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University of Michigan Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

The following University of Michigan essay examples were written by authors who were admitted to University of Michigan (UMich). All names have been redacted for anonymity. Please note that CollegeAdvisor.com has shared these essays with admissions officers at University of Michigan in order to deter potential plagiarism.

For more help with your University of Michigan essays, check out our 2020-2021 University of Michigan Essay Guide ! For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

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?

Given the excellent academic program, the University of Michigan provides a wonderful opportunity for me to learn and grow both as a student and person. During my recent tour of campus, I was excited about the idea that I had the potential to make a mark on this large university. Furthermore, I got the sense that there were many opportunities for me to create a community, excel in a variety of academic and leadership areas, and prepare myself for an exciting and fulfilling career.

I am most interested in the Program in Biology within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. As an avid life science student with a keen interest in environmental science and biodiversity, I am most interested in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major. In my AP biology course, for instance, the lab I found most interesting involved animal behavior with response to wet and dry environments. As a student within the Department of EEB, I would be able to learn more about biodiversity and the history of life on earth. The depth and breadth of the curriculum, including classes such as Animals Functioning in Environments and Animal Diversity, would be particularly interesting to me. Another exciting unique opportunity is the University of Michigan’s Biological Station in the Great Lakes region. As a member of a research team, I would be able to examine natural habitats and do lab experiments in the field. I am more than excited to be part of such a scientific community. I am also interested in exploring forest succession and ecosystem processes through the Forest Ecosystem Study. Furthermore, I would be interested in studying abroad during my time at Michigan. One program that interested me was the CGIS trip to the London School of Economics and Political Sciences where I could further my study of biology, but in a new setting. Michigan’s strength of curricular and hands-on opportunities would certainly offer me ways to continue and develop my interest in biology.

Outside of the classroom and field, I would like to share my enthusiasm about biology with like-minded students by joining the Biology Student Alliance and Society of Biology Students. And, while not directly related to biology and ecology, as a Michigan student, I look forward to joining the Michigan Academics Competition. As captain of my school’s Academic team, a Quiz Bowl style trivia competition, I enjoy researching and recalling science (and history) facts. As a biology student, I am confident that I would become one of the biology specialists on the Michigan Academics Competition and Quiz Bowl Team.

Michigan’s incredible opportunities within the Program of Biology would enable me to have access to a world class education. Furthermore, the unique field experience and research opportunities would enable me to make my mark on the University.

Why this University of Michigan essay worked, according to an ex-admissions officer

In this essay, the author begins by praising the University’s academics and then expresses how much of an opportunity it would be to get to matriculate at UMich. They uses energetic words and direct verbs. The sentences exude intention. In the first paragraph alone, this student tells us that they will hold dear an opportunity to attend UMich. They inform us that they will benefit as a person and a scholar and will also give back to the community while on campus.

The author then goes on to tell us what programs they would like to join at UMich. Yet while doing so, the author interjects their own interests, talents and experiences. By doing this, we can clearly see that the author has the curiosity and ability to effectively join these classes and programs. The author renders their own experiences in three dimensions, making it clear that they would be an excellent candidate.

The writer walks us through exactly what they plan to study and how they hope to integrate into the community. This inspires confidence in us as readers.

This student would be an avid contributor to UMich. Though the essay is direct, it has complexity and ends by reiterating that this student intends to make an impact. If you’re interested in attending UMich, don’t forget to use our College Search Feature! You’ll find all kinds of interesting information on everything from academics to financial aid along with helpful school-specific admissions resources.

I always had a keen interest in numbers, probability, and finance. Early on, I could run numbers quickly: calculating sales tax, analyzing probabilities, and visualizing complex mathematical models in my head. After taking two AP classes in economics and one in statistics, I became increasingly intrigued with the mathematical representations of the different product and labor markets of the economy and modeling statistical outcomes, sparking my desire to pursue a career in that field through preferred action admission to Ross. Thus, I have set my sights on becoming an actuary since risk management is highly intriguing and allows me to use my talents in mathematical and statistical analysis as well as in written and verbal communication. The curriculum at Ross, coupled with the liberal arts requirements, will provide me with the necessary background to pursue my career goals.

At Ross, I will have the privilege of pursuing a Bachelor in Business Administration, providing me with a well-rounded background in management and economic analysis. I am particularly looking forward to the TO 301: Business Analytics and Statistics course taught by Dr. Shimi Nassiri, as it develops the skills of proper statistical and economic analysis and subsequent decision making. As well, it provides in-class experience of analyzing and modelling real data sets. I am also invested in Dr. Nassiri research of more efficient and effective healthcare solutions. As a Hispanic teenager, I feel very strongly about Dr. Shima Nassiri research on health care as it greatly impacts both the Hispanic and other minority communities. I am also eager for the 360° Thinking portion of the Ross curriculum. Particularly, the junior year course MO 300: Behavioral Theory in Management greatly intrigues me. It entails an in depth analysis of societal trends and how to develop creative and efficient responses as a manager. This class would provide a strong foundation for me in the analysis of social sciences and how they intertwine with economics. Additionally, what draws me to Ross is the emphasis on teambuilding and leadership skills which play a crucial role in molding successful business leaders in today’s rapidly changing world economy. My experience as a faculty-selected “Peer Leader” at Manalapan High School has provided a gateway into the fundamentals of leadership, and I look forward to expanding my skills through the unique leadership portion of the Ross curriculum as well as various leadership programs, such as the Leadership Experience Program (LDRx). The opportunity to develop both the tangible and intangible skills, which separate the accomplished leaders from the rest of the pack, will help me to create meaningful relationships both in the business world and the greater world community.

While I expect to learn a great deal at Ross, I feel my upbringing will permit me to contribute to Ross. I grew up surrounded by Latin salsa, spices, sights, and sounds, but that was not all. Since my parents immigrated from Cuba, I grew up with stories of the political and economic struggles my family faced. It is through these stories that I have gained an understanding of the influence of leadership and the importance of economical and statistical analysis to grow an economy. I hope to share my cultural background and perspective as a Hispanic man at Ross.

This essay leaves me with absolutely no doubt that this student belongs on the Ross campus at UMich. He begins very directly by telling us about himself and his skill set. He gives us a brief evolution of his mathematical interests — how they started and where he will direct them.

He has researched Ross, knows one of their leading professors, knows her academic body of work, knows the specific classes, and has made himself a 4 year plan regarding what he will take and to which programs he will add. He very articulately describes this progression. The reader can clearly imagine him as an enthusiastic participant.

Intermittently, this student references how his education will be applied in healthcare and leadership capacities. He also shares his Cuban culture with us, reminding us that he is more than just academics. Finally, he finishes with a proud determination he will be a Hispanic Ross Man. How could we question that?

These University of Michigan essay examples were compiled by the advising team at CollegeAdvisor.com . If you want to get help writing your University of Michigan application essays from CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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College Admissions Counselors in Michigan

Find college admissions counselors in Michigan. Getting into a top ranked college requires more than straight A’s. You need expert help; we help you find quality college consultants near your city and state.

According to our college consulting expert, David H. Nguyen, PhD, founder of Next Level Prep , Location is pertinent to finding the best educational consultant agencies because companies based in a region will understand the characteristics that admissions officers look for in students from high schools in that region. There is an edge that consultants gain from having worked with many students in the same region . That’s why our college consulting agencies are broken down state-by-state.

Most high school students have extremely limited access to direct guidance during the college admissions process. According to The New York Times , during the 2012–2016 school year, every public school counselor in the U.S. was assigned an average of 470 students! That doesn’t leave much time for one-on-one support as you figure out how to complete your FAFSA, decide which extracurriculars improve your chances of college admission, and what application strategies can help you stand out in a sea of other excellent students.

College admissions consultants, or college coaches, can help fill that gap, and give you a major advantage in finding the school of your choice.

Find College Admissions Counselors Close to You in Michigan

Agencies are listed alphabetically within their cities.

Parros College Planning

Location:  Ann Arbor, MI

Services include:

• College search and selection
• Application assistance
• Essay development
• Test preparation
• Financial aid help

Affiliations and Accreditations

Start With Your Story Educational Consulting

• College list building
• Essay coaching
• Resume creation
• Interview preparation
• College selection

College Admissions Consulting, LLC

Location:  Birmingham, MI

• College list building and selection
• Resume development
• Application and essay development,Interview preparation
• College visit planning

College Choice Counseling, LLC

• College preparation and admissions advising
• Essay writing
• Financial aid and graduate school advising

Future Plan College Consulting, LLC

• Financial aid overview

Independent University Advising

Location:  Cannonsburg, MI

• College visit advising
• Essay review
• Scholaship advising

Collegewise

Location:  Franklin, MI

• Tutoring & Test Prep
• College search
• application assistance

The Equestrian College Advisor

Location:  Horton, MI

• For equestrian and non-equestrian students
• Academic advising
• Career and major advising
• Essay writing support
• Application and scholarship assistance
• Financial aid support

Ivy Ambitions

Location:  Lansing, MI

ACE college consultants, LLC

Location:  Milford, MI

• Academic record review/course selection advice
• Extra-curricular activities advising
• Standardized test planning
• Career/college majors exploration
• Essay brainstorming and editing
• Resume review
• Scholarship search assistance
• Financial aid advising

AFS Educational Consulting

Location:  Mt Pleasant, MI

• International, US and Canada

Transitions in life

Location:  Ortonville, MI

• College Search
• Resume and transcript review
• Financial aid assistance
• Recommend extracurriculars
• Graduate school advice
• Interview Preparation
• Guidance on final choices

Pinpoint academic advising, LLC

Location:  Traverse City, MI

• High school course selection
• SAT/ACT planning
• Athletic and arts recruitment preparation

Beasley College Consulting, LLC

Location:  West Bloomfield, MI

• Test guidance
• Major and career assessment
• Extra-curricular activities guidance
• Resume preparation
• Campus visit advise
• Interview coaching
• Essay brainstorming
• Application review
• Financial aid and scholarship discussion

College Lifeguard, LLC

Location:  White Hall, MI

College Consulting FAQs

An admissions consultant is a hired professional who can guide you through the complex landscape of college admissions. Admissions consultant companies vary greatly in size and service offerings, and operate either locally, or as part of a nationwide network.

Learn more about how to select a college admissions counselor that is right for you in our conversation with NextLevelPrep college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen, who explains how to choose a college admissions counselor .

College admission consultants help guide families and students through the often complex college admissions process. Services typically include counseling on how to improve your chances of getting into your chosen schools, coaching on writing college essays and personal statements, SAT and ACT test preparation, and assistance in the scholarship process, among others.

One of the primary benefits of hiring a college admissions consultant is their experience: an expert consultant will have up-to-date insight on what colleges are looking for in terms of grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and personal statements. This knowledge can help you make a favorable impression on the schools of your choice.

Plus, college admissions consultants who also provide test preparation can significantly improve your performance on SAT/ACT exams — improving your odds of both earning scholarships and getting into the higher-tiered schools on your list.

This depends on your goals. If you simply need support during the test-prep and application process, you can begin your relationship with a consultant during your junior year of high school — just as the college search process really heats up. However, some college consultants begin working with families as early as 8th or 9th grade, guiding students in their academic focus, electdive course selection, extracurriculars, community service, and more.

This type of full-service consultation is generally very costly, but the goal is to provide students and families with a complete road map leading directly to a top college.

The price for college admissions consultation can vary widely depending on the type of company and the nature of services you seek. From one-time seminars to weekly consultation, to hands-on guidance for the entirety of your high school education, you have a lot of options. The higher the level of service you seek, the more you’ll spend.

For an overview of the pricing landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s ranking of The Best College Admissions Consulting Agencies .

Yes! If you have access, this extra level of support can genuinely provide you with insight into the admissions process and enhance your odds of admission. More importantly: you won’t be alone during the arduous process of applying to colleges.

While your high school guidance counselor can literally spend no more than a few minutes a semester on your admissions process, a professional college admissions consultant will be directly and professionally invested in your success. This can make a major difference in where you end up earning your undergraduate degree.

Yes, you can trust the recognized college admissions consulting groups. That’s why we list only companies that are recognized by agencies and associations such as Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) , Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) , and National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) .

These independent agencies provide oversight and certification, ensuring that members adhere to all appropriate legal, ethical, and commercial standards both on behalf of consumers and within the higher education infrastructure. Consulting companies listed in their directories may be considered trustworthy and legitimate.

For more on how you can safely and effectively navigate the college admissions consulting landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s Confessions of a College Prep Consultant .

Find College Admissions Consultants Near You

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• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Colleges and Universities in Michigan

With over 80 public and private colleges to choose from, students hoping to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree can find a program that suits their educational needs and budget. Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are the two largest schools, both serving around 42,000 students and costing $16,000 in tuition. Most of the schools in The Wolverine State, however, serve smaller student populations, with tuition fees ranging from $3,000 to $49,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Additionally, students pursuing their degree at a school with religious affiliations have more than 20 options to choose from, including Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Grand Rapid’s Calvin College, and Hope College in Holland. Students attending one of Michigan’s private schools, like Davenport University, can earn their degrees in fields like nursing, education, criminal justice, and history. Michigan, like many other states, also provides a special loan forgiveness program to those in medical, dental, and mental health professions who work in underserved communities. Recipients can receive up to $200,000 of tax-free funds over an eight-year period.

The great state of Michigan famously serves as the major hub of the United States auto industry - and also boasts the longest freshwater coastline in the nation. Students who love the outdoors but are also drawn to the metropolitan energy of big cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids will feel very much at home in Michigan.

To find your degree program, explore some of the top schools in Michigan.

What are Michigan’s Colleges & Universities?

• 12 Research Universities
• 30 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
• 16 Graduate Schools
• 21 Public Colleges & Universities
• 21 Private Colleges & Universities
• 16 Christian Colleges & Universities
• 26 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
• 21 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
• 23 Community Colleges
• 20 Online Colleges

Michigan’s Best Overall

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The Ultimate Guide to Acing the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2022/23

The acceptance rate at the University of Michigan is 28.6%, which may seem high compared to the Ivy League, but don't be fooled. The school is very selective—admissions officers review over 65,000 freshman applicants a year. For every 100 applicants, they only admit 29. The University of Michigan Supplemental Essays is the perfect opportunity for you to stand out in your applications!

Some people aspire to study in the Ivy League , but small class sizes and an intimate learning environment aren't for everyone. The University of Michigan is one of the world's highest ranked public state schools, coming in at #25 according to QS Global World Rankings .

What are the University of Michigan Essay Prompts for 22/23?

University of Michigan’s supplemental essay prompts remain unchanged from last year.

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (300 words)

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 words) (required for freshman applicants)

Top 3 "Why This School?" Essay Tips

How to Answer Prompt 1

Before beginning this essay, ask yourself the following questions:

• What can I contribute to a new community?
• What do I bring to the table?

By reflecting first, you can put yourself in the mindset of the people reading your essay. Admissions officers will be asking themselves a similar question:

What can this applicant share with the University of Michigan?

For many students, the issue is focus. Nearly everyone belongs to multiple communities (some of which overlap in powerful ways), so choosing just one can be difficult. Therefore, this essay might be more challenging but also more rewarding!

Tip 1: Write down a list of communities that come straight to mind

When starting the brainstorming process, do not use your existing extracurricular/activity list. Start a new document or page without any of your other application materials nearby, and take your time writing out any community that comes to mind regardless of its size, location, unity, or widespread fame. This approach allows for some more unrestrained thinking.

For some, the most influential community immediately jumps off the page. If you fall into this category, express that excitement and passion in your essay!

Tip 2: Write about an informal community

For those who find it more difficult to choose a community, write about a community that might not be considered a "formal" community. Think creatively by reflecting on what you do with your extra time, where your head wanders when you're daydreaming, or who you turn to when you have a bad day. These questions, though more abstract, can make you realize that you belong to communities of people who might not be as visible in your day-to-day life. You might recognize that you daydream in your second language, signifying that you belong to a community of bilinguals. Maybe you visit your grandmother across town when you have a bad day, making you associate certain feelings with her house and neighborhood. These are all communities that can make compelling essays.

Though this essay will take shape in different ways for different people, you mustn't use this essay as an opportunity to brag! You have many opportunities in your application to show off your accomplishments. The essays are not the place. Use this essay to discuss your background, and do it in a way that provides insight into how this community has shaped your character and what it will allow you to contribute to your college community.

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How to Answer Prompt 2

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 words).

While this essay prompt is a favorite of many schools, there are two major pitfalls for this kind of essay.

Don’t reuse an old essay

The first is that students will change the university's name within one stock essay and use it to apply to several schools. Do NOT do that! Your reasons for wanting to go to the University of Michigan should be thoughtful and based on your genuine research. Using broad statements about the "thriving college town" or the size of the student body can be used to describe other places. It does not make a compelling case for why the University of Michigan should accept you.

Summarise don’t copy information from Michigan’s website

The second pitfall is when you copy blocks of text from the university's website or promotional materials. Instead of quoting, synthesize why the information they provided is conducive to your future studies.

Be as detailed as possible

In this kind of essay, the more detail, the better! Spend that extra time doing your research. If you have friends at the school or have alumni contacts, talk to them. Read everything on the website. Learn about the requirements of the degree programs, the nuances of the school traditions, and the school's values and mission.

Write down the names of specific professors or classes that excite you. Try to imagine which activity groups you might join or the places on campus you might want to visit. This research doesn't take much time, and it will help you get more excited about applying to the University of Michigan! Those who read your application can sense your excitement and tell if you are expressing genuine passion. They will be impressed that you're taking this part of your application seriously.

It is important to note that detail in the essay does not mean you're firmly committed to a specific degree program. If you are unsure what you want to study, choose a college and major that allows you flexibility. Provide reasons for why your indelible curiosity motivates you to continue exploring before settling into a major program.

This essay is important and should help you make a compelling case for why you believe you will grow academically and personally from the University of Michigan environment. Convey that passion in the 550-word space that they provide you!

How to Stand Out in Your University of Michigan Supplemental Essays?

Want to make an impact on admissions officers? Don't put off the supplemental essay. It's not an afterthought. Spend time crafting your essay responses. Be creative and thoughtful in your answers, highlighting how your experiences are preparing you for the University of Michigan and how you will utilize the school's resources to further your career goals and make a difference during your time on campus.

How Crimson Can Help You With Your University of Michigan Supplemental Essay

When you work with one of Crimson's knowledgeable and approachable advisors , you'll receive unique advice specifically for you. Our advisors want to hear about your unique dreams, aspirations, and goals. They get to know you personally so they can help you craft supplemental essays as original and exceptional as you!

Final Thoughts

Don't forget to proofread! You'll spend a lot of time staring at your responses. Sometimes you won't even see the obvious grammatical errors. After you finish writing, don't look at the essays for a day or two. Then look at the essays again. You might see something you missed before. Finally, ask someone you trust to review your responses for clarity and structure. Make your final edits and turn them in with the rest of your application.

While grades and test scores are important, the University of Michigan takes a holistic look at applications. Your supplemental essays matter more than you may think! They allow you to show your enthusiasm for the school and why the University of Michigan is the best school for you.

What Makes Crimson Different

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• MIT Supplemental Essay
• Harvard Supplemental Essay
• Columbia Supplemental Essay
• Princeton Supplemental Essay
• Cornell Supplemental Essay
• Brown Supplemental Essay
• Upenn Supplemental Essay
• Dartmouth Supplemental Essay
• Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay
• University of Chicago Supplemental Essay
• NYU Supplemental Essay
• Northwestern Supplemental Essay
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2021-22 Essay Prompts Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

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Many colleges and universities have started asking applicants to respond to prompts that ask them about their experiences with diversity, inclusion, and equity. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through the popular new supplemental essay prompt.

Guide to the 2020-21 University of Southern California (USC) Essays | CEA

So, we just have to say it: the USC application is kind of all over the place! You’ll be asked about everything from your academic interests to your life's theme song, so make sure to tighten the straps on your brainstorming helmet. Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to show you how to use every essay as an opportunity to showcase something different about yourself!

Guide to the 2020-21 University of California Essays | CEA

For the UC application, the rules may be unfamiliar but the game is the same: tell admissions something they don’t know, and then do it three more times! A strategic applicant will choose an amalgam of prompts that highlight vastly different aspects of their life and personality, leaving an admissions officer with a deep and complete picture of who they are. Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you avoid getting hung up on trying to find the questions admissions "wants" you to answer -- with each essay, your goal isn’t just to answer the question, but to tell a very short story about yourself!

Guide to the 2020-21 Georgetown University Essays | CEA

Since it's not on the Common App, Georgetown requires some extra special attention when it comes to its supplemental essay requirements! Luckily, our Founder and Chief Advisor Stacey Brook is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and discuss the motivation behind them. Take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice!

Guide to the 2020-21 Harvard University Supplemental Essays | CEA

Harvard University is one of the most competitive schools in the country, and every year admissions officers are faced with countless applications from eager students looking to make the cut. As a result, Harvard's supplemental essay prompts are diverse and complex, to allow students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from their peers. If you're feeling overwhelmed, fear not! CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the Harvard essays so you can hit submit with confidence.

Guide to the 2020-21 Stanford University Essays | CEA

The Stanford University application is nothing short of a doozie -- no less than EIGHT essays of varying lengths for students to answer and submit! To help you tackle this beast, our Founder and Chief Advisor Stacey Brook has created this video guide to walk you through each of the prompts, and give you the tips and tricks you need to make an impression on admissions.

Guide to the 2020-21 Boston University Essays | CEA

The Boston University essay requirements are a gift to students: two of the most straightforward prompts you could ask for, and only one of them is required! Of course, our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, doesn't believe that any essay is truly optional, so make sure you're taking advantage of every opportunity you have to speak to admissions in your own voice. Plan ahead, pay attention to the questions, and above all don't wait until the last minute to start your work!

Guide to the 2020-21 University of Michigan Essays | CEA

We know that submitting your application to the University of Michigan can cause some serious stress. Thankfully, this year Michigan only requires two supplemental essays instead of three! Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and provide you with tips and tricks to help you showcase yourself to admissions using your own unique voice.

Guide to the 2020-21 New York University Supplemental Essay | CEA

New York University (NYU) asks undergraduate applicants to write one supplemental essay (prompt in description below) on top of their Common App personal statement. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to craft a winning response!

Guide to the 2020-21 Brown University Supplemental Essays | CEA

Applying to an Ivy League institution, such as Brown University, can be incredibly stressful! Luckily for you, CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through Brown's four (4) supplemental essay prompts.

Are “Optional” College Essay Prompts Really Optional?

Every year, colleges and universities around the world offer applicants the opportunity to respond to "optional" supplemental essay questions...But are these prompts truly optional? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, lets you in on a college admissions secret.

The Expert’s Guide to Finding Sneaky Supplemental Essays

There's probably a section of the Common Application that says "Writing", in which all of the supplemental essays live, right? WRONG! Supplements can be found in a variety of places and can sneak up on students who have spent months preparing to submit their applications. Don't let that be you! This video will detail the several different places where you can find supplemental essays.

How to Write Vanderbilt University’s “Extracurricular Activities” Essay

Vanderbilt University's supplement consists of one prompt (text below). CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you take full advantage of this opportunity to illuminate your leadership skills or personal values for admissions.

The College Application ‘Activity’ and ‘Community’ Essays: What You Need to Know

Want the key to writing the most important and pervasive school-specific supplemental essays? We've got the tips and tricks you need to conquer the ever-popular "Activity" and "Community" supplements so you can showcase for admissions how you spend your time, where you feel like you belong and what truly motivates you to action. Assigned by schools like Harvard, Stanford, The University of Michigan and so many more, mastering these supplemental essays will ensure you utilize every opportunity a school's application provides to showcase your strengths.

What is a Supplemental Essay?

Most supplemental essay prompts are designed to both gauge a student’s interest and determine where a student might fit into a school’s particular community. Typically, these essays focus more specifically on future academic and professional goals, school-related activities and a student's role in your current community than the Common App's personal statement. Watch this video for a short and sweet introduction to supplemental essays. Know what you're up against!

How to Write a Powerful “Why Do You Want to Go Here?” Essay (The Why Essay)

The Why Essay takes on many forms and can ask many questions: What will you do when you get here? How will you take advantage of all the resources our school has to offer? How will the school support your academic or professional goals? How do your past experiences or future goals support these claims? It’s likely that many schools to which you apply will as the Why question in slightly different ways (and with a WIDE range of word limits). This video will teach you everything you need to know about how to respond to the "Why do you want to go here?" essay.

How to Respond to Quirky, Odd, and Bizarre College Essay Prompts

There are certain schools, like the University of Chicago, who have always taken special pride in developing crafty questions for their applicants to answer. In recent years, more schools are jumping on the bandwagon, luring students to their applications with questions like “What does #YOLO mean to you” (Tufts, 2013). This is both fun and exhausting for applicants who are grateful for an injection of modern, quirky inspiration, but whose creative wells may be running dry. This video will get down to the bottom line: Why are schools asking these questions and what are they looking for in applicants' responses?

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston University (with Winning Supplemental Essays)!

The Boston University application supplement is a gift: two of the most straightforward prompts you could ask for, and only one of them is required [full prompts below]. But beware, a simple supplement is no reason to ignore a school or save it until the last minute. In fact, it means you have no excuse not to nail your essay, so pay attention and do your work!

How to Write the “Why NYU?” Essay

New York University (NYU) asks undergraduate applicants to pen one supplemental essay (prompt below) in addition to the personal statement. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to draft a compelling response.

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston College (with a Winning Supplemental Essay)!

Boston College asks students to select one prompt (out of four) to respond to in 400 words or less (prompts below). So what will you write about? Art, community, a contemporary problem, or character formation? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you all the information you need to select a prompt and write an amazing supplemental essay.

How to Write Fantastic Application Essays for the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia asks students to write two application essays of 200-300 words. The first prompt is set in stone, and for the second essay, applicants can choose one of four prompts to respond to [prompts below]. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts for UGA. Let's begin!

How to Write Short Answers and the Additional Info Essay

The challenge of short answer questions lies half in generating honest, unique and clever ideas, and the other in being concise. The purpose of additional info essays is to provide admissions with an explanation for a drop in grades, low test scores, or prolonged absences. Both of these essay types need to be handled with care -- and that's exactly what this video will show you how to do.

How to Get Into University of Texas: Austin (with Great Application Essays!)

The University of Texas: Austin application is a beast unto itself, with a slew of essay prompts (full text below) that ask you to dig into all aspects of your life. From your home life to your future plans, you're going to have to tell all -- and in a way that sets you apart! Luckily CEA's Founder, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the prompts so you're ready to tackle anything Texas' independent platform throws at you.

How to Get Into Emory University (With Amazing Supplemental Essays!)

Emory University asks first-year applicants to write two (2) essays in addition to the personal statement. Applicants must choose one prompt from the "Reflections" category and one prompt from the "Tell us about you" category. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts. Let's begin!

How To Answer Supplemental Application Questions: “Why Do You Want To Go Here?”

These days, most colleges and universities require supplemental applications in addition to the Common Application. You could be looking at a list of 10+ supplemental essays, so we made you a quick guide to the most common supplemental question: "Why do you want to go here?"

Guide to the 2018-19 Northwestern University Supplemental Essay

Are you planning to apply to Northwestern University? The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into Northwestern's supplemental essay prompt so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2018-19 University of Michigan Essays

Submitting your college application to the University of Michigan can be a real nail-biter. Michigan requires three supplemental essays. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

How to Get Into UNC (With a Great Essay)

UNC is well-known for being the first public university in the United States and a leader in innovative teaching strategies. The school is also known for receiving many college applications, which means it is crucial for applicants to differentiate themselves in their essays. Luckily for UNC hopefuls, the university gives students two additional supplemental prompts to respond to in order to set themselves apart from the sea of similarly qualified applicants and increase their chances of getting into UNC. College Essay Advisors Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the UNC supplemental prompts so you know which essays will showcase your best attributes!

Guide to the 2017-2018 Duke University Supplemental Essays

Submitting your college application to Duke University can be a real nail-biter. Although it's probably too late now to tweak your test scores or GPA, you can make sure that your college application essays will bring you admissions success! Duke requires one supplemental short answer and gives students the opportunity to respond to two optional prompts. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2017-2018 Harvard University Supplemental Essay

Harvard University is one of the most competitive schools in the country. Every year admissions officers are bombarded with applications from eager students looking to make the cut. Thus, Harvard has a supplement to give students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition. Writing supplemental essays can be daunting, but luckily for you, College Essay Advisors founder (and admissions expert) Stacey Brook is here to break down the Harvard supplement so you can hit submit with confidence.

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College confidant: Navigating college essays and financial aid for the first time

Region: Statewide

Category: This Is Michigan

In Michigan, many high-achieving high schoolers consider college to be out of their reach

BOB ZWIERS TEACHER Holland High School They’re smart as a whip in class. They just don’t have the background knowledge or the help at home. And that is so many of our students. HANNA STUDENT Battle Creek Central High School Will attend: Kellogg Community College I had no clue where to go with college. I had no clue how to fill out my first application. U-M’s Michigan College Advising Corps (MCAC) offers recent U-M graduates year-long, full-time positions in under-resourced high schools to help high school students reach their full potential NOAH HOLLANDER EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL Battle Creek Central High School :34 We serve an underserved population and an under-resourced population. add hyphen to under-resourced

TIFFINI HOLLINS SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Battle Creek Central High School We don’t have the time to spend just going over college applications and scholarships. The college advising program solves a lot of those issues for us. FREDDIE DE LA ROSA MCAC COLLEGE ADVISOR Holland High School I’m extremely appreciative of this program and the way it impacted me when I was in high school, and I’m very happy that I can give back now. I am pretty close in age and I often feel like :56 a big brother role for a lot of these students. he says “role” but the caption says “rule” FLOR STUDENT Holland High School Will attend: Kendall College of Art and Design The first thoughts I have about college when I came, for me it was impossible. The word impossible in my mind. KARINA STUDENT Holland High School Will attend: Hope College 1:11 And I’ve been an unaccompanied youth since I was 16. Mr. De La Rosa helped me to find a stable living situation. fix spelling of name – should be De La Rosa not Delarosa MICHAEL TURNER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, K-12 PARTNERSHIPS CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH University of Michigan Our applicants tend to be students that have gone through similar experiences as the students in our schools. So then it becomes this very personalized, individualized approach. And I think that’s what makes this program pretty unique. ISAAK STUDENT Holland High School Will attend: Undecided 1:28 Me and Mr. De La Rosa, we connected through the Promise Scholarship, and he kind of fix name – same as above 1:30 helped guide me through it and add “it”

1:35 and get me through that process of competing for it and receiving it. He was also like a first-generation student. add hyphen to first generation FLOR (no onscreen name) 1:38 Thanks to him, delete period I had the confidence to keep going. KARINA (no onscreen name) 1:43 Thanks to Mr. De La Rosa, fix name I was able to apply for Hope College and be accepted there and also to get a lot of scholarships. Since 2010, the MCAC program has served more than 20,000 students CHARLOTTE PIERCE 1:57 MCAC COLLEGE ADVISOR correct spelling of advisor Battle Creek Central High School It’s really just a matter of helping them realize what opportunities are out there and that they are not that different from all the other kids whose parents may have those resources or have that family history of college. KAMEILAH STUDENT Battle Creek Central High School Will attend: Jackson State University I was like, I’m not going to college. But then she started telling me more about it and she 2:12 started introducing change “start” to “started” opportunities to me, giving me more confidence. LALRO STUDENT Battle Creek Central High School Will attend: Grand Valley State University She really strives to get to know every student and help them find a path.

HOLLANDER (no onscreen name) What’s amazing about this program is that it’s not just about the University of Michigan, right? Like the work that a college advisor does is What do you want next? TURNER (no onscreen name) It’s not a recruitment leg. It’s really about outreach and making sure that things are equitable, 2:31 delete period communities have the resources so that students, no matter what their background is and they’re able to map out some sort of strategy. ZWIERS (no onscreen name) We have hundreds of kids that wouldn’t have gone to college, wouldn’t have reached their fullest potential without this program. HANNA (no onscreen name) If not for Miss Pierce, I wouldn’t have a future plan. KAMEILAH (no onscreen name) Because of Miss Pierce, I’m going to college.

By Greta Guest, Michigan News

HOLLAND, Michigan—Flor Sanchez, a student at Holland High School, described her anxiety about talking to the college adviser.

“Honestly, the first thoughts I had about college … it was impossible. The word impossible was in my mind, hearing about how much it cost, about the process. It’s a long process. Getting accepted, doing essays for me was impossible,” she said.

And then Sanchez met Freddie DeLaRosa, who was once very much like her—a student unsure about if college was for him. He’s working with Holland students through a partnership with the University of Michigan where he’s part of the Michigan College Advising Corps program.

Battle Creek Central High’s Charlotte Pierce with banners of the colleges students will attend

The MCAC helps high school students across the state determine and pursue their post-high school academic goals. They do this through training—and providing guidance to—a team of advisers, all recent college graduates, who work full time in schools across the state, through a mutually beneficial and financial partnership between U-M and the high school.

“I would guess we have hundreds of our kids that wouldn’t have gone to college, wouldn’t have reached their fullest potential without this program. I think it’s incredible that the University of Michigan is paying for this program to help kids get into any college.” ~ Bob Zwiers, a teacher at Holland High School.

The program, started in 2010, has helped more than 20,000 students throughout the state select and apply for colleges and scholarships.

“He helped me open doors. Without Mr. DeLaRosa, I couldn’t have done anything to go to college and thanks to him, I had the confidence to keep going,” said Sanchez, who plans to attend Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University in Grand Rapids to learn illustration and printmaking.

“It’s really about outreach and making sure that things are equitable,” says Michael Turner

“I even saw there were opportunities that I never really had in my life,” she said. “So I changed my mind and I said ‘OK, it is possible, and if these people are helping me it is because they see something in me, and now I have to see it.”

After four weeks of training over the summer, the MCAC advisers work in high schools across the state, anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours away. They live in those communities and are typically involved with the program for a year or two.

For student Flor Sanchez, the first thought about college was “it was impossible”

Along with Holland, the program’s 16 advisers serve students in 25 schools around the state including Saginaw High School, Pontiac High School, Chandler Park Academy High School, Holland High School, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Battle Creek Central High School and Flint Southwestern Classical Academy.

They work primarily with senior students, sometimes juniors, and determine what the next chapter could be for those students—community college, a university, potentially U-M.

And the impact over the past decade has impressed Bob Zwiers, a teacher at Holland High School.

Freddie DeLaRosa

“I would guess we have hundreds of our kids that wouldn’t have gone to college, wouldn’t have reached their fullest potential without this program,” he said. “I think it’s incredible that the University of Michigan is paying for this program to help kids get into any college.”

And DeLaRosa was one of those students and counted Zwiers as a teacher and mentor.

“So my goal to come back to Holland was definitely the fact that Holland was very influential in me getting to the University of Michigan through the scholarships, through the support of my high school and the community,” DeLaRosa said. “I was able to get into the University of Michigan, and I wanted to give that same opportunity to students.”

DeLaRosa figured he’s met with 90% of the seniors at Holland High to support them through whatever their next steps may be—whether that’s college, the military or the workforce.

“Hundreds of our kids wouldn’t have gone to college” without the program, says Zwiers

Michael Turner, associate director of K-12 partnerships for the Center for Educational Outreach and program manager for the Michigan College Advising Corps, stresses that the program isn’t a recruiting tool for U-M.

“It’s really about outreach and making sure things are equitable,” Turner said. “So that students, no matter what their background, are able to map out some sort of strategy.”

‘Getting the funds necessary’

A critical piece of the puzzle for many students who strive to attend college is how to find scholarships, grants and other financial aid. And that’s a specialty of the Michigan College Advising Corps.

Tiffini Hollins, a school counselor at Battle Creek Central High, said the U-M trained advisers have been a tremendous help to her and the students and she’s grateful for the partnership.

Karina: “Thanks to Mr. DeLaRosa, I was able to apply to Hope College and be accepted there.”

“The challenge with students is the knowledge and the equity and the opportunity to have access to college scholarship opportunities,” Hollins said. “And for us, in my opinion, the Michigan College Advising Program solves that program.”

Noah Hollander, executive principal at Battle Creek Central, said the school serves an under-resourced population and a big barrier that students face when contemplating college is how they will pay for it.

The program helps students submit college applications and find scholarships

“How do I make that dream a reality? By getting you the funds necessary to help you through school,” Hollander said. “So having that support system in the school that they can access that says, ‘I will walk you through the process of figuring out how you make this financially possible’ is incredible.”

Partnering with U-M has also brought a greater sense of credibility to the school’s advising efforts, Hollander said.

Lalro will attend Grand Valley State University

“There’s that expectation of excellence and then being able to have access to a school that many of our kids never even thought was going to be a thing for them,” he said. “So understanding that there’s a connection point in our building to the University of Michigan, that is powerful.”

Even more powerful for individual students is the self-confidence they gain from working with someone like DeLaRosa or Charlotte Pierce, the MCAC adviser in Battle Creek.

“Because of Miss Pierce, I’m going to college:” Kameilah Mullen

Hanna will be going to Kellogg Community College

Pierce said that with a lack of resources and knowledge about different educational and career paths, students are often uncertain about where to turn.

“All of these students are capable of moving on to the next step after high school, but they just don’t realize it yet,” she said.

One of her students, Kameilah Mullen, said the advising made students more confident about their futures. At first, she didn’t think higher education was something for her. Neither of her parents finished high school, she said.

But with Pierce’s guidance, she got a spot at Jackson State University in Mississippi to study business administration.

“She was introducing opportunities to me, giving me more confidence,” Mullen said. “I’ve dealt with confidence issues for a long time. But hearing that from a second person, instilling that into me was like ‘OK, maybe I can do this.'”

“How do I make that [college] dream a reality? By getting you the funds necessary to help you through school:” Hollander

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Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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Learn about the elements of a solid admissions essay.

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Learn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays

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Stuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started.

How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice.

Taking your college essay to the next level

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Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

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2 University of Michigan Essay Examples

The University of Michigan is an outstanding research institution, known for its school spirit and large alumni base. Based in the picturesque city of Ann Arbor, students at UMich are surrounded by city culture, urban nature trails, as well as outstanding students and professors. UMich is a “most selective” school, so you’ll need strong essays to help your application stand out from tens of thousands of applicants. 

In this post we will share two essays real students submitted to the University of Michigan. We will also walk through what each essay did well and where they could be improved to give you inspiration for your essays.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our University of Michigan essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

University of Michigan Essay Example #1

Prompt:   Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (300 words)

This summer I coached my first junior basketball team in two years, the Thunderdragons. From the beginning, this team of “misfits” was different from any I’d coached before. We were the only rookie team in the league and most of our players had no sports experience, while our opponents had spent years building chemistry together. 

The beginning of the season was a disaster. At practice, whenever I demanded attention and tried to demonstrate drills, the kids were unfocused and didn’t show interest in the sport. Unsurprisingly, our games went much like practices, with opponents often defeating us by over 20 points. This pattern continued for weeks. I felt I wasn’t doing my job correctly, and began to lose confidence in my own coaching abilities. 

Out of desperation, I finally voiced my frustrations to the team. Heart-to-heart, I asked them why they weren’t respecting me as a coach, and more importantly, never putting in 100% effort. Fortunately, they empathized with my reasoning and from then on, effort and attentiveness were never a problem. Our season culminated in a playoff game, playing a team featuring older, experienced players. We fought hard, bringing the game down to the wire, making me the proudest coach even in the face of defeat. 

Though our season ended that day, I experienced one of the most gratifying feelings I’d had in high school. Not only could I visibly see the growth in all my kids’ basketball talent, ability, and maturity, but every single parent personally thanked me for coaching their kids and more importantly, instilling a love for the game and team sports in general. I’d formed a community myself, one that consisted of my new little brothers who viewed me as a role model, and one I hope to lead to the championship next season.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay has a very solid story that is a great response to the prompt. The reader can very clearly see the community this student was a part of (junior basketball) and the role they played within it (coach). Not only that, we get a sense of the type of leader this student was and their passion for teaching and the sport. 

There is a very simple, yet effective structure to this essay that makes it extremely easy to follow—albeit a bit predictable. The student gives us an overview of the team in the beginning, explains the challenge they experienced, how they overcame the obstacle, and then they end with a reflection. While this isn’t necessarily a creative or exciting structure, it allows the student to share their story in a clear fashion.

Another positive aspect of this essay is the community this student chose: coaching a basketball team. Many students feel trapped when they encounter a community prompt if they don’t have a unique cultural background, but this essay is a perfect example of how you can write about anything! As long as you explain the essence of your community and its meaning to you, admissions officers will be happy to hear about any group you are part of. 

What Could Be Improved

This essay is a good foundation, but it could be strengthened with a more sophisticated structure and by showing, not telling. In terms of the structure, rather than following a traditional story arc, this student could have started the essay with the playoff game at the end of the season and then once they hooked the reader, they could have gone back and explained how far the team had come. Or they could have used a vignette structure to show the growth from practice to practice, game to game.

As for showing and not telling, there are many sentences in this essay that could be far more engaging and descriptive.

For example, “ At practice, whenever I demanded attention and tried to demonstrate drills, the kids were unfocused and didn’t show interest in the sport,”  could be “ ‘Circle up!’ Impatiently dribbling the ball waiting to demonstrate a three-pointer, I watched as 15 boys casually sauntered over, too engrained in an Iron Man vs Hulk debate.”

Another example would be switching “ We fought hard, bringing the game down to the wire, making me the proudest coach even in the face of defeat,”  to something like, “ 36 to 33! I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as we took the lead in the final minutes. The squeaking of the court as they pivoted to throw the ball to each other was music to my ears.”

University of Michigan Essay Example #2

Prompt: 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 words)

An aspiring trilingual clinical psychologist, I am drawn to the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts because it’s loaded with opportunities to build me into a scholar with a heart for service.

As a Psychology major and Spanish minor, I will satisfy my pursuit of academic excellence with LSA’s inexhaustible course offerings. Curious how songwriting helps me remember difficult words, I’ll find the answer from Psych 211-002: Mind, Music, and Community. As I learn what music does to the human mind through this exciting experiential course, I hope simultaneously to brighten the day of local seniors and children by playing the flute for them. While I will continue to explore indigenous cultures through the mythology my Latinx friends tell me outside of class, I look forward to examining these communities from an academic standpoint through Spanish 472 – Indigenous Societies. The combination of oral traditions and classical texts will deepen my knowledge of, and appreciation for, Latin American countries’ indigenous roots. Because of the variety of offerings LSA provides, I’ll get to zoom in on my specific topics of interest in psychology and Hispanic cultures. 

An advocate for pursuing academic excellence, not perfectionism, I hope to join the Chang Lab to investigate how race and culture give rise to perfectionism, applying my knowledge in Psychology to advance the science of well-being. With our common ethnic background, I’m especially intrigued by Dr. Chang’s studies regarding the Asian community. After gaining more research experience, I will write an honors thesis with Professor Nestor Lopez-Duran to research mental illness treatment. I want to develop a new form of psychotherapy combining ASMR and talk therapy, and I hope that our research contributes to this cause. 

Joining the Residential College will be the cherry atop my LSA sundae. Beyond the courses, alumni network, and research opportunities, I’ll get to share my opinions and consider others’ in small classrooms. I can’t wait to take the residential college writing seminar Psychology of Creativity and join the language lunch table to practice speaking Spanish outside the classroom. As someone who sought out native speakers to talk incessantly in Spanish about mythology, I hope to find other Spanish lovers at RC with whom I can practice my language skills. I will also participate in the Multicultural Psychology in Argentina program, traveling to Buenos Aires to learn the Argentine perspective on mental health. This cross-cultural exchange is crucial in helping me build an empathetic mindset as a clinical psychologist, arming me with tools to help people of different cultural backgrounds.

This student has clearly done their research on UMich! They come across as focused, dedicated, and passionate because of the details they include across multiple disciplines and opportunities. However, despite including many UMich resources, it doesn’t come across as name-dropping because the student elaborated on each point.

Telling the reader things like, “ The combination of oral traditions and classical texts will deepen my knowledge of, and appreciation for, Latin American countries’ indigenous roots,”  and “ I want to develop a new form of psychotherapy combining ASMR and talk therapy, and I hope that our research contributes to this cause, ” helps us appreciate what this student values and hopes to accomplish with a UMich education.

Ultimately, this essay gives a very strong impression of the reader. Right from the first sentence, they refer to themselves as “ An aspiring trilingual clinical psychologist,” and every subsequent idea builds on that. Whether they are discussing psychology, Spanish, or their Asian heritage, we walk away from the essay knowing that all three of these are important to this student’s identity, making them much more memorable.

While this essay shows a high level of research and interest in the school, it would benefit from more of a focus on the student—after all the point of your essay is to convince UMich to admit you . In the ideal essay, descriptions of UMich programs and self-descriptions should weave together to form a seamless trajectory. If this student were to rework their essay, they could organize their paragraphs according to their values or interests, rather than organizing them by the type of UMich program that they are discussing (i.e. coursework, research, extracurriculars). 

• Paragraph 1: What the student values about Psychology and how UMich courses and the honors thesis program can support those values
• Paragraph 2: Why the student believes Psychology must be supplemented by studies of race, ethnicity, and culture and how UMich’s Spanish programs and Chang lab would advance that belief
• Paragraph 3: How the student thinks it is important to simultaneously use the academic setting and social/residential setting to advance their interests and goals (still regarding the interactions between psychology and culture!) and how a Residential College would accomplish this

These paragraphs would help the UMich facts to make more sense and feel less random (because readers would know why they matter to the writer), while also giving the writer more depth

Where to Get Your University of Michigan Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your University of Michigan essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the michigan state essay prompt.

Hey guys, I'm starting to work on my college applications and I was wondering if anyone knows what the current essay prompt is for Michigan State University? Thanks in advance!

For the 2023-2024 application cycle, Michigan State required only the main personal statement from the Common Application. This could change in future years, as sometimes schools change their minds about requiring or not requiring supplements, but this year you're in luck - you won't have to do any extra work for your Michigan State application!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

College of Ed contributes to Purdue AI & data science via initiative, miniseries

The P urdue University College of Education is developing an initiative to cover all of the artificial intelligence (AI) and data science work already being done by its faculty. This spring the College launched a new webpage, AI and Data Science in Education , to showcase these efforts and provide resources.

Phillip J. VanFossen , interim dean of the College, convened an AI Working Group in 2023 to consider how the College would contribute to Purdue’s strategic initiative surrounding AI and data science, Purdue Computes . The Education AI Working Group includes 16 Education faculty and postdoctoral researchers  to guide and coordinate its current and future efforts in this quickly evolving area.

“We are leveraging our comparative advantage in P-12 education to provide professional development and training to our school-based colleagues,” said VanFossen. “We offer courses, graduate certificates, and degree programs that provide training for students in the analyses of large sets of numerical, textual, and multimodal data and practical applications of AI tools.”

“Our working group leverages experts with established records in AI and data science for personalized learning, assessment, and curriculum design,” said William R. Watson , director of the Purdue Center for Serious Games and Learning in Virtual Environments , professor of learning design and technology, and leader of the College’s AI initiative. “Our College is already firmly integrated in campus-wide AI initiatives and offering coursework and programs of our own.”

The College’s initiatives include several large research grants in projects ranging from generative-AI in physics to value-based reasoning. Last year the college hired two Ross-Lynn Research Scholar postdoctoral researchers, Amogh Sirnoorkar and Yuanfang Liu . Both have expertise in AI to further assist with AI research, grants, professional development, and program development

“AI is not a new phenomenon, but the ease of access to everyday users has been sudden and transformative,” Watson said. “Having such powerful toolsets on our phones and embedded in our office software highlights how society at large and education specifically must change to accommodate the new possibilities, opportunities, and challenges the ascent of AI brings.”

Part of the initiatives are education courses relating to AI. Sirnoorkar developed a course for the initiative, “Artificial Intelligence in STEM Education” (EDCI 59100/PHYS 59000). It included eight invited speakers from collaborating schools and departments at Purdue and from the University of Texas at Austin, and students created four projects during the course. Projects included:

• AI Literacy Competencies for K-12 Teachers: A Systematic Literature Review
• Analyzing contemporary policies surrounding the use of AI in U.S. higher education institutions
• Enhancing STEM Education Through AI-XR Integration: A Systematic Literature Review of Trends, Applications, and Challenges Content Analysis of Pedagogical Relationships Involving Generative-AI Supported Teaching and Learning Practices in Physics Education
• Content Analysis of Pedagogical Relationships Involving Generative-AI Supported Teaching and Learning Practices in Physics Education

Additionally, the AI in STEM Education course will help support the College’s Gifted Education Research & Resource Institute Residential Summer Camp via a secondary-level course called “How to Train Your AI Learning Coach: A Personalized Learning Adventure.”

The College’s new AI webpage also includes a list of the College’s faculty publications, and video resources such as a new five-part miniseries entitled “Craft Data Science Insights.” Developed by Hua-Hua Chang , the Charles R. Hicks Chair Professor of educational psychology and research methodology, this miniseries brings together five brilliant young minds from education, psychology, learning science, and survey methodology to share their innovative solutions to challenges powered by AI and data science.

The inaugural session of the Craft Data Science Insights miniseries took place on February 26 with Georgetown University’s Dr. Qiwei He speaking on “ Sequence Mining on Process Data in Digital-Based Large-Scale Assessments .” Fifty-seven participants joined to watch the virtual presentation. Watch Dr. He’s video .

A second presentation took place on March 20 with Dr. Chanjin Zheng of East China Normal University presenting on “ Psychometrics Empowering Large Language Models in Chinese Essay Automated Scoring .” Watch Dr. Zheng’s video .

The third lecture took place on March 26 as Dr. Susu Zhang of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discussed “ Exploring the NAEP Math Achievement Gap: Insights from Test-Taking Process Data . ” Watch Dr. Zhang’s video .

The fourth lecture happened on March 28  when University of Notre Dame’s Dr. Ying Cheng presented “ How Early, Accurate, and Fair Can We Predict Student Learning in Foundational STEM Courses? ” Watch Dr. Cheng’s video .

The College’s fifth and final Craft Data Science Insights lecture will take place on April 16, with the University of Michigan’s Dr. Tuba Suzer-Gurtekin, University of Michigan presenting “ Introduction to Mixed-Mode Surveys ”.

“We are confident that this miniseries will offer valuable insights, enriching our collective understanding of these dynamic fields,” Chang said. “Specifically, it will shed light on how researchers from non-science and technology backgrounds can make a meaningful impact in the era of AI and Big Data.”

The working group is also planning an April 19 “AI-Ed Fusion: Symposium on STEM Education in the Era of AI” . The all-day symposium will offer a keynote address by Dr. Kristen DiCerbo , the chief learning officer of Khan Academy . It will also include research and application presentations by faculty and graduate students, offering a sampling of some of the current projects and activities taking place within the College. Register for this free event https://tinyurl.com/yc3sknyd

According to Watson, the working group is also planning a conference on AI for K-12 stakeholders for the fall of 2024.

“The College is home to faculty scholars, centers and funded grant projects engaged in interdisciplinary research to leverage AI tools and to collect and analyze data that seeks to transform learning and teaching, inform policy and make a difference in the lives of culturally and linguistically diverse students, families and communities,” said Wayne E. Wright , professor and associate dean for research, graduate programs and faculty development.

Sources: Phillip J. VanFossen; Wayne E. Wright, [email protected] ; and William R. Watson [email protected]

Webpage: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science in Education

Academic Advisor

How to apply.

NOTE:  A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume in a single document to be uploaded in the online application. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position, as well as the skills and experiences that directly relate to this position.

This position is eligible for flexible scheduling and remote work opportunities (1-2 days/week remote) as determined by LSA policy and unit operational needs.

The Academic Advisor within the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center supports and engages undergraduate students in pursuit of a liberal arts degree. Newnan plays a critical role in the undergraduate educational mission of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan. As the largest college on the Ann Arbor campus, LSA serves over 17,000 undergraduate students in over 100 degree programs. 

Newnan engages students and fosters their success in support of the liberal arts and the University of Michigan community. As a community of over thirty higher education professionals, and in collaboration with key partners across the college and beyond, Newnan aspires to be a valued resource and leader in support of the academic and personal experience of undergraduate students at the university. 

Responsibilities*

The Academic Advisor in the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center is responsible for the individual engagement of students from orientation to graduation that is grounded in best practices and research in advising and student success. While advising students on a variety of college and university policies, resources, and programs, the academic advisor will also have responsibility for ongoing communication with advisees that encourages growth and development.

The successful candidate will play a key role in motivating and inspiring LSA students to explore and invest in the educational and intellectual breadth and depth of a liberal arts education, both inside and outside of the classroom. They will be expected to build relationships not only with their advisees, but also across the college and university, in order to support the academic and personal experience of the undergraduate student. They will also be expected to cultivate and contribute to a culture that is welcoming, supportive, and responsive to the diverse identities of our students and staff.

The academic advisor is expected to maintain an assigned caseload of students, as well as collaborate with a team of academic advisors within Newnan to provide support for students in the college and across the university.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY (KARs) - Detailed Characteristic Duties

Academic Advising [Direct] (50%)

• Perform individual advising with students in a variety of modalities (face-to-face, virtual, chat etc.)
• Assist students in their self-assessment of interests and skills pertinent to academic work, co-curricular interests, and career options
• Help students make connections between their coursework and the Liberal Arts
• Provide accurate information about College courses and curriculum
• Provide accurate information about College and University policies, procedures, resources and programs
• Serve as an informed resource for students and make referrals when appropriate
• Advise students regarding course selection during the Summer, Fall, and Winter Orientation and Registration programs

Advising Administration [Indirect] (30%)

• Maintain timely and accurate records of interactions with students, referrals, exceptions to standard procedures, and decisions affecting degree progress
• Maintain contact through email with advisees throughout their time at UM - respond to student inquiries; respond to progress reports; alert students to options and new opportunities consistent with their growth and development; plan appropriate outreach to students in academic difficulty; provide targeted information to student cohorts through use of the query tool
• Communicate with faculty and other administrators as needed

Service to Newnan (20%)

• Serve as a campus partner with UM academic departments, schools, colleges or administrative units
• Contribute to the design and/or delivery of workshops, group advising, educational programs, etc.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of advising resources
• Represent Newnan and/or the college at recruitment and retention activities and events
• Participate in opportunities such as committees, task forces, working groups, etc.
• Ongoing professional development and continuous learning

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

General supervision is received from an Associate Director within the LSA Academic Advising Center.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university
• Demonstrated experience advising or mentoring college students
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, including experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and identities
• Proven ability to successfully work in a collaborative team environment
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to establish positive and respectful working relationships with students, staff, and faculty
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Ability to maintain the integrity of confidential materials and student information
• Familiarity with higher education student information systems

Additional Information

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, fulfill the College's Values, and sustain the excellence of LSA. To learn more about LSA's Strategic Vision visit https://lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision . Details regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA can be found at https://lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.html .  

The University of Michigan and LSA are committed to the ongoing development of a workplace culture supportive of personal and family life, which includes benefits, resources and tools promoting work-life flexibility. SAA strives to support work flexibility options while maintaining a high level of on-campus student support in alignment with the college's residential experience. To learn more about the University's generous and competitive benefits package visit https://careers.umich.edu/benefits/.  

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.  The University of Michigan is committed to foster learning, creativity and productivity, and to support the vigorous exchange of ideas and information, not only in the classroom but in the workplace by:  

• Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities or differences.
• Providing support, direction and resources enabling us to accomplish the responsibilities of our jobs and to reach the goals that are set for professional and personal growth. 

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

College athletes can now get paid, but it's not easy. NFL prospect Braden Fiske shares the biggest do's and don'ts.

• Braden Fiske is a defensive tackle for Florida State projected to be drafted by the NFL.
• He shares his experience trying to make the most of his name, likeness, and image.
• He advises students to network and learn to say no to offers.  

Until recently, the National Collegiate Athletic Association barred student athletes from being compensated despite the billions of dollars their efforts were earning for their universities.

That changed on July 1, 2021, when the US Supreme Court ruled that students could be paid through the use of their name, image, and likeness.

Students still cannot be paid by universities, but they can sign deals that allow them to participate in one-off marketing campaigns in exchange for free products, gift cards, or cash payouts. College athletes can also receive money by autographing signs, creating or sharing branded content, making guest appearances, and being a spokesperson for a company or brand.

We're now seeing college athletes from several sports score so-called NIL deals ranging from five to seven figures. For example, the son of LeBron James, Bronny James , is the highest-paid student athlete with an NIL valuation of $4.9 million, according to On3, a college sports news and data company.

But receiving NIL money is not easy and not every college athlete will score a big payout — or any payout in some cases.

To learn more about making the most of the NIL opportunity, Business Insider sat down with Braden Fiske, a defensive lineman at Florida State University who is projected to make millions if he is drafted to the NFL in April, according to news articles and reports.

He has signed several NIL deals since joining the Florida State Seminoles in 2023, and other deals are in the works. He shared what he has learned and what he would have done differently so younger athletes can learn from his experience. He advises college athletes to maintain a steady social media presence, build a team of advisors, invest the earnings wisely, and learn to say no.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Fiske that has been edited for length and clarity.

My life-changing deal

I grew up playing football and decided to go to Western Michigan University for the start of my football career. The school was not a major football school, so I transferred to Florida State University for a better opportunity to make it to the NFL . It was a challenging transition, the culture was completely different, I was away from my family and I dealt with shoulder injury when I arrived. But looking back it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life because I signed my first NIL deal through The Battle End, a website that raises money for Florida State University football players.

That 6-figure NIL deal changed my life. I remember a time when I was down to my last $20 and had to decide if I was going to spend it on gas or food . The money I received gave me a peace of mind I did not have previously. It also allowed me to give back to the community by attending guest appearances as well as charity events.

I'm 24 and making the most of the NIL opportunity has been a learning experience, so, I came up with a few tips to help younger athletes get started.

Use social media

I think the biggest thing for guys and gals looking for NIL deals is to start building your brand. Get yourself out there even if it's an uncomfortable situation to post, which it was for me.

Social media is the one thing I didn't really take advantage of early on in my career. I am not really into that type of stuff so it was new ground for me. But my marketer, Nicole, explained how important it is because if you have nothing posted on your Instagram , what are brands supposed to work with? If you don't have a face on your page, how are they going to put your face on their brand?

Building my brand is something I've really started to pick up on this past year. And now I am starting to see the long-term benefits. You start building with a bigger following and once it starts to build, the more attention you get, the more brands want to come work with you.

Build a team

Because I signed my NIL deal through the collective, I did not need to hire an NIL expert to help me with the contract. But some guys definitely have NIL agents to help guide them through that process.

But if you want branding deals, you have to build a team to guide you. Currently, I have a team around me: I have my marketer and agent Nicole Kotler, publicist Daniel Flores, financial advisor Didier Occident, and NFL agent Joshua Grady. I mean, it's a lot of work to find these opportunities, so you need somebody in your corner that's reliable and ready to work. The PR and the marketing side of things is hard work. There's going to be a lot of nos, but once they get that one, yes, any door can open.

Learn to say no

I would say, just stay true to yourself. I know some of these big brands or these big people can kind of try to sway or persuade you in different directions and tell you what you need to do. But I mean, for one, do your own research . Know what your worth is. Don't let somebody put a dollar amount on your head because, at the end of the day, you know what your worth is and you've got to have the ability to say no.

I think for me, early on — even sometimes now — I can admit to it that I'm a people pleaser and it's hard to say no sometimes. But it's only two letters, man! A hundred percent stay true to yourself. Don't let anybody try to sway you.

Invest and spend wisely

A lot of guy's first instinct is to spend, go be the big baller, to go take care of family more than they're financially able to. But next thing they know, they're out of money or tax time comes and they don't have any money to pay back.

I definitely think there needs to be more financial literacy taught to student athletes, especially when they are receiving large amounts of money. It doesn't matter how much you make, even if you're only getting five grand. Whatever it may be, $5,000 or $500,000, you still need to have an understanding of how to manage your money and work with your money and give yourself a plan. That's the biggest thing guys don't have is a plan.

In my case, I used a lot of my NIL money for investments. I put much of that money into a brokerage account in the stock market to set myself up for retirement.

Definitely early on I made a few mistakes. I saw the dollar sign and hit the mall up to go shopping. I love buying shoes, that's one red flag about me. But other than that, I was actually pretty smart with it all and kept my head on straight. It did help that I was already 24 when I got my NIL not 18. If I was 18, I probably would be broke by now.

Get out and meet people

There's so much opportunity in the world, especially when you talk about name, image, and likeness on a deeper level than just making money. The hands I've gotten to shake, the amount of business cards I've gotten to take and just the relationships I made are the biggest takeaways from it all. NIL can open so many doors for people more than just building your pockets up.

The more people you get to meet, the more opportunities are going to arise and doors are going to open. So that's definitely for me, the biggest takeaway is just what people can you meet?

I know whenever I walk into a room, I will introduce myself and start building those relationships right away because you never know how important they will be later in life. You never know who's going to be in a position to help you that they're not in yet.

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