Troy High School seniors are now weeks past the Early Action deadline for college admissions and eagerly await their decisions. They’ve spent hours researching schools, writing essays and filling out the Common Application, yet the admissions process remains enigmatic. Of the universities on the minds of Troy High School students, none are more discussed than the University of Michigan. With the decision date rapidly approaching, a closer look at statements put out by the university’s Department of Undergraduate Admissions is needed to determine what really gets one into the University of Michigan.
The University of Michigan is consistently ranked among the top public schools in the nation, and only admits students that demonstrate strong academic and personal qualities. In a statement put out by the Department of Undergraduate Admissions, it is stated that “Academic strength, certainly as an indicator of how thoroughly you’ve been prepared to succeed in a dynamic interdisciplinary environment, is key [to the selection process].” In short, admissions officers need proof that an applicant is capable of handling the rigor of a University of Michigan education.
The University of Michigan’s Common Data Set from the 2022-2023 admissions cycle reveals that an applicant’s GPA is the most important factor in admissions, closely followed by standardized test scores, application essays, counselor and teacher recommendations, personal qualities and whether or not a student is the first in their family to attend college. Of the students who enrolled in the University of Michigan for the 2023 fall term, over 92% had an unweighted GPA of over 3.75, and most had an SAT score between 1350 and 1530. Undoubtedly, applicants must meet extremely high standards if they are to gain admission to the university.
However, being admitted into any university is never a pure numbers game, and an applicant’s background and character play a large role in the admissions process. The University of Michigan’s Department of Undergraduate Admissions confirms that the “admissions process considers all aspects of your record and experience. Applicants [are not admitted] solely on the basis of any single criterion.” Furthermore, the University of Michigan is committed to fostering diversity on campus and “gives consideration to applicants with particular indicators such as coming from a low socioeconomic status school or household by considering whether the applicant is from a geographic area, socioeconomic profile, neighborhood, or high school that is currently underrepresented in our student community.”
While the university affords special consideration to students from underrepresented schools and areas, the university also places students from overrepresented schools under more scrutiny, posing a challenge for Troy High School students. According to records released by the University of Michigan, Oakland County sends more students to the University of Michigan than any other county in the country. Not only that, but Troy High School is the third largest University of Michigan feeder school in the country. A feeder school is a high school that sends a large, often disproportionate number of students to a given university. Being that overrepresented schools are held to higher standards in the admissions process, applicants from Troy High School must outperform rural applicants by wide margins.
Though Troy High School students must overcome greater academic hurdles than students from other areas to be considered for admission, attending a feeder school does provide Troy High School students with certain advantages. Namely, the university is familiar with Troy High School’s rigor and quality of education, and in the University of Michigan’s admissions process, student’s from Troy High School, along with Pioneer High School, Detroit Country Day School and the International Academy, are projected as more likely to succeed at the University of Michigan. While going to a feeder school does place an application under stricter scrutiny, it can also increase the efficacy of applicants.
Compiling the information provided by the University of Michigan, the applicant that has the highest likelihood of admission is someone with straight As, a rigorous course load and an SAT score of over 1530. This person should be of an underrepresented region, ethnic group or income level and they should have a stellar application essay. However, the Department of Undergraduate Admissions explains that the admissions process is holistic and evaluates students based on a range of factors. When considering that the University of Michigan is known to reject students that score in the 99th percentile on the SAT, have straight As and demonstrate strong personal qualities, there is truly no “perfect applicant,” and the University of Michigan encourages anyone to apply, regardless of the heights they reached in High School.
