Success applying to Michigan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone’s DC had success talking about their interest in the Ford School? It seems tricky because it’s selective - interested LSA students apply sophomore year and not all of them get in. Seems different than writing the “Why Michigan” essay to apply to a direct admit school like Ross or LSA with a plan to major in something that open to all.

(Admittedly, I don’t love this about Ford. DC loves Michigan and has a few back up majors in mind if Ford doesn’t work out. But it seems crappy to ask kids take a risk like this.)

Yes.

My son just finished his freshman year at Umich LSA. He plans to apply to the Ford School sophomore year, when eligible. LSA Political Science will be his backup, and he seems entirely OK with that.

In his "Why Michigan" essay he did mention likely applying to the Ford School. He's interested in state and local issues, probably headed toward some public-sector career. His high school courses, extracurriculars, and experience support that plan. I think he wrote a fairly cohesive essay, bringing this all together. (We're in-state Michigan, by the way.)

The typical path to the Ford School (undergraduate) is through LSA, so my take is if you're already thinking about Ford when applying to Umich LSA as a freshman, why not mention it.

Word on campus is that when applying to the Ford School, the policy position essay is extremely important (and the limit is only a few hundred words).

Thank you so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Class of 2026 Mich: accepted OOs early with 1530, 3.9, athlete, orchestra, leadership. I remember guidance counselor told her to redo
the "why Mich" essay and make it very specific to Michigan. She researched and added specific classes, specific profs and specific programs etc. that she wanted to take, get involved with and how it aligned with her career goals.

Same. I do feel like that's easier to do with some majors/departments than others. But, when DC was done with the essay, it was more compelling than any other they wrote. DC started first with how what they had done in their life lead them to Michigan, but it was too weighted towards the student and eventually shifted the focus more to Michigan and it didn't feel like any other school could be subbed out. That was definitely not the case for some of the other "why this school" essays of the community ones. I guess that's why DC is going Blue.

This is the reason Michigan gives your kid 550 words to explain why Mich....is it the most in college admissions?

The Georgetown essay is "1-2 pages"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Class of 2026 Mich: accepted OOs early with 1530, 3.9, athlete, orchestra, leadership. I remember guidance counselor told her to redo
the "why Mich" essay and make it very specific to Michigan. She researched and added specific classes, specific profs and specific programs etc. that she wanted to take, get involved with and how it aligned with her career goals.

Same. I do feel like that's easier to do with some majors/departments than others. But, when DC was done with the essay, it was more compelling than any other they wrote. DC started first with how what they had done in their life lead them to Michigan, but it was too weighted towards the student and eventually shifted the focus more to Michigan and it didn't feel like any other school could be subbed out. That was definitely not the case for some of the other "why this school" essays of the community ones. I guess that's why DC is going Blue.

This is the reason Michigan gives your kid 550 words to explain why Mich....is it the most in college admissions?

The Georgetown essay is "1-2 pages"

LOL, Georgetown. Never change.