EA–because they showed more interest. If your argument is that UM deferred so many applicants to satisfy RD applicants, you’re missing the point of early action. Also, you’ve completely missed my point in having a bit of empathy towards teenagers who are incredibly stressed out about their future. UMich has consistently given notifications prior to the deadline in years prior, and this year as well. Our expectations are reasonable. Our disappointment is reasonable. Your constant defense of UMich has been looking more and more like an attempt to diminish our feelings towards the situation.
At this point, the only “knowledge” we’ve been given is that we could hear back any day and that our feelings aren’t justified. At this point, I could care less if this dude keeps giving us the same “knowledge” that could be acquired with a simple email to a guidance counselor or the admissions office.
@curveboi Drag her!
@holdingouthope I am sorry that your daughter went through the process of getting waitlisted, but anyone who accepts the waitlist is basically asking to be strung along and to get stressed out. Apparently barely anyone even gets in that’s on the waitlist. I was commenting on another person’s post that was accepted in April last year who said to take a breath. Students should be able to enjoy the end of senior year but we are always under a lot of stress every year. You put yourself through the torture of getting stressed out and so do I, not Michigan. If it’s that frustrating for your child, I wouldn’t bother waiting for something that isn’t likely to happen. Admissions is trying to make sure that they keep their numbers, because in the end they are a business, which all universities are. Stringing people along is the best way to ensure they can have as many kids as they need. Overall, the waitlist is a safety net last resort type of process which many people have said on here and I am sure many places elsewhere. Don’t blame the school because your daughter chose to wait.
And to be clear, I do empathize with the frustration is natural in admissions… but getting waitlisted and accepting it? It’s just a losing battle. Anyhow, we will all be put out of our misery soon with only 17 days until April.
Let’s face it. There are 38000 EA and they only admit around 6000 (around 15%). What do you want them to do with the 32000 not admitted? With the deferral and additional applications, there are over 60000 competing for the remaining 9000 slots (around 15% again). Those applied EA actually have two chances if they were not admitted in the EA. If they were admitted in EA, they got the decision early and they are also eligible to merit scholarships. So they got their perks. After all EA is not like ED that has a commitment and shows your absolute interest. Even they do have early notifications for admission every year, over 3/4 of applicants would not receive their decisions until mid March or later if you want to set your expectation based on the history.
“.After all EA is not like ED that has a commitment and shows your absolute interest.”
Exactly. Perhaps Michigan should just have ED and force students to attend their school like so many of the other elites.
@rjkofnovi I’m pretty sure state schools are not allowed to offer ED anymore. However, the point of Early Action is to show greater interest than a RD candidate. Obviously, this isn’t the case with many applicants. However, it is important for a school like UM to show some regard to that principle.