Michigan provides comprehensive support systems

The University of Michigan is large, with 34,000 undergraduate students, and its resources are plentiful. To help new students acclimate to a school the size of a small city, Michigan provides first-years with a freshman adviser before they even arrive on campus. In addition, they have advisers for each major, pre-professional advisers, study abroad advisers, and honors advisers. Help is there if you choose to use it, but, as at any large school, you need to self-advocate.

Choose your academic pathway

• College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
• College of Engineering: If you want to major in computer science in either LSA or Engineering, you must indicate that major on your application.
• College of Pharmacy: You can apply directly to the bachelor’s program in pharmaceutical sciences as a first-year.
• Marsal Family School of Education: First-years can apply directly to the LEAPS program (Learning, Equity, and Problem Solving for Public Good).
• Ross School of Business: You can apply directly to Ross. With its admit rate around 9%, you may want to consider a Preferred Admission pathway.
• School of Music, Theatre & Dance: This school requires an audition and has a unique deadline of December 1; they do not offer Early Action for SMTD.
• School of Kinesiology: This school has two pathways. The kinesiology path prepares you for physical therapy; the other path is for sports management.
• School of Nursing: You can be admitted as a first-year, but you can also enter the program as a sophomore.
• Stamps School of Art & Design: Portfolio required.
• Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning: Portfolio required for architecture. The new major called Urban Technology highlights the intersection of cities and technology.

Apply to one school or college, or for dual enrollment in two schools or colleges.

Do your research into the programs so that you can show admissions that you know what you’re getting into, especially those programs in engineering, nursing, business, kinesiology, and architecture. In addition to the Common App essays, Michigan has school-specific questions you must answer.

Learning communities create connections

Learning Communities https://lsa.umich.edu/mlc make a large school smaller by combining your academic and residential experiences in a close-knit community. Michigan Learning Communities are self-selected groups of students and faculty drawn together by shared interests. Residential communities include Honors and Residential College for LSA freshmen, but also units focused on health sciences, writing and the arts, sustainability, and women in science and engineering.

Admissions evaluates academic excellence

Michigan’s undergraduate population generally averages about half Michiganders and half from out of state, but there’s no mandate to keep a certain percentage from in state. They’re looking for well-rounded students in the upper quartile of their high schools. When answering the institution-specific questions, make sure to show what you will bring to the school. Michigan has been and is currently test optional, though a majority of accepted students did submit either the SAT or ACT and test scores are “recommended.” Of utmost importance? The rigor of your transcript within the context of what was available to you and your GPA.

Access guaranteed pathways

Preferred Admission (PA) is a way for you to indicate your interest in later transferring to an upper-level program or the Ross School of Business. If you’re accepted to PA, you’re guaranteed a place in that program as long as you meet certain prerequisites during your first year at U. Michigan. These pathways vary. See the link for details: Preferred Admission

Navigating campus life

While 97% of freshmen live on campus with first-year housing guaranteed, the majority of students tend to move off campus for sophomore year and beyond. Housing in Ann Arbor, however, is tight. Our tour guide told us that you need to secure housing by November of your freshman year. When asked what they’d do with a million-dollar gift, the student panel said they’d use it for housing, study spaces, and parking.

The student panel also stated the obvious: Michigan isn’t for people who need warm weather (even in May, it felt cold to me!). Professors want you to succeed, but you should be a self-starter, willing to grab hold of the many resources that are there for you.

What’s it mean to be a Wolverine?

This is how the student panel described the Michigan community: it’s smart, involved, supportive, collaborative, and committed.