OT: Helping out a Prospective Student

My cousin (in law) is currently applying from out of state. She's not nearly as qualified as you and I still think she's got a shot. My wife worked in admissions and helped a lot with her application. She really stressed a strong, original, and passionate essay about why you want to go there. She also wanted her to really squeeze every last bit of relevant extracurricular experience into the application to show that she was really involved, ambitiious and out going. I do think you could probably improve your ACT score with some training, considering your grades. There's a lot of "gaming" the test strategies that can get you a couple points without really knowing more.

Your grades and scores are such that you'll almost certainly clear the first cut, so those extra details can really separate you from the crowd.

I don't believe Michigan limits out of state students AFAIK, in fact, anecdotally most of my friends and roomates in college were out of state. Either way, you never know until you try. There's no downside to applying.

I can't really help you with financial aid. It'll depend strongly on your financial status obviously.

As far as college life... really just be motivated to explore and find things you're interested in. You'll have all these options around you, but at the same time absolutely no one nudging you to get off your ass either. Get season tickets to Football (obviously) and hockey, even if you don't like hockey. It's awesome... best sports experience at Michigan IMO.

 

 

The North Carolina state constitution requires UNC's out of state proportion to be no higher than 18%. That's why it's so difficult to get in out-of-state. Michigan has no such policy. Your chances at Michigan are MUCH higher than they would be at UNC.

your ACT score. The admissions office probably doesn't have any strong knowledge of your school in Tennessee, so they will want to see a standardized score that matches what you would expect someone with a 4.0 GPA to achieve. I'm not at all trying to knock your hard word, but grade inflation is definitely a phenomenon in this country, and if your school is one that allows GPAs over 4.0, I think the GPA loses some of its luster of the admissions process.

So SIAP, but I think one thing to consider is if you truly have your heart set on math/science/engineering think carefully of who you have write your letters of recommendation.  For instance, just because your english teacher was your favorite teacher of all time and he/she would write the most bitching letter of recommendation doesn't mean they are the best to ask. Seek out someone who knows your aptitude and dedication to the core classes required for your desired major. Letters of recommendation and essays are the elements that make you more than just a list of stats and activities on your application.

For a personal example I applied to the engineering school with an interest in Chemical Engineering and got one of my letters of recommendation from my AP chemistry teacher, who also happened to be a former chemical engineer at Dow Chemical before she switched professions.  I applied as soon as I could (which I strongly reccomend BTW) around the beginning of October, and I got my acceptance letter just in time to share the news over Thanksgiving dinner with my family.

I should disclose that my situation should not be considered typical as I am a townie with a long history of family who went to Michigan, as well as other connections through growing up here to the university.

Anyway good luck and Go Blue!

And if you do get in, take Sports and Society with Markovits and History of College Athletics with Bacon. Awesome classes for a sports fan.

I'm not sure if you'll get in, but I really hope you do man. Unfortuantely I didn't get in (deferred then denied) so I hope you pull it off. I think you can do it though, even if it's harder for out of state kids for some reason. 

if you are going to pay out-of-state tuition for Michigan, don't major in something that won't lead to a career that provides a decent return on investment. 

I got in with a 3.2 GPA, never took the ACT, and accidentally submitted the "extracurricular" section of the Common App mostly blank after I started it and then forgot to go back and finish it.  All that ended up being on there was the fact that I played 8-man football for four years at my high school.  I did get a 2160 on the SAT. 

Here are three things that swung it in my favor:

1) I'm an in-stater.  They love their in-staters.  Obviously that doesn't help you very much but it leads somewhat into the much more important second point, which is...

2) I grew up with Michigan football and Ann Arbor culture.  (I live on the other side of the state, though.)  In my "why do you want to go to Michigan?" essay, I extolled all the virtues of the university and wove a story of my wide-eyed boyhood love for the maize and blue maturing into an adult appreciation of everything I'd loved before.  I ended the essay with "Go blue!"

3) After I got deferred the first go-round, I got chummy with the head of admissions and told her how my interest in the university had not waned and I still very much wanted to go.  As I later got in, I can't imagine it hurt my case too much.

As a final note, Michigan's a great school, but so are many other schools.  Don't be crushed if you don't get in and don't put it on a pedestal - that's what I did and when I actually arrived, it turned out to be very different than what I expected.  Much bigger, for one thing.  I'm probably transferring out next year.  Wherever you go, be happy there and don't worry about what could have been elsewhere.

 

Congrats on your credentials young man!  I feel you have a bit of an advantage being out of state.  Both my kids got in with very similar credentials as you.  If you can, I'd take the ACT one more time to see if you can get a 30, but don't sweat it if you don't. Taking AP classes, college classes and doing internships will definitely help you, I believe it help my kids. Sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to which 4.0 they pick out of 42,000 apps, but I like your chances.  I truly feel bad for kids applying now as the Common AP has substantially increased application numbers, and competition for that matter.    Good luck and stay positive.

emancipate yourself from your parents, I will adopt you. You just take my Michigan address then on your college app you list an alumnus as your guardian and get in state tuition.BAM system beat!

Like everyone else has said, your resume looks outstanding and the only thing with some room for improvement is your ACT score.

Two things I haven't seen mentioned on here: Gender and Geographical quotas.  I think you have both working in your favor.  Females make up over 60% of college applicants and college graduates these days, but schools try to keep it somewhat even (I think Michigan is at 55/45). Basically, you have less male competition and that'll help you.  I just realized I'm assuming you are a male based on your sports comments and engineering interests and I may be making a you-know-what of myself by assuming that.  If you're a -female, it's a tougher road. Notice everyone on this board who knows someone with great scores that didn't get in is a female (I know it's anecdoatal, but trust me, it's not co-incidental).

As has been mentioned here as well, Michigan accepts a much higher number and % of out of state student than UNC (traditionally the toughest out of state public school that limits out of state attendees to 5-10% iirc).  Michigan goes 25-30% out of state and I think that's growing.  And you may have a geographical advantage.  UM has geographical quotas and while Tennessee doesn't have a huge allotment due to lower population, I would imagine that fewer highly qualified applicants per capita come from that region than California and New York.

All in all, I bet you have a 75% of getting in provided your essay isn't garbage and it sounds like you're a well-written high schooler.

Good luck, and Go Blue!

Not trying to be a jerk, but the 29 doesn't quite line up with the 4.0....I guess it depends on which school one attends

are you applying to lsandplay or engineering? If the former then your ACT could use improvement but it's not really necessary to be competitive but if it's engineering then you need to get it up a couple of points to be more competitive. If you lived in Michigan you'd be a lock but that's not the case. 4.0 unweighted is pretty good, if you got your ACT/SAT up you would be competitive at better schools like Chicago. 

Good luck, but definitely try to up the ACT by 2 points or more. I wouldn't put your chances above 50% where you are right now. A few years ago it would have been a different story, but the acceptance rate has been pushed way, way down since UM has gone on the common app (started in 2011 I believe), and that affects OOS students even more. More OOS kids are applying than ever before, and that makes acceptance with sub-par standardized test scores difficult. I hope you get in, just definitely study hard for that ACT next time you take it.

to take the ACT multiple times?

I always assumed admissions committees frown upon that?

Have you tried tweeting at football recruits to ask for help getting in?

Lots of great information in this thread.  Much of it anecdotal, and plenty of it out of date.

For a different source of anecdotal info check out collegeconfidential.com.  Search for University of Michigan.  There are heaps of threads about the most recent batch of acceptees, deferees, and rejectees, most with stats.  One thing to keep in mind though, most posters on that site are VERY HIGH achievers, so don't be intimidated.  Just b/c nobody says they got in w/  an ACT score of 29 doesn't mean nobody did.  It just means that most people on that site are scoring above that.

1)  Get the ACT up 2 points -- it's not that hard.  Find a tutor.  Avoid Kaplan / Princeton.  Leverage reading, english, and math as the new ACT science is really tough to prepare for.  Time spent on math and english ACT preparation have the higest return on investment.  Reread geometry and algrebra 1 text books.  The McGraw Hill Handbook of English Grammar is quite useful.  Strunk and White might help as well.

2) Have smart people (English teachers, college prep advisors, etc.) proof and advise you on your essays.  Make them GREAT.  Remember this cardinal rule:  the more your essay reflects your own life, opinions, emotions, and experiences, the more it will stand out from the crowd.  We are all unique though not everyone writes a unique essay.  Prety much every story has already been told once on a college admissions essay; there's nothing novel you can do there but you can tell it through your OWN eyes and using your own perspective.  Don't underestimate this.

3) YES do the joint BME BS/MS program.  And definitely do consider stat's as well.  Double major and take hard classes while here.  Your GPA might get dinged but your education will be well worth it.  You will never have an issue finding employment with a double in BME and stats.

4) Sometimes ROTC offers a "trial" year.  MY cousin did this here at UofM a few years ago.  He signed up for a year, tried it, they paid his entire tuition and fees, and after a year he had the option to stay in the program or go (he opted to leave).  You get to keep the free year of tuition.

5)  Once you enter grad for the MS program you can apply to become a TA (free tuition and health care, $2400 / month stipend).

6)  If you are good at explaining stats and/or physics you can tutor on campus for pretty good money.  If you are excellent explaining at stats and/or physics you can tutor on campus for amazing money (and I will hire you do that).

7)  Engineering interships tend to pay very well during the summer.  It definitely limits your options away from start-ups and academic research, but you can easily pull down $10-15k in a summer working your tail off for a big firm.

8) If all else fails go somewhere else and transfer in.  It's easy after your first year at any major University so long as you have good grades. 

Best of luck!

 

 

Don't stress it sounds like you have been working hard and if you keep that up you'll have multiple options. I'm also seven or eight years removed from applying but your credentials look great. If you show your passionate about Michigan specifically I think that can give you an edge. Good luck and hope you are successful.

Wow. I look at your CV and think, how could you not be in? I graduated in 1987, and I had nowhere near your complete package. As a senior, I was deferred, and ended up transferring in my sophomore year, after a freshman year at Boston University. I had a 4.0 my freshman year, and had no problem getting in. 

 

But seeing all these comments, I worry that my son, who will be a high school freshman next year, will have to work his arse off if he wants to get in. He will be going to a big, diverse public high school in suburban Chicago, and so far, he plays baseball and video games. I guess it's time to push him ever-so-gently into some other extra-curricular activities. 

 

Good luck to you. I hope you make it!

Your ACT indicates that you're scoring in the 90th percentile. A 29 shows that you're capable, but not spectacular. Improve that score. Believe it or not, the gap between a 29 and a 31 is pretty big. That's about test taking strategy and time management. UM wants to see a 32 - 36. That's 97th - 99th percentile. Take the test in the fall, don't take it in December unless you have to. The December test is the, "Oh crap I need a better score," test, and seniors flock to take it then. If you get the exact same number of questions right in October and in December, you'll have a lower score in December because you're competing within a percentile, and the bigger the pool of competitors, the tougher it gets to get that high score you want.

Get a summer job. Clubs are fine, but part-time jobs reflect well on responsibility and handling the pressure of employment and education. It adds a little bit to your application that others don't think about.

Above all, if you get into Michigan and it's your dream school, take it. You'll never regret going. Is it a far drive? Yes. Is it expensive? Yeah, it is. Is it your dream school? Is a Michigan degree worthwhile? If you answered yes to those questions, just go for it. You don't want to spend your life saying, "I was accepted," you want to spend your life saying, "I graduated from there." You'd regret not going.

The OP has a very good record which sounds like from the posts here could be great with a little tweaking. I am an alum but in my day, the ACT was just in its infancy and the SAT had only two sections so the data others have presented is more relevant. The advice on writing, editing and rewriting your essay however is particularly sound. Nothing is more disheartening for a reviewer to read than an incoherent personal statement.

Finally its seems like you are well organized, dedicated and focused. That will be important when you go away for school. In a smaller school located in a smaller community, often social life revolves around the academic schedule. At bigger schools especially those in large cities, there is always something going on every night so it is easy to get lost. Ann Arbor certainly isn't New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago, but it has an active life independent of the school calendar. Many friends, and their kids have woken up one day as technically a junior with a mish mash of classes, fragmented bits of majors and ended up spending more time and money straightening things out. The U has amazing opportunites but it is up to the student to come here with a plan. It is OK to try to find yourself but have a plan of discovery, don't just stumble blindly about. Otherwise you'll have some great party, tailgate and concert memories, but will be scrambling to get your education back on track.

Good luck but I don't think you need it

My two cents:

Your being in the top 10% of your high school class (which, I'm guesing with 8APs and a 4.0uw, you are), is your biggest asset.  Second is your 8 AP classes. So long as you have done decently on a few of the AP tests (a few 4s or 5s), that is very strong as well.

The commenters are right, getting that 29 up to a 31 makes you a much easier acceptance. If that's a 31 and your essay shows interest in academics, I'd guess you'd be above 50% chance.

What people don't get is the letters of rec and extracurriculars mean very little.  Unless your extracurricular is something you've really self-started (e.g., starting and running a non-profit), or something academically focused (e.g., president of engineering club and you've held an engineering internship), it doesn't really matter.  Having that one intense academic interest that you've cultuvated already shows you'll contribute academically/intellectually to UM.

Admissions offices all talk about wanting well rounded students, but they mean they want students well-rounded academically.  Like wanting to double major in Classics and Biology or something like that.  Not "I was all-state and captain of my HS soccer team".  As impressive as that is to most people (me included), there's just a lot of state champions out there across the country at team sports.  Admissions Offices aren't focused on improving the level of intramural soccer.

Hope this helps

From what I heard the major you specify when applying matters.  I planned to go to Wastenaw then transfer but ended up going to a private engineering school instead.  I was told if I'd applied for Engineering I'd get in as I had a 36\790 in math but only a 24\630 in verbal for... 29\1430.  I was deferred, only one AP class 4.0 5 varsity letters but little extra curricular(worked 2 jobs plus sports).  I also applied too late basically(In January or February) without letters of reccommendation etc but a few relatives as alumni and working for the U.  However I think one score versus the other can be very important, basically got bombarded by every college with an engineering program.       I think you'll be fine, reaching out to some of the alumni clubs attending visits is a good idea, as is putting a lot of time into the essay.      Also UM is waaaay more friendly to out of state and foreign students in comparrison to UNC it sounds as they strive for a more diverse student body, also can generate more revenue for out of state.  I'd suggest retaking the ACT for sure,  and applying as soon as possible(if you have everything in order).  I would also caution against student debt and/or limiting it if at all possible.  Also possibly look into courses somewhere that will transfer in as upperclassman to save money although that'd be harder being out of state in TN so probably wouldn't work.