Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
many apply and how many are accepted? |
The University of Michigan accepts about 48 percent of all applicants. Nearly 24,000 students applied for undergraduate admission for fall of 2005. |
The
acceptance rate of universities is based on the number
of applications received and the number of applicants
that are admitted. The percentage of applicants a university
reports accepted is relevant to the number of applications
per number of open spaces. Hence, a university with
an acceptance rate of 40 percent may not be any more
difficult to get into than one with an acceptance rate
of 60 percent. The range is broad and extends from 14
percent (MIT) to 32.3 percent (Northwestern) to 85 percent
(Michigan State). On a scale of 1 to 100 (with 1 being
most selective) and as determined by US News,
Princeton, Harvard, Yale, California Institute of Technology,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford are
the most selective. Wake Forest University, Boston College
and the University of Michigan scored 32, 33 and 34
respectively. |
Visit
the published information regarding this topic:
University of Michigan
Columbia
University - Admissions
Northwestern
University - Undergraduate Admissions
University
of California - Introducing the University - Freshman
Profile
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology - Admissions
US
News |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
GPA do I need? |
The middle 50th percentile range for the freshmen class of 2002 has a GPA of 3.6-3.9 with
26-30 ACT and 1210-1380 SAT I test scores.
|
Most
universities publish a profile of their freshman class
that includes the range of GPAs. Some offer an average,
some publish the average of the middle 50 percent of
the class. Of the top 50 US colleges as ranked by US
News that included information on the average GPA
of incoming freshmen, the highest GPAs are found at
the University of California - Los Angeles and the University
of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. The lowest GPAs are
found at Vanderbilt University, Brandeis University
and Yeshiva University. Most universities use the GPA
as part of a larger equation. For instance, UCLA provides
a list of the combined GPA and SAT/ACT scores at the
Web site listed in the right-hand column.
A list of all top
50 US colleges that share GPA information is attached
along with the average GPA of their freshman class.
Click
here to view the list. |
Visit
the published information regarding this topic:
University
of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University
of California - Freshman Profile
Columbia
University - Admissions
Northwestern
University - Undergraduate Admission |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
standardized tests do I need to take and what scores
do I need? |
Applicants
must submit SAT I and/or ACT test scores. Students can
take either test, SAT I or ACT, multiple times. The
U-M will use the best total score from one test date.
Non-native speakers of English and International applicants
must submit additional materials (TOEFL or MELAB). |
Each
university has its own unique way of applying standardized
test scores to the admissions process. Applicants should
make themselves aware of how the universities they intend
to apply to use the scores.
For illustration purposes,
the following is a tale of two Universities, as told
by their Web sites...
Princeton does not
add the SAT I math and verbal scores but rather treats
each score separately. If an applicant takes the tests
more than once, Princeton records the highest verbal
score achieved and the highest math score achieved.
For any tests taken more than once, including SAT II
subject tests, Princeton records the highest score achieved
in each test. Of those applicants offered admission
to the freshman class that just entered, 25 percent
scored below 680 on the SAT I verbal, 50 percent scored
between 680 and 770, and 25 percent scored 770 or higher.
On the math SAT I, 25 percent scored below 700, 50 percent
between 700 and 790, and 25 percent scored 790 or higher.
Cornell does not use
any single formula for its admission decisions. First
and foremost, Cornell looks at the applicant's high
school record, the rigor of the coursework, grades and
rank-in-class (applicants need not worry if their school
doesn't rank -- Cornell knows that it is quite common).
The personal application (essays, extracurriculars,
etc.) is also a very important piece of Cornell's selection
process. Standardized testing plays a role but probably
not as much as many applicants think. From there, Cornell
relies on a lot of tools that can't be quantified: recommendations,
for example, and interviews (required only for hotel
school and architecture applicants). All of these pieces
help inform Cornell's decisions, so they can't point
to any master chart of GPA and test scores and automatically
decide what the decision will be. According to Cornell,
"Frankly, we like it that way, because it forces
us to learn as much as we can about each of our applicants." |
Visit
the published information regarding this topic:
University
of Michigan - Ann Arbor - Admissions - FAQs
Princeton
University - FAQs About Applying for Admission to Princeton
Cornell
University - Admissions - FAQs |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
are honors and AP courses accounted for in the admissions
process? |
Honors
and AP courses get added weight in the admission selection
process. The AP program and the International Baccalaureate,
because of their nationally recognized standards, are
worth distinct weight in admissions.
However, the admissions
office also looks for overall course strength and the
number of academics over the four-year high school career.
If you have only 16 academics (four per year), it's
not as impressive as someone with 19 or 20 over his
or her high school career. |
Successfully
completing honors and AP courses is always an advantage.
More selective colleges expect some AP coursework when
it is available. Be sure to ask the admissions counselors
at the institutions in which you are most interested. |
The
College Board - Advanced Placement Program |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much does class rank count? |
Many
high schools no longer use class rank for their students.
The lack of a class rank does not impede or hinder your
chances. The admissions office does try to determine
from your record if you're in the top two or three percent
of your school's class. |
The
Michigan response is increasingly common among major
colleges. However, the number of students with a high
class rank is still a statistic reported by many colleges. |
You
can often find on a college's Web site the class rank
statistics of the college's incoming freshman class. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much does the essay count? |
The
U-M's essay is open-ended, giving you the option to
write about many different things. The admissions office
is looking for essays with context, logic, and proper
spelling and grammar. A truly stellar essay will get
extra points in the admissions process. |
Interesting
ideas, clarity of expression, good organization, proper
spelling and grammar are always critical to the way
an essay will be judged.
Admissions professionals
realize that many students will get help writing their
essays--whether it's from a teacher, friend, older brother
or sister, or parents. Essays that seem too polished
or "canned" might cause concern.
Generally, private
schools emphasize the essays, asking students to write
about very specific topics. |
On
Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance
at the College of Your Choice, by Harry Bauld
How to Write a
Winning College Application Essay, Revised 4th Edition,
by Michael James Mason |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much does parents' alumni status count? |
You
get a modest boost if your parents are alumni. Parents
get the most weight, but grandparents and siblings also
count. |
The
policy of "it helps a little, but can't overcome
a mediocre academic record" is standard at most
top US colleges. |
Do
not hesitate to ask the admissions counselor the degree
to which alumni status affects acceptance. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much do recommendations count? |
The University of Michigan requires one high school counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation for all freshman applicants. You may submit more letters if there are additional people who know your academic skills very well, but there is no guarantee that these extra letters of recommendation will be considered in the evaluation for admission.
|
There
is a vast variation among colleges in regard to this
issue. Be sure to check with the college admissions
counselor. |
Admission
counselors at your intended colleges are the best source. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much does the admissions office know about my high school? |
The
U-M admissions office has a large staff that divides
the country into territories that staff members are
responsible for. The admissions professionals get to
know their schools well, particularly those schools
that regularly send a large volume of applications to
the U-M. They know the counselors, the academic programs
and the quality of the students.
To further their understanding
of a high school, U-M admissions professionals will
rely on high school profiles and high school counselor
input. If there are questions about the high school,
the U-M will contact the high school counselors. |
The
connection between a particular high school and a particular
college is a function of geography, reputation, admissions
staff resources and even tradition. Don't assume that
your high school is known unless the college you want
to attend regularly recruits there. However, don't be
surprised if the college is more familiar with your
high school than you expect. |
Admission
counselors at your intended colleges are the best source. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
much do extracurricular activities count? Should I be
a little involved in lots of activities or very active
in a few activities? |
Extracurricular
activities are very important and reveal a lot to admissions
professionals. They are looking for activities that
you've been involved with on more than just a superficial
level. Focus and duration are the key words when it
comes to extracurriculars.
Being involved in
a few clubs continually and taking leadership roles
or reaching certain levels of accomplishment are much
more impressive than being a member in name only in
10 clubs or groups.
Activities that cluster
around a specific interest also are a plus. For example,
a student in the drama club, who works with a community
group that does outreach theater programs for kids and
is involved every year with the class play demonstrates
a definite interest and dedication.
Students who can't
take part in extracurricular activities because of family
financial situations aren't out of the running. Some
students are working close to full-time schedules as
high school students, and those situations are taken
into consideration. Work experience is valued. |
The
following are illustrations of how extracurricular activities
are evaluated at other elite schools. Princeton University's
Web site states that it looks to see what sort of out-of-class
activities an applicant has committed a significant
amount of time to (on an individual or group basis,
including part-time jobs). Princeton is more interested
in substance rather than titles or the number of activities.
While they do keep an eye out for special skills or
talents, they are mostly looking for students with a
high energy level, those with both the capacity and
inclination to handle the academic workload at Princeton
and at the same time to contribute to the life of the
campus community, often in areas or activities that
are completely new to them.
Stanford University's
Web site says "The primary criterion for admission
to Stanford is academic excellence--The second most
important criterion is involvement outside the classroom,
where Stanford seeks evidence of sustained commitment
and leadership in school and community activities or
an indication of exceptional talent and achievement
in the arts or athletics."
Northwestern seeks
information beyond transcripts and test scores to help
make difficult admission decisions. They take into account
your involvement outside of class, as profiled in an
activity chart, and read your essays to get a better
sense of your interests, thought processes, and writing
ability. Recommendations from secondary school teachers
and counselors add perspective to your achievements.
Brown University's
Web site states "Extracurricular accomplishments
are taken into account to some extent in the evaluation
process. They are one facet that can complement and
strengthen an already impressive academic portfolio,
as can artistic, musical or athletic ability. The bottom
line is, one must be an excellent student with a strong
transcript. Other abilities are important, but secondary."
The Caltech Admissions
Committee looks at a student's academic record, recommendations,
SAT test results, essays and extracurricular activities
(especially in science and math). The committee also
considers the degree to which the student challenges
himself/herself, and does the student have a passion
for science and math? |
Princeton
University - FAQs about Applying for Admission to Princeton
Stanford
University - Facts - The Stanford Undergraduate Program
Northwestern
- Applying as a freshman: frequently asked questions
Brown
University Office of Undergraduate Admission - FAQ
Caltech
- Admissions FAQ |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| Are
some extracurricular activities rated higher than others? |
Specific
activities don't count more than others. In other words,
the marching band doesn't get more weight than the soccer
team. However, activities that lead to recognition and
awards might get special consideration, particularly
those that lead to recognition on the state and national
level. Being a state champ in debate or becoming an
Eagle Scout, for example, represent a special level
of achievement and are considerable accomplishments. |
The
Michigan response is a good general standard. If you
suspect your intended college prefers specialization,
be sure to inquire. |
Admission
counselors at your intended colleges are the best source. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| Is
it better to apply early in the admissions process?
Does it hurt my chances if I'm applying to lots of schools? |
The
U-M operates a modified rolling admissions process.
Applications are accepted from early September through
Feb. 1, and decisions are made throughout the period.
The criteria for acceptance don't change so you're not
less likely to get in in January than you are in October.
That said, however,
applying early does have its advantages. If your application
is missing a component or the admissions office has
a question about something, applying early gives them
the chance to contact you.
Regardless of when
you're admitted to the U-M, you have until the equal
consideration deadline of May 1, to accept your offer.
That gives you time to consider your other options and
your financial aid package, if applicable. |
In
general, public schools, including the U-M, do not ask
applicants what other or how many schools you're applying
to. Many of the private schools do ask how many other
schools you're applying to and in some cases if a school
thinks you're not seriously interested in attending,
it can hurt your chances.
Many private schools
require a deposit within 30 days of acceptance. |
Application
deadlines are usually available on college Web sites. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| Are
there other factors that are considered in the admissions
process? |
Certain
schools and colleges within the U-M have specific criteria.
For example, the School of Music requires an audition,
the School of Art and Design requires a portfolio and
the College of Engineering requires higher-level math
classes. Also, diversity is valued at the U-M. Under-represented
groups--in terms of race, ethnicity and geography--are
considered. |
Varies
according to the priorities of the college. |
Admissions
counselors at your intended colleges are the best source. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
if there's one bad semester (or year) on my transcript?
Will that put me out of the running? |
The
admissions office likes to see steady improvement in
academics or maintenance of good grades. However, if
there is a blip during the four years, there can be
a logical explanation (the death of a family member,
severe illness, etc.). If the explanation is not sound,
then the decline will have a negative impact on the
review. |
The
extent to which this situation is problematic at your
selected colleges is based on their perspective. Be
sure to contact admissions counselors as soon as possible
if such a situation arises. |
Admissions
counselors at your intended colleges are the best source. |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
if I get a case of "senioritis" once I get
accepted? |
A
case of senioritis can have serious repercussions. The
admissions office receives seniors' transcripts although
they don't come in until June or July. If there is a
serious, decisive and obvious slump, the office can
and will revoke its offer of admission. About 15-20
offers of admission are revoked each year, which is
not uncommon with selective schools.
In addition, students
who experience less severe slumps receive letters that
indicate the admissions office is disappointed in their
senior year performance. Those letters--about 100 go
out each year--are forwarded to the students' academic
advisors at the U-M. So steer clear of senioritis! |
Expect
that your academic performance will continue to matter
to your college beyond the offer of acceptance. |
|
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
is the cost of public out-of-state tuition and fees? |
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus has varying tuition costs depending on to which college you apply, but as an example, the approximate 2003-04 tuition and fees for out-of-state students is $24,590.
|
The
public out-of-state tuition and fees for other top US
colleges range from $17,409 for the University of Virginia
to $10,025 for the University of Washington. A list
of all top 50 US colleges with public out-of-state tuition
and fees is attached. Click
here to view the list. |
US
News |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
are the public in-state tuition and fees? |
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus has varying tuition costs depending on to which college you apply, but as an example, the approximate 2003-04 tuition and fees for in-state students is $7,788.
|
The
public in-state tuition and fees for other top US colleges
range from $7,068 for Pennsylvania State University
- University Park to $2,768 for the University of North
Carolina - Chapel Hill. A list of all top 50 US colleges
with public in-state tuition and fees is attached. Click
here to view the list. |
US
News |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
are the private tuition and fees? |
Does
not apply to the University of Michigan. |
The private tuition and fees for top US colleges range from $29,846 for Brown University to $19,670 for Rice University.
|
US
News |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
is the cost of room and board? |
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor $6,704
|
The
cost of room and board for the top 50 US colleges ranges
from $9,378 for Boston College to $4,767 for the University
of Virginia. A list of all top 50 US colleges' room
and board costs is attached. Click
here to view the list. |
US
News |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
percentage of students receives merit-based financial
aid? |
The
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor gave 21 percent of
merit-based grant applicants funding. |
Universities
vary widely in degree of merit-based financial aid.
In the latest report by US News, Wake Forest
University was on the high end of honoring merit-based
financial aid applications, awarding 32 percent of the
applicants with some aid package. At the low end, Princeton
does not offer any honorary, merit or athletic scholarships.
All of Princeton's financial aid is based on demonstrated
financial need. Cornell offers no athletic scholarships.
All Cornell scholarships that reward grades, leadership
ability or other special academic talents are need based.
A list of the top
50 US colleges and the percentage of merit-based grant
applicants they funded is attached. Click
here to view the list. |
US
News
Cornell
University |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
do I find out about merit-based scholarships? |
Your
high school guidance counselor should be your first
stop. He or she can tell you about local scholarships.
Many community groups, such as local Kiwanis clubs,
churches and booster clubs, offer scholarships to area
students. You should also consider organizations and
associations that you or your family members belong
to. Many companies offer scholarships to children of
their employees. You also should research scholarship
databases. Beware of databases that charge you a fee
to tell you what scholarships you're eligible for, however.
This information is available for free with a little
legwork, so search the Web and get to the library.
Also, many individual
schools and colleges at the U-M and other schools have
money to award. Engineering, for example, might have
scholarships to give, but the information isn't posted
widely. The key to obtaining this kind of money is to
do a little hunting once you get to campus. Spending
a little time figuring out the system at your school
can make a big difference in the long run. |
See
information under "The Michigan Response." |
University
of Michigan Office of Financial Aid
FinAid:
The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
can I do to prepare for applying for a merit-based scholarship?
What should I convey? |
This
varies somewhat by school. The first thing is to get
good grades throughout high school, have good test scores
and a strong grade point average. At some less competitive
schools, that alone will qualify you for a merit-based
scholarship.
At selective public
schools, you probably won't get a lot of merit-based
aid, although it varies by school. That's because all
the students attending those schools are excellent students.
The people awarding merit-based scholarships do like
to see "interesting" students--those that
take challenging classes and not the easiest route.
It shows that you have an inquisitive mind. Extracurricular
activities that illustrate leadership or community service
can lead to merit-based scholarships because they prove
that you're more than just a bookworm, that you're a
well-rounded individual. |
See
information under "The Michigan Response." |
|
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| What
percentage of students receives need-based financial
aid? |
The
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor gave 25 percent of
need-based grant applicants funding and gave 36 percent
of need-based self-help grant applicants funding. Self-help
grants include work-study awards. |
Need-based
grants:
It is important to
check each university's financial aid policy, as each
is unique.
According to the US
News report on the top 50 US colleges, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute gave the highest percentage (72
percent) of need-based grant applicants funding, followed
by the University of Rochester (64 percent), and Case
Western Reserve University (59 percent). On the low-end,
the University of Virginia gave 19 percent of need-based
grant applicants funding; the University of North Carolina
- Chapel Hill and the University of Washington each
gave 24 percent of need-based grant applicants funding.
A list of the top
50 US colleges and the percentage of need-based grant
applicants they funded is attached. Click
here to view the list.
NEED-BASED SELF-HELP
(such as work-study funds) aid:
According to the US
News report on the top 50 US colleges, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute gave the highest percentage (61
percent) of need-based self-help aid applicants funding,
followed by the University of Rochester (55 percent),
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (53 percent).
On the low-end, the University of Virginia gave 18 percent
of need-based self-help aid applicants funding, and
the University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill gave 16
percent of need-based self-help aid applicants funding.
A list of the top
50 US colleges and the percentage of need-based self-help
aid applicants they funded is attached. Click
here to view the list. |
Visit
the published information regarding this topic:
US
News
Yale
University - Financial Aid
University
of Pennsylvania - Financial Aid
Columbia
University - Financial Aid
Cornell
University - Financial Aid |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
do I find out about need-based aid? |
In
order to qualify for any federal programs, you must
fill out a FAFSA (free application for federal student
aid) form. It's available from your school or on the
Department of Education's Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The Web site also explains in detail how the federal
programs work.
The University of
Michigan attaches a high priority to need-based financial
aid to fulfill its commitment to meeting the demonstrated
financial need of Michigan resident undergraduates.
Need-based grants are the cornerstone of the U-M aid
programs to ensure that an economically diverse student
population from the state of Michigan can enroll at
the University. More than $28 million in the form of
need-based grants were awarded during the 1997-98 academic
year.
There are many different
financial aid programs available to students at the
U-M. Applicants for admission and financial aid will
be considered for all existing programs. An overview
of the programs may be viewed at Major
Financial Aid Programs Chart. |
See
information under "The Michigan Response." |
University
of Michigan Office of Financial Aid
FinAid:
The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid |
Question |
The
Michigan Response |
Top
50 US Colleges, Range of Responses |
Other
Resources to Check |
| How
soon should I be concerned with financial aid and scholarships? |
It's
never too early to determine how you're going to pay
for college. In terms of federal aid, be sure to start
early and give yourself enough time to meet the deadlines.
That also goes for private scholarships. Many have deadlines
in early fall. If you're a senior and don't start researching
scholarships until October, you'll already have missed
the boat.
Larger financial planning
should start as early as possible. Set aside $200 per
month for 18 years and you'll be prepared for tuition.
If you don't start thinking about paying for college
until junior year rolls around, your options will be
much more limited. |
See
information under "The Michigan Response." |
Paying
for College: Without Going Broke 2000 (Paying for
College, 2000) by Kalman A. Chany, Geoff Martz, Princeton
Review, A. Chany. |
