Im a sophomore in high school and I want to start preparing for my junior year as it is crucial during college applications. My DREAM school is the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Does anyone know things that University of Michigan loves to see on applications?
What I have so far:
GPA: 3.8/4.2
PSATS: 160 (i blew them off but i intend on studying and doing well on SATs)
Extra Curricular’s: Harvard Model Congress, Volunteer at local hospital, Staff writer on school newspaper, International Studies Academy, started chemistry and AP World History study groups
Sports: JV swimming
Course Load:
Algebra II
French III
Physical Ed (required, last year)
Honors Chemistry
African Studies
Creative Writing
AP World History
Honors English II
I also love Boston College, UCLA, and UC-SB
Im not asking what my chances are, but possibly what i should improve and what i should start doing.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to respond!!!
Take as many AP classes as you can handle. I would consider two sciences your junior year. Maybe AP biology and AP environmental or whatever else may spark your interest. Also continue with French if offered at your high school. And also, if you enjoy swimming, stick with it and try to get your varsity letter! Good luck.
I’ve talked to a few UMich reps, and they say that they respond well to applicants who are involved in their communities. Definitely a high SAT score will increase your chances. Keep up with your current ECs, and take the hardest classes offered at your school. I was accepted early, and I think one of the things that probably stood out were my essays. Those can honestly make or break your application.
What are you planning on majoring in? I would suggest doing something outside of school that relates to your major, or general area interests. For example, I am planning on majoring in business, and I opened my own online business. I think it’s things like that which make you stand out, in my opinion. But as other posters have said, studying for the SAT (free books at the library can be a lifesaver) is a very good idea. Your classes seem a bit scattered… If you have an idea of what you’d like to major in, take classes relating to it. I don’t think your GPA is anything to worry about, the average GPA is 3.8 (hey, mine was, and I just got in!) so don’t take easy classes just to inflate your gpa. if you are OOS, it will be very difficult, but put the work in and it might pay off. Good luck with your junior year, and don’t get too stressed or worried about college just yet. Put your time and energy into your schoolwork and activities, then worry after you’ve excelled!
UMich likes high GPA. Try to get uwGPA as close to 4.0 as possible with decent rigor. You don’t need to kill yourself with 10+ APs. Note that 21% of freshmen this year had 4.0 uwGPA from high school. Then you need to have good scores. Your PSAT is far too low. If you are from OOS, try to aim at 2200+ in SAT or 33+ in ACT for a better chance.
EA acceptee here (class of 2019):
First off, good for you being so proactive! I didn’t even start thinking about colleges until Junior year.
Here’s stuff I know for sure:
for OOS: the Midwest, followed by the coasts have the best chances (all other things being equal). This simply has to do with the fact that Michigan is more familiar with the schools in the midwest.
Rigor, GPA are MUSTS:
While I don’t disagree with billcsho about the “don’t kill yourself with all those APs”, Michigan’s own website states that they consider high school rigor as highly (if not moreso) as GPA. For instance, my school offers about 20 APs and 10 honors classes. I’m set to have finished 13 APs and 5 honors classes by the end of the year. In context of what I was offered, I took advantage of it. And Michigan wants you to do the same: take a healthy amount in context of what you can do.
Here’s what I’m pretty sure of based on past historical trends tracked at my school.
Demonstrated interest in essays is VERY important if you are a high achiever (as in you could qualify for the most elite schools like the ivies)
Michigan has stated publicly that they are actively trying to shrink the freshmen class. Furthermore, for the past 5 years, they’ve overenrolled, so they came down EXTREMELY hard on our year with the wait list. For example:
GPA: 4.65 4.47 4.75 4.20 4.69
ACT: 34 35 36 32 35
Here’s a list of 5 people that includes me. The people with a 4.65 and 4.75 GPA were deferred, while the other three were accepted. By asking them each about their application, I was able to figure out that their essays didn’t convey enough interest in Michigan. I feel this means that since Michigan knows the kids who get in could also get into other schools, they are purposefully selecting for those who show that they really care about the school. My own GPA was well above the historical trends for past acceptees from my school (4.24), and I feel like my essay was they only thing from keeping admissions from assuming I was using Michigan as some sort of safe landing.
Now don’t look at this list and panic about GPA or test scores, just use this as proof that you need to better understand the school when you write the “Why Michigan Essay” in two years. Good Luck!
Oh also, my unweighted GPA was 3.75. But I still got accepted on the strength of my classes(4.47 weighted), test scores(35 ACT /// 2310 SAT), and essay (About Ross school of business), so seriously, don’t worry about what you don’t have, just try to do what you can
First you must calculate your MICHIGAN UWGPA. My daughters unweighted at her school was a 3.87 but her UMGPA was 3.95. Until you do that you don’t even know what your GPA is. Another kid I know if had uw gpa of 3.7 and UMGPA was 4.0. That’s because at our school an A - is a 3.66 and at michigan it’s a 4.0