What are the requirements for U of M admissions?

Hi guys, I am genuinely interested in the University of Michigan and I am trying to grasp their admissions requirements. Is it just about decent scores and good grades, or do they look at something else too? Can anyone provide some insight here?

Admissions at the University of Michigan (UMich) are not just about grades and test scores, though those are certainly an important part of your application.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS: This institution is quite selective, with about a 18% acceptance rate. The majority of students admitted usually have a GPA of 3.9 or higher and SAT scores in the range of 1340-1530, or an ACT score between 31-34. Please note that these are ranges and not cutoffs, so even if your scores are below these ranges, you could still be accepted if you demonstrate notable strengths in other areas, while even if you're within or above them, you still want to invest time and energy into the other key areas of your application.

TEST OPTIONAL POLICY: For the 2024-2025 application cycle, UMich is still practicing under a test-optional policy, which means you can choose whether or not to submit your SAT or ACT scores. However, at selective schools like UMich, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so submitting a test score is still a good idea for many applicants. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: UMich also considers your involvement in extracurricular activities. Your activities outside of class show your interests and demonstrate essential qualities such as leadership, persistence, and commitment. As with most top colleges, highly-involved, and Tier 1/Tier 2 activities are more appealing to admissions officers. For more information about extracurricular tiers and how to categorize your own involvements, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities

ESSAYS: The University of Michigan application requires school-specific supplemental essays. These are your opportunity to showcase your fit with the institution's culture, express your interest in your intended program of study, and explain how you would contribute to the campus community. CollegeVine's blog also contains a breakdown of how to tackle their current prompts: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-michigan-essays

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Letters of recommendation also play a role in the admissions process at UMich. You will need to submit one from a guidance counselor and one from a teacher.

To increase your odds of admission, it's crucial to not only meet these basic requirements, but also to give the admissions team a clear picture of who you are and what you bring to the university community beyond your academic abilities. A strong essay and meaningful extracurriculars can really make a difference there.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at UMich, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including GPA, course rigor, test scores (if you have them), and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at UMich and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, for example by raising your GPA slightly or earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars. Best of luck!