Hi, I'm planning for college applications - how am I supposed to show University of Michigan that I'm an ideal candidate? What kind of qualifications do they prioritize?
As someone with knowledge in college applications, your question is a great one. The University of Michigan, like most universities, takes a holistic approach to admissions. Therefore, the admissions committee will evaluate a variety of factors including your academic performance, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, personal statements, and recommendation letters.
Academic achievement is undoubtedly a significant part of their evaluation. This includes your GPA, the rigor of your high school curriculum (like AP or IB classes), and class rank if your school computes one. For the 2024-2025 application cycle, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich) continues to be test-optional. However, if you feel your scores accurately reflect your ability and potential, you may still choose to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Pertaining to your extracurricular involvement, UMich is more interested in commitment and leadership than breadth of involvement. Successful applicants to top colleges usually engage in 8-10 extracurricular activities, with many of them being seasonal (like sports), and they're highly-involved in a few. More importantly, they want to see what you've achieved or how you've made an impact through these activities so ensure that this comes across in how you describe these involvements in your application.
On personal statements, UMich has multiple supplemental essay prompts that allow you to showcase your personality, goals, and how you'd contribute to their campus. Remember to avoid cliche topics and make your essays specific, personal, and genuine.
Recommendation letters are another important part of the application, providing another perspective on your academic abilities as well as other qualities like your perseverance, dedication, creativity, etc. So, choose teachers who know you well and can speak to your strengths and growth during your high school tenure.
In terms of what UMich prioritizes, it ultimately seeks students who have demonstrated potential for success in their chosen field, who can contribute to the diverse and vibrant learning community, and who have shown dedication and commitment in their activities. Remember, they are looking for a class that is well-rounded, not necessarily students who are. The focus should be to identify your "spike", or what you are particularly good at or passionate about and have that reflect in your application.
I hope this helps shed some light on what UMich is looking for! Best of luck in the application process.
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