New Michigan leadership essay

[Anonymous]

I would use this essay as a chance to:

-- explain why I am planning on a certain major
-- note why Michigan is great for that program
-- explain how I will add extracurriculars to broaden my experience
-- then spin it into the future, when I use my degree to positively influence society

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How serious should it be? It talks about future plans? Are they referring to career goals?

Here's the prompt:

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum.)

When DD was writing supplementals last year, it was helpful to research each school’s motto/slogan to get a sense of what individual schools prioritized. For gu, it was “cura personalis”; for Cornell, it was “any person any study”. For Michigan, it’s “leaders and best”. So she tried to tailor her essays to demonstrate fit. When your DC graduates, how will their leadership make UM proud? Can be big or small but should be unique to DC.

Agree with this. Did your kid get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard essay. It is easy to make it a “Why Michigan” essay, but they already have that essay. It is also easy to make it an activities essay, but that doesn’t seem to be what it is about. My DC is struggling on this one.

OK, here I go again after having my advice called horrible and gibberish. Probably by kids who are stressed out and overthinking this essay.

Make it more about leadership. Has the applicant ever made a difference in a small or big way, and how as a college-educated person are they going to extend that learning to their adult life?

The reason this seems hard is because the instructions leave a ton of room to do whatever with this essay. As I said above, the word on the street is to use it to convince that the candidate is a "leader". And the definition of a leader can also be open-ended so that it's not just limited to student body presidents, etc.

If your kid has been the student director of a play, or been on student council, or done some meaningful volunteering, tutoring, anything...see what they can do with that. It's not about the activity (or a laundry list of them) as much as the difference they made by participating in the activity.

Yes, this is not the "Why Michigan" essay. Presumably you could still make the same difference in the world by executing your life plan at a different university. Or offer the same unique perspective based on all the elements that shaped you, at a different school. So it's not Michigan-specific, other than that leadership ties into one of the Michigan slogans.

I saw Brandon on TikTok (TineoCollegePrep) say this essay shouldn't actually refer to Michigan at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would use this essay as a chance to:

-- explain why I am planning on a certain major
-- note why Michigan is great for that program
-- explain how I will add extracurriculars to broaden my experience
-- then spin it into the future, when I use my degree to positively influence society

Really? Then would you not cover the bolded in the 2nd required MI essay below?

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?* (550)

See, this essay should be a story about the kid. Not about Michigan. A story about leadership - how they showed it and how it developed, and what they'll carry with them in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard essay. It is easy to make it a “Why Michigan” essay, but they already have that essay. It is also easy to make it an activities essay, but that doesn’t seem to be what it is about. My DC is struggling on this one.

Not that hard with copilot and a few good prompts.

Please do that. So when the AI that the admissions office uses for first screening, your applicant's essay will get flagged.

Btw, YCBK is doing a podcast this week (th?) on how Slate has Turnitin/Originality/Pangram AI detection built in now.
So, schools will see all "red" on the screen for the essays when any AI is used.
Automatic rejection?
Tell your kids!!

[Anonymous]

We read this as an "impact" essay.

How have your interests and experiences so far led you to create a positive impact (in any way, as you decide to define it)? How do you plan to have an impact at Michigan (in particular) and after college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How serious should it be? It talks about future plans? Are they referring to career goals?

Here's the prompt:

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum.)

When DD was writing supplementals last year, it was helpful to research each school’s motto/slogan to get a sense of what individual schools prioritized. For gu, it was “cura personalis”; for Cornell, it was “any person any study”. For Michigan, it’s “leaders and best”. So she tried to tailor her essays to demonstrate fit. When your DC graduates, how will their leadership make UM proud? Can be big or small but should be unique to DC.

Agree with this. Did your kid get in?

yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How serious should it be? It talks about future plans? Are they referring to career goals?

Here's the prompt:

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum.)

When DD was writing supplementals last year, it was helpful to research each school’s motto/slogan to get a sense of what individual schools prioritized. For gu, it was “cura personalis”; for Cornell, it was “any person any study”. For Michigan, it’s “leaders and best”. So she tried to tailor her essays to demonstrate fit. When your DC graduates, how will their leadership make UM proud? Can be big or small but should be unique to DC.

Agree with this. Did your kid get in?

yes.

all 3 schools? what majors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How serious should it be? It talks about future plans? Are they referring to career goals?

Here's the prompt:

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum.)

When DD was writing supplementals last year, it was helpful to research each school’s motto/slogan to get a sense of what individual schools prioritized. For gu, it was “cura personalis”; for Cornell, it was “any person any study”. For Michigan, it’s “leaders and best”. So she tried to tailor her essays to demonstrate fit. When your DC graduates, how will their leadership make UM proud? Can be big or small but should be unique to DC.

Agree with this. Did your kid get in?

yes.

all 3 schools? what majors?

accepted to all 3 for psych/cognitive science. caveat is that her essays at T10 were tailored in similar fashion but rejected/WL. it's tough out there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard essay. It is easy to make it a “Why Michigan” essay, but they already have that essay. It is also easy to make it an activities essay, but that doesn’t seem to be what it is about. My DC is struggling on this one.

Not that hard with copilot and a few good prompts.

Please do that. So when the AI that the admissions office uses for first screening, your applicant's essay will get flagged.

Btw, YCBK is doing a podcast this week (th?) on how Slate has Turnitin/Originality/Pangram AI detection built in now.
So, schools will see all "red" on the screen for the essays when any AI is used.
Automatic rejection?
Tell your kids!!

Any AI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would use this essay as a chance to:

-- explain why I am planning on a certain major
-- note why Michigan is great for that program
-- explain how I will add extracurriculars to broaden my experience
-- then spin it into the future, when I use my degree to positively influence society

Wrong essay. Most of that is for the main one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really hard essay. It is easy to make it a “Why Michigan” essay, but they already have that essay. It is also easy to make it an activities essay, but that doesn’t seem to be what it is about. My DC is struggling on this one.

Not that hard with copilot and a few good prompts.

Please do that. So when the AI that the admissions office uses for first screening, your applicant's essay will get flagged.

Btw, YCBK is doing a podcast this week (th?) on how Slate has Turnitin/Originality/Pangram AI detection built in now.
So, schools will see all "red" on the screen for the essays when any AI is used.
Automatic rejection?
Tell your kids!!

This should be the topic of a whole other thread. Don't AI detectors have a reputation for inaccuracy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We read this as an "impact" essay.

How have your interests and experiences so far led you to create a positive impact (in any way, as you decide to define it)? How do you plan to have an impact at Michigan (in particular) and after college?

This seems like a good approach.

[Anonymous]

Was Brandon reading this site today???
https://www.tiktok.com/@tineocollegeprep/video/7558231147788946718

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was Brandon reading this site today???
https://www.tiktok.com/@tineocollegeprep/video/7558231147788946718

Probably. He does sometimes