If you want to “go blue” for your post-secondary studies, here’s a definitive guide on how to get into the University of Michigan.
The University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor and founded in 1817, is a highly respected institution that promotes innovation and values diversity. US News has ranked the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, at #21 on its list of the Best Colleges and Universities, and in 2020, Ann Arbor was voted the best small college city in America.
According to the Office of the President, its mission is to serve the state of Michigan and the world “through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art and academic values.” It also strives to develop “leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.”
This guide will give you all the information that you need to set yourself up for success in your application. Read on to learn how to get into UMich!
The University of Michigan acceptance rate for the class of 2027 is 17.9%. On average, successful applicants score between 1350 and 1530 on the SAT, or between 31 and 34 on the ACT. The average GPA is 3.9.
In the most recent admissions cycle, UMich accepted just over 15,000 applicants from a pool of nearly 88,000. Here’s some insight into the University of Michigan acceptance trends:
With an acceptance rate of 17.9%, the University of Michigan is fairly competitive. It will be difficult to gain admission to UMich unless you have SAT/ACT scores in the range of 1350-1530 and 31-34 and a minimum 3.9 GPA.
Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into the University of Michigan.
Take a look below for some stats from the most recent incoming class. To be a competitive applicant, try to meet or exceed these numbers!
The average GPA of incoming UMich students is 3.9-4.0. The University of Michigan highly values academic excellence, so you should aim for no less than a 4.0 GPA if you want to make your application stand out.
Incoming students at the University of Michigan had an average SAT range of 1350-1530. This means that their average SAT score is around 1440.
While the University of Michigan is a test-optional school, students can still choose to submit their standardized test scores if they wish. If your SAT score is on par or higher than the average score range, then you should consider submitting it! If not, consider leaving it out of your application.
The University of Michigan average ACT score was in the range of 31-34. This means that, on average, most students scored a 33. To be a competitive applicant, you’ll need to aim for a score of 33 or higher!
UMich’s test-optional policy also applies to the ACT. This means that you may want to consider submitting your ACT score only if it lands within or above the average range. This way, you can be sure that your score will strengthen your application.
U-M wants to admit a wide variety of students with diverse interests, passions, and ambitions. The Admissions Committee evaluates applications holistically, with the goal of finding applicants who share a drive toward academic excellence and community orientation.
Each application is assessed by multiple evaluators to ensure a fair and balanced process. The evaluators use a rating system to measure the applicant, ranking each individual element on a scale including outstanding, excellent, good, average/fair, or below average/poor.
After assessing each element on its own, the evaluator decides what ranking best fits the applicant overall. From there, the evaluators come together to make their final admissions recommendation.
Here is some more info on how the University of Michigan evaluates applications, taken from their Common Data Set:
It’s important to note that while the University of Michigan does not consider general admission interviews in their evaulations, interviews may be necessary for some applicants to Music, Theatre, and Dance, and the College of Engineering.
For the best chance of getting into the University of Michigan, you should maintain a GPA of 3.9 or higher to compete with past successful applicants. You should also aim for an SAT score in the range of 1350-1530 or an ACT score between 31-34 to be a competitive applicant.
If you’re ready to apply, here are all the materials you’ll need to submit your U-M application:
*The version of this document that you’ll need will depend on which application portal you use. The school report corresponds to the Common Application, while the counselor recommendation goes with the Coalition Application.
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The teacher/academic letter of recommendation ideally comes from a teacher, but it can be written and submitted by anyone who can speak to your academic competence. U-M suggests community-based organization educators or academic program professionals as alternates to teachers, should that be necessary.
The school report/counselor recommendation comes from a school counselor or a principal.
You’ll need to stay on top of important dates and deadlines as you apply for the University of Michigan. Keep them at the front of your mind as you put your application together.
To help you out, here are some significant dates to pay attention to for UMich:
Source: University of Michigan Requirements & Deadines, University of Michigan Application Changes
Give yourself plenty of time to complete your application. It’s always a good idea to get started well before the deadline, to make sure you’re approaching each section with care and attention to detail.
The deadline for Regular Decision applications at the University of Michigan is February 1. Once you apply, you’ll have to wait until early April to hear your admission decision.
Students applying through Early Action at the University of Michigan will need to submit their applications by November 1. If you’re applying through Early Action, you’ll be notified of your admission decision by the end of January.
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If you want to increase your acceptance chances of U-M, here are some tips to help you improve your application.
UMich takes care to remind students that they only should submit one letter of recommendation. In fact, submitting more than one could damage your application!
With only one recommendation, you’ll need to be careful with who you ask. Choose someone who is well-acquainted with your strengths and can speak to your ability to thrive in an academic environment.
You should also ask your recommender early to give them lots of time before the deadline, and make sure they know when the deadline is.
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Thousands of brilliant students apply to the University of Michigan every year, and to put it bluntly, they just don’t have the space to accept every academically qualified student. That’s why you need to go above and beyond in your application!
UMich advises students to make note of every relevant extracurricular activity, and to be specific when describing them. Discuss how many hours you spent doing any given activity, what your position was, what your duties were like, etc.
However, you should also prioritize your extracurriculars accordingly. Make sure that you’re highlighting your most relevant activities. Put the activities where you showed the most leadership and growth at the top of the list.
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UMich encourages students to reach out to their admissions office, and we recommend that you do this! Talking to a staff member at U-M can guarantee that you’ll get reliable, specific answers to your questions.
Reaching out to the school also demonstrates initiative and shows that you’re a motivated individual. UMich will be able to see that you’re truly interested in attending their school.
You’ll have to write three supplemental essays to accompany your application. The U-M supplemental essays are a significant part of your application, so make sure you spend a lot of time on them!
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The first two essay questions are set by the University of Michigan, and are required for all applicants:
The third and final essay you write will depend on which application portal you choose. The questions are similar, though the wordings vary slightly. The Common Application has an additional essay question for transfer students.
You can look toward examples of successful essays to help you figure out your approach. The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to show off your writing skills and to help the admissions council see everything that you have to offer.
Still have questions about applying to the University of Michigan? These Frequently Asked Questions will give you the answers you need.
The main benefit of applying via Early Action is a guaranteed decision date. The date is always sometime in late January. This can be helpful as you plan your next steps.
If you’re applying to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance or the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, EA makes no difference. These schools are exempt from the guaranteed decision date, due to the time it takes to conduct auditions and review portfolios.
If you missed the EA deadline (November 1st), don’t stress! The only real difference is the speed; applying via Early Action doesn’t make it easier to get in than it would be otherwise.
The University of Michigan boasts a holistic selection process. While it considers test scores and wants to see proof of academic rigor in its applicants, this isn’t the only factor.
Furthermore, U-M has an ongoing test flexible option due to COVID-19. With this option, you can opt-out of reporting your SAT or ACT scores. You can still report other test scores, such as AP or IB exams. You will not be put at a disadvantage if you choose this option.
Each application portal shows you that you’ve successfully submitted your application.
If you apply through the Common Application portal, you’ll be able to monitor your application status through the dashboard. If you see a green checkmark, it means the school can download your application.
If you apply through the Coalition application portal, it will direct you to a confirmation page once you submit. In your dashboard, you’ll see a status of “submitted” next to the name of the university.
Within a week of U-M downloading your application, you’ll receive an email confirmation. Add “@umich.edu” to your safe sender’s list and monitor your spam folders to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Short answer: absolutely!
The University of Michigan encourages undocumented and DACAmented students to apply. It offers support services for current and prospective students, such as financial aid, the Student Community of Progressive Empowerment (SCOPE), and its signature program, SuccessConnects.
While there is no requirement for the number of credits you need in order to transfer, having two or more semesters of transferable coursework makes you a more competitive applicant.
U-M Admissions has a Transfer Credit Equivalency Search that you can use to verify that your credits will transfer over. Students applying to transfer into the College of Engineering will have to meet specific admission prerequisites.
If your application has been postponed, you can expect a decision by early April. You’ll be considered with the regular applicant pool. You can opt to submit an Expression of Continued Interest form and update your information if you’d like, but this isn’t mandatory.
If you’ve been placed on the waitlist, it means that you’re a competitive applicant. The first thing you should do is respond to the waitlist offer. Spots can open up after the enrollment deposit deadline of May 1st. U-M generally completes its waitlist admission process by mid-June.
Applying to the University of Michigan can seem intimidating, as it’s a high-ranking university with a moderately low acceptance rate, but the process doesn’t need to be stressful. You can follow the steps on this guide to make it as simple as possible.
Remember to give yourself lots of time to compile your application. The Early Action deadline is November 1st, and the regular application deadline is February 1st. It’s always a good idea to start early, to give yourself (and your recommenders!) as much time as possible to prepare the best application possible.
Best of luck with your application!
