university of michigan engineering essay

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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September 11, 2023

2023-2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Prompts

The University of Michigan has published its 2023-2024 admissions essays for applicants to the Class of 2028. And unlike many highly selective schools, the highly-ranked public university has not changed this year’s essay prompts in the wake of the United States Supreme Court ruling outlawing Affirmative Action. So, what are this year’s essay prompts, and how should applicants approach them? Let’s dive in!

2023-2024 UMichigan Essay Topics and Questions

Applicants to the University of Michigan are required to respond to both supplemental essays. For the first essay, the response should be a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 300 words. For the second essay, the response should be a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 550 words. Of course, regular readers of Ivy Coach’s college admissions blog know that applicants should use all the real estate students given to tell their stories by going to the maximum word count in all essays !

The two prompts are as follows:

1. 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. 

When the Supreme Court outlawed Affirmative Action , Chief Justice John Roberts penned a loophole in the majority opinion. In that opinion, he wrote, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.” As such, through essays, schools could continue considering race within the context of its impact on applicants’ lives.

This loophole led many schools to adopt supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle asking about an applicant’s community, background, or experience. While worded differently, these prompts generally offer applicants the chance to write about the impact of their race (or faith, the town where they come from, etc.). But this prompt has long been a staple of the University of Michigan supplement. As such, Michigan didn’t need to change it one bit.

And remember, students need not be underrepresented minorities to answer this question powerfully. A community can mean many different things to many different students. It could be a community of mathematicians! The question is intentionally open-ended.

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?

This essay prompt is a straight-up-the-middle Why College essay prompt , and it too has long been a staple of the Michigan application. Michigan wants to know that an applicant loves them and that they love them for the right reasons. Why? Because so many students who apply to Ivy League schools or Ivy League peer institutions also apply by November 1st to Michigan. And why? Because students are allowed to apply to any public school no matter their Early Decision/Early Action choice. So Michigan — fairly we might add — wants to know they’re not being used as a backup.

Thus, how can applicants make Michigan’s admissions committee believe the school is their first choice? That’s  easy ! By demonstrating they’ve done their homework on the school. The essay should be filled with specifics that only apply to Michigan on how a student will contribute their singular hook — rather than well-roundedness — to Michigan’s vibrant community.

Just about every sentence of the essay should be tailored to Michigan. If a sentence can apply to another university, it should be deleted. And, no, name-dropping professors or listing classes do not count as genuine specifics. Michigan’s admissions officers weren’t born yesterday. If a student approaches the Why Michigan essay like a game of Mad Libs in which they replace a specific from one school for a Michigan specific, they’ll see right through it.

Instead, students must capture the genuine, enduring specifics of the school — the programs, institutes, culture, traditions, activities, and so much more!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with the University of Michigan Essays

If you’d like to optimize your case for admission to the University of Michigan, fill out Ivy Coach ’s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to delineate our college admissions counseling services for applicants to the Class of 2028.

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UMich Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Tips

July 25, 2023

In forming the Class of 2027, the University of Michigan received over 87,000 applications, an all-time high. For historical comparison, there were under 24,000 applicants at the turn of the millennium. Therefore, it is safe to say that more students desire to become Wolverines in 2023 than ever before in the school’s 200+ year history. This greatly impacts the importance of the UMich supplemental essays.

The acceptance rate at UMich has fallen all the way down to 18%. However, this figure is typically twice as high for applicants who reside in the state of Michigan. If you are an out-of-stater or international student, you’ll need to bring even more impressive credentials than your in-state peers. Speaking of credentials, overall, the median SAT for current Wolverine undergrads is 1450, 77% placed in the top decile of their high school class, and the average unweighted GPA is 3.9+. If you possess statistics above those marks, you have a great shot of one day donning the maize and blue. However, you’ll still want to find ways to stand out against the intense competition.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into UMich? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into the University of Michigan: Admissions Data and Strategies for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Through its two essay prompts, the University of Michigan supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to showcase what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are the University of Michigan supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers tips about how to address each one:

2023-2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Questions

1) 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. (Required for all applicants)

This can be done well whether you are talking about an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community. It could even be a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. Most applicants to the University of Michigan are involved in at least one “community”. You are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, the president of a club… but don’t just rest on those laurels—instead, bring your involvement to life. Use your writing ability to show what type of community member you are rather than merely telling .

UMich Supplemental Essays (Continued)

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community.  Further, you can share have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on the University of Michigan’s campus. You should research and cite UMich student-run organizations and/or local nonprofit groups. The Michigan admissions committee now desires to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 31,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

For example, if you dedicated many hours working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout high school, it will be most impactful if you express your commitment to joining UMich’s chapter of Best Buddies in the future.

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? (Required for all applicants)

In some ways, this is your quintessential “Why Us?” essay, but UMich is particularly interested in hearing about why the curriculum in your desired academic department is attractive to you—not so much about your love for the football team or the beautiful campus. Below are some quick tips for writing an essay that will help your admissions cause:

• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities , internship/externship programs, study abroad programs , student-run organizations , etc.
• State why your chosen program is the perfect fit for you and why you are the perfect fit for it.
• Show evidence of how your past/current academic endeavors/achievements will carry over onto UMich’s campus.
• What special academically-related talents and passions will you bring to the University of Michigan? What contributions will you make?

You’ll want to dedicate time to researching more about your prospective college/department and what makes it truly world-class. The more specific you can get here, the better your UMich essays will be!

How important are they to the admissions committee?

Michigan deems two factors as “very important” in evaluating a candidate. These are the rigor of your secondary school record and GPA. The UMich essays—both the general Common App essay and the Michigan supplements—are rated as “important”. They sit alongside standardized test scores, recommendations, character/personal qualities, and first-generation college student status.

UMich Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your University of Michigan supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote today.

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"Engineering at Michigan"

University of Michigan

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?

100 - 550 words

( University of Michigan )

The University of Michigan’s College of Engineering has a proactive approach to career path discovery and job search. While I do hope to aspire to a corporate attorney, an engineering degree from the University of Michigan would provide me the advantage of readiness.

U.S News and World Report published an article about challenges law school applicants with STEM degrees face. Number one was the lack of research skills. Michigan Undergraduate Engineering has research opportunities for all undergraduate students. I hope to even take advantage of The College of Engineering (CoE) International Internship Program. The chance to see the world and contribute to the world-class studies conducted by Michigan Engineering students is a unique quality. The article also reported that STEM applicants often lack job experience. Michigan Engineering hosts internship fairs, which even freshman can participate in. By utilizing the opportunity to work in a professional setting, I will be more adapt to presenting myself in a mature and respectable manor in a corporate setting.

Many people are puzzled by my aspirations to become a corporate lawyer with an engineering degree. While I enjoy learning about many areas of study, math and science have always peaked my interest. Like my attraction to law, I am drawn to the definitiveness of engineering specifically. While there is a right and wrong in methods and procedures, there is a chance to be creative; for the end goal is functionality. Law requires critical thinking, problem solving, and the questioning of presented facts and figures. These skills are also encompassed in Michigan Engineering. With a technical understanding of industry and engineering, I will be able to more accurately represent a corporation. Like the professors at Michigan Engineering, I hope to be an expert in my field. At Michigan Engineering, I will be educated by the best of the best. Professors that have been exposed to their fields in every aspect; allowing them to provide the best guidance to students. Instead of just presenting facts and figures in a courtroom, I will be able to understand and explain them.

Why This Essay Works:

What they might change:.

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Scholarship Application Tips

Making Yourself a Strong Scholarship Candidate

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Get (and stay) involved in on-campus extracurricular activities and student organizations
• Explore Engineering options and gain experience through research, internships, co-ops, or one of the student Engineering teams on campus

Writing a Good Scholarship Essay

Remember, your essay is the best means you have to distinguish yourself from everyone else applying for a scholarship! Consider the following tips as you craft your scholarship essay or personal statement:

• Avoid writing a purely pragmatic essay that lists your GPA, activities, and accomplishments. Find a way to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
• Reflect on what makes you unique! How can you present your uniqueness in a compelling story? What about your background, plans, and dreams  will engage the reader?
• Think about essay structure. The first paragraph should include a compelling narrative that keeps the reader interested!
• Explain what drove you to participate in certain activities or groups, what you have learned from your involvement, and why you continue to take part in them.
• Consider the organization sponsoring the scholarship and the criteria they selected. What do you think they are looking for? Demonstrate that you share their passion, values, or goals.

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University of Michigan 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Feb 1

You Have: 

University of Michigan 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One essay of 300 words, one essay of 550 words

Supplemental Essay Types:   Community , Why

1 . 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.

Required for all applicants. 300 words maximum..

This is a pretty standard community essay and admissions is giving you very specific instructions and launch points, both expected and unexpected, to draw from. You could be a part of an Italian Culture Club or a schnitzel appreciation association, either way, University of Michigan wants to hear about it. So try your best, despite the small space you are given, to answer all parts of this question. Describe the community and then detail how you contribute to that community. The point of this question is to show admissions you will add value and diversity to campus, and that you are a proactive and involved student who will help to build their community.

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?

Required for freshman applicants. 550 words maximum..

Here is your “why” essay, and it’s a nice, hefty one at 550 words.  Your answer should be mostly focused on the academic offerings: what you want to study, what subjects interest you, and how you will use the resources at your disposal to pursue your professional goals. This is where you prove to University of Michigan that they are a good fit for you and vice versa, and getting this essay right requires a lot of research. You’re going to want to dig deep into the programs that you’re interested in: find classes, professors, even extracurricular activities related to your desired major that interest you. The more specific you can get, the better. Show admissions that you know what differentiates U-M from other colleges and, in turn, you’ll distinguish yourself from other applicants. Finally, don’t forget to connect your own past experiences and accomplishments to the resources you choose to highlight. Paint the picture of where you’ll be found on campus (whether that be the bio lab, math building, or theatre) and what you hope to accomplish.

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The University of Michigan is committed to international education. Students from countries all over the world come to the University of Michigan for graduate school. The University is equally dedicated to those students who wish to study and work abroad. The International Center was developed as a central area for information on international issues.

International students, particularly MSE students, should lay out their course plan when they arrive to campus in the first semester based on their timeline for graduation.  We encourage all students to meet with the ME Graduate Coordinator to discuss individual situations.   If you complete all of your requirements in three semesters and wish to stay a fourth semester, the ME department will not support an extension of your visa because you do not have any credits left to complete. To avoid this complication, please ensure that you are planning ahead. Likewise, the ME department will not support a reduced course load letter if the remainder of the student’s courses are not needed to complete the MSE degree.

Sections of this Page:

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Reduced course load (rcl), optional practical training (opt), i-20 extensions, gsi oral english test (oet), english language institute, international center.

The International Center provides a variety of services for international students. The  International Center’s website  contains important information on a number of topics, including visas, financial aid, health insurance, employment questions, and student organizations.  This should be your first stop for any issues concerning your immigration status.

The International Center offers events and workshops throughout the year on topics of interest to international students and scholars, U-M department administrators, and domestic students seeking information on studying, working, or traveling abroad.  View a list of the topics .

Any student intending to undertake CPT status during periods of internship or employment off-campus needs to first read through the materials on the  International Center’s website . There are two separate processes involved with applying and completing CPT. One is the process of getting a new I-20 through the International Center and the other is enrolling in ENGR 998 for 1 credit.  Both processes begin after you have received a formal offer letter from the employer.  The sooner you can get this process started the better as it is not unusual for students to have to delay the start of their internship because paperwork is not complete.

For Master’s Students:

• Follow all requirements online on the International Center’s website .
• Attend one CoE Internship/Co-op Seminar with the ECRC ( register using Engineering Careers, by 12twenty )
•  A rationale for how the internship experience is relevant to the student’s academic career.
• The number of credits you have left to complete your program and what term you plan to graduate
• The offer letter from the employer stating at minimum: the employer’s name, your position title, and the duration of your internship.
• Online CPT Course Completion Certificate
• Upon completion of the petition the Graduate Coordinator will complete the first page of the CPT Advisor Recommendation Form and return it to you via email.
• Offer letter
• Advisor Recommendation Form
• Initial Essay (details provided during the internship seminar)
• The ECRC will complete page 2 of the advisor form and enroll you in ENGR 998. 
• Once the completed form is received by the student, all CPT application materials can be submitted to the International Center for approval . 

For PhD Students:

• Attend one in-person CoE Internship/Co-op Seminar with the ECRC ( register using Engineering Careers, by 12twenty )
• Complete pages 1 and 3 of the CPT Advisor Recommendation Form and have your PhD advisor sign.

Students approved for CPT will be enrolled for 1 credit in ENGR 998. Students cannot self-enroll in this course.  The course is graded S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). This course does not meet any requirements for the MSE or PhD Degrees. 

If the student is participating in a ENGR 998 project in the Sp/Su term, the ECRC will enroll the student in the previous Winter term.  

At the conclusion of CPT, students must submit a report summary of their work or internship experience in order to receive a “S” (satisfactory) letter grade.

International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. If you cannot or will not meet this requirement, you must request a reduced course load. Federal immigration regulations severely limit a student’s ability to be less than full time, but it maybe allowed in some circumstances, including academic difficulties, medical conditions, or completion of course of study.  For full explanation of these circumstances, please visit the International Center’s website here .

The most common reason ME students request is for completion of course of study.  A student must apply for RCL in his/her final term if fewer courses (i.e. less than full time) are needed and required to complete the course of study .  A student may still opt to be registered as a full-time student if they wish and would not need to request RCL.

A request for RCL does not eliminate the requirement to be enrolled during the entire semester.  A student must be enrolled in at least one class that fills the entire semester or two classes that fill the first and second 7-week sessions (ie. a student who only has 1 credit left to complete for the degree cannot only enroll in one of the 7-week sessions).

Full instructions for how to apply for RCL can be found here .  The ME Department only assists with the RCL Recommendation Letter, which is used to verify that the current term will be the final term for the student to complete his/her academic program.  In order to request this letter, please send an email to [email protected] and an RCL letter will be sent to you electronically listing the minimum number of credits required to complete the degree.

Please allow 2-3 business days for the document to be emailed.

International students interested in persuing work in the United States after graduation from the MSE or PhD programs, must receive OPT.  Instructions for OPT can be found on the  International Center’s website .  There is only one component that you will need from the ME Department, this is an OPT recommendation letter from the department stating that you are a student in good standing and your final term of enrollment.  The ME Graduate Coordinator can assist with this via email.

To request an “OPT Letter,” email  [email protected]  and the ME Graduate Coordinator will return your letter to you via email.

International PhD students graduating in the Grace Period should also refer to the information on the  International Center’s website .

As an engineering student, you are also eligible for the OPT STEM extension.  Other requirements and instructions for the STEM extension can be found on the  International Center’s website .

Information about the I-20 Extension Process can be found on the  International Center’s website .  If you are in need of an I-20 extension, you must meet with the ME Graduate Coordinator to discuss this.  Email  [email protected]  to schedule an appointment.

For MSE students

During this meeting you will discuss the rationale for your extension and work on completing the  I-20 Extension Advisor Recommendation Form .  Part of this meeting will be reviewing your degree audit to ensure that you still have requirements left to complete.  Your extension will not be approved if you do not have requirements left to complete.  If the ME Graduate Coordinator approves, they will pass your I-20 Extension form on to the Graduate Chair for signature.  Once approved and signed, you will be emailed to pick the form up from ASO.  You will then bring the form and all other required documents to the International Center.

For PhD students

The first step to extending your I-20 is to get your advisor’s signature on the  I-20 Extension Advisor Recommendation Form .  Bring this form to your meeting with the ME Graduate Coordinator, where it will be reviewed for accuracy.  If all looks accurate, the ME Graduate Coordinator will email your advisor to verify their consent and funding for the duration of your I-20 extension.  Upon reply, Human Resources will write your financial memo from the department (which is also needed as part of your I-20 Extension).  HR will return it to the ME Graduate Coordinator who will then let you know that both your I-20 Extension Advisor Recommendation Form and financial memo are ready for you to pick up from ASO.  You will then bring the form and all other required documents to the International Center.

The GSI Oral English Test (OET) is used to review the English proficiency of international students who will become GSIs.  Passing the exam is a requirement for international Ph.D. students and is necessary to ensure satisfactory progress while simultaneously confirming the ability of that student to be an effective GSI. All international Ph.D. students must pass the OET by the end of their 3rd academic term after admission (e.g., by the end of F12 for students who entered in F11) in order to be considered making satisfactory progress toward their degree. International Ph.D. students who have previous earned an undergraduate degree (that was taught exclusively in English may be exempt from the OET. Additional exemption criteria can be found  here .

Upon successful completion of this requirement, the student will then be eligible to hold a  GSI position  (see the  English Language Proficiency Requirements  section).

If the student does not hold a GSI position within the next 18 months after passing the exam, the student must check in with the  English Language Institute (ELI)  to extend or renew their exam results. In order to continue making satisfactory progress, a PhD student must maintain valid exam results throughout their academic tenure. Please  contact  the English Language Institute to schedule a renewal interview.

• The ELI will evaluate the student’s English skills and determine if the student is qualified to extend the exam results or is required to retake the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the ELI to maintain valid exam results.

The  English Language Institute (ELI)  is a valuable English language development resource for students attending the University of Michigan. Students who desire additional instruction or who are looking to become more proficient in the English language can take courses offered by the ELI. In addition, international PhD students are encouraged to utilize  ELI resources  to prepare for the  GSI Oral English Test .  

The mission of the English Language Institute Instructional Division is to provide English language instruction to members of the University of Michigan community that promotes effective intercultural communication within the academic community at the University of Michigan. The Instructional Division offers credit bearing courses and support services in English for Academic Purposes in order to teach undergraduate and graduate students the language they need to become fully participating members of the academic community. The Instructional Division educates both undergraduate and graduate students in pedagogical discourse and intercultural skills for teaching at the University of Michigan, in the community, and abroad.  The Instructional Division works in collaboration with other units throughout the university in support of the University’s vision of an internationalized academic community.

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All new Michigan Engineering instructors are now trained in inclusive teaching practices, contributing to an environment of success for students from all backgrounds.

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Common questions, transfer applicants.

If you have attended any institution of higher education (on any basis, for any length of time) following graduation from high school, you will need to apply as a transfer applicant and submit official transcripts from all of the colleges that you have attended. If you are admitted to U-M, you can choose whether to use your previous colleges' credit to satisfy graduation requirements from the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions handles transfers for the  College of Literature, Science, and the Arts  and the  College of Engineering . For information about transferring to  other U-M schools and colleges , please contact their Admissions representatives directly.

Learn More at a Virtual Transfer Spotlight

Students interested in learning more about transferring to U-M are invited to register for a Virtual Transfer Spotlight session to learn about admissions requirements and speak with current student(s).

Register to attend a Virtual Transfer Spotlight

Review all our admission requirements and deadlines for a student who has earned college credit after receiving a high school diploma. 

Here are the essay questions for the Common Application, along with the specific University of Michigan essays. 

A summary report for the last five years of new undergraduate transfer student applications/admissions/enrollment; class level at enrollment. Based on fall semester data.

How to check your application status online.

In order for your course work to be considered transferable to the University of Michigan, it must meet these certain criteria.

Resources for Community College Students wishing to transfer to U-M.

When you transfer to Michigan, you'll find daily opportunities for growth, engagement, leadership, and for fun.

Students can explore everything you need to know about transferring to U-M, including info on academic programs, tuition, and more.

International Students

Information on guidelines and procedures that affect international graduate students.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students enrolled in an ECE Graduate Program may register for CPT (ENGR 998) during the spring/summer term. Usually students conduct the internship in the spring/summer, but register for ENGR 998 in the preceding winter term.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Graduate students must enroll full-time each fall and winter semester. 
• Students may not engage in CPT in lieu of full-time enrollment. 
• CPT will not be allowed in the student’s final term unless the student needs to register for other courses that are required for the completion of the academic program.
• ENGR 400, managed by ECRC, is for domestic, undergraduate students ONLY.
• ENGR 600 is for Masters of Engineering students ONLY.

ECE Instructions for CPT:

• Masters Form
• To apply for ENGR 998, you must:

1. Attend one in-person CoE Internship/Co-op Seminar (see Engineering Careers, by 12twenty for Seminar times). 2. Complete ECRC CoE ENGR 998 Paperwork and send to [email protected] for review before getting your advisor’s signature. 3. Your Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form must be signed by your Graduate Program and the ECRC. You may bring the Form to the in-person CoE Internship/Co-op Seminar or drop it off at the ECRC office for the ECRC Advisor signature on page 2. 4. Write Initial Essay (details provided during the Seminar and in the Syllabus; submit with application materials).  5. Complete the application in Engineering Careers, by 12twenty and upload the following documents:

• Assignment Details including job responsibilities and location
• Number of hours per week
• Start/End Dates
• Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form
• Initial Essay (see syllabus for details)

You will not be enrolled in ENGR 998 until you have attended the required in-person Seminar, have submitted all of the requirements listed above via Engineering Careers, by Symplicity, and your application is approved by the ECRC. Incomplete registration or missing documents will delay your enrollment into ENGR 998. 

Once approved, the ECRC will enroll you in ENGR 998.  ENGR 998 is 1 credit and you will be charged accordingly. This 1 credit course does not count toward your graduation credits. If your CPT is rejected by the International Center, it is your responsibility to withdraw from the course. If your internship plans change, you must inform the ECRC and the International Center.

CPT will require a midterm and final essay. Failure to complete mid term and/or final essay could result in Unsatisfactory grade.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

You must be enrolled in courses the semester you apply for OPT.

If you apply for OPT and you do not graduate at the end of the semester, it is your responsibility to contact the International Center to cancel your OPT. Failure to contact the International Center can result in you being out of immigration status or the loss of OPT time.

ECE Instructions for OPT Letter from Academic Advisor:

• Complete a “apply for graduation”  plan of study   to submit to your  academic/research advisor . (If you have already submitted your final plan of study, you do not have to submit another one.
• You will receive a RCL letter from the ECE Graduate Program Coordinator once it has been confirmed.
• Apply for graduation .
• Complete the remaining steps outline on the International Center’s website.

Reduced Course Load

Students are only allowed one reduced course load for academic difficulties or medical condition per program.

ECE Instructions for reduced course load:

• Determine the reason for a reduced course load . 
• Complete  Reduced Course Load Request Form . 
• Submit all paperwork to the International Center.
• Complete  Reduced Course Load Request Form .
• Write a statement for the reason for your academic difficulty.
• Submit the two items to an ECE Graduate Program Coordinator.
• You will receive a RCL letter from the ECE Graduate Program Coordinator. 
• Have your ECE Graduate Academic Advisor sign RCL letter.
• Schedule a meeting with an International Student Adviser to submit all paperwork to the International Center.
• Drop the course through Wolverine Access. 
• Get a letter about medical condition from a medical professional according to guidelines listed on the website above.
• Submit the three items to an ECE Graduate Program Coordinator.
• You will receive a RCL letter from the ECE Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Drop the course through Wolverine Access

How do I extend my I-20?

• Complete the additional documents
• Complete a  plan of study  signed by your  academic/research advisor
• Submit documents to ECE Graduate Coordinator for a signature
• Submit documents to International Center

How can I improve my English?

There are four mains ways to improve your English skills:

• Take a class
• Join a conversation group
• Participate a student organization on campus. This organization should have English as the primary language spoken. This is will allow you the opportunity to speak English with other English speakers in a casual and fun setting.
• Get an on-campus job . Just like the student organizations, this will provide you the opportunity to speak English in a natural, everyday setting.

See the International Center for employment options for F-1 students.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

A Guide to University of Michigan’s ‘Your Community’ Essay

This article is a first-person account by Robert Crystal, a CollegeVine livestream contributor. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

Breaking down the prompt.

• Defining Your Communities

The Purpose Behind Your Essay

Tips for writing your essay.

The University of Michigan asks all applicants to respond to its second prompt, which is about the different communities in your life. In this article, we will break down the prompt and go over the purpose behind your writing. By doing this, you can apply what you’ve learned to your own writing as you write your essay for the University of Michigan. 

Prompt 2: “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.”

For this prompt, you have a 300-word limit to craft your response. This essay fits into a very popular type of essay known as the community essay. Colleges ask you to write about the different communities you are a part of to gain a better understanding of who you are as an individual. The point of all application essays is to provide information about yourself so the college admissions officers can build a better portrait of who you are outside of the classroom. Your grades and test scores are important to understanding who you are as a student but essays are all about your personality.

The University of Michigan is a university that prides itself on the openness and the connection of its community, both between students on campus and between the university and the city of Ann Arbor. For this reason, admissions officers at the University of Michigan want to read about how you’ve contributed to your community. This will give admissions officers a better idea of how you will impact their college community. 

Defining Your Communities 

The University of Michigan’s admissions officers want to learn about the type of person you are outside of the classroom so they can understand how you will fit into its student body. Through this essay, they will decide if you are the type of person they want at their university. To best respond to this prompt, make sure you are answering all their questions. 

Start by defining the different types of communities you are a part of. There is a lot of flexibility in defining what a community is. As stated in the prompt, your community does not only have to be geographical, ethnic, racial, or societal. Your community can be any group that you feel like you belong to and share something in common with. This community can consist of any individuals who share interests with you, such as sports, academic passions, extracurricular activities, or even a tight group of friends who have life values. 

In this essay, focus primarily on your contributions to the community you’re involved in instead of just describing the community itself. This is important because the purpose behind this prompt is to convey who you are and the values or interests you hold. Writing about your community is how admissions officers will gain this information about you. 

During every application cycle, admission officers want to create a well-rounded student body. Each applicant admitted to the University of Michigan fits a certain role in the college community. The university needs to admit applicants who want to run for the student body, compete on the women’s rugby team, or play cello in their orchestra. While you’re writing your response, keep in mind that your goal is to convey how you will fit into the University of Michigan’s student body. 

Start your essay with a hook to keep your reader engaged . Admissions officers read many essays every day during application season, so you must capture their attention early on. With this community essay, you don’t want to spend too much time describing the community itself as this will dilute the impact. Your reader doesn’t need to know how many times you met with your community each week or the type of food served at each meeting. Instead, focus on how your community impacted your values and perspective on life. You’ll also want to focus on the impact you had on this community. 

All your writing should be immersive. You want your reader to feel like they are a part of your story and share the same emotions you have toward your chosen community. This is the best way to get admissions officers to understand who you are.

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The Morning

Baruch college, an upward-mobility machine.

The New York school is praised as a model college in a new report on diversity in higher education.

By David Leonhardt

City College of New York often serves as a nostalgic symbol of American higher education’s past. The college did not charge tuition for decades, and its students, many of them poor, went on to become Nobel laureates, chief executives, civil rights leaders and more. By contrast, higher education today can seem both less accessible and less rigorous.

But it turns out that the school that occupies City College’s original 19th-century campus, on the East Side of Manhattan, has done a fine job of living up to its predecessor’s legacy.

That school is Baruch College, and it is an upward-mobility machine.

More than 60 percent of Baruch students receive Pell grants, which means they typically come from the bottom half of the income distribution. About 75 percent of undergraduates are people of color. The average annual cost of attending Baruch for low-income students is less than $2,000. And Baruch’s six-year graduation rate is 74 percent, well above the national average.

When I asked S. David Wu, an engineering scholar who is Baruch’s president, about City College’s original vision of educating the masses, he told me, “In many ways, Baruch is realizing that vision, but in a 21st-century way.”

In today’s newsletter, I’ll tell you about a new report that tracks how other colleges are doing.

A worrisome decline

After Michael Bloomberg finished being mayor of New York City in 2013, he turned his attention to philanthropy and decided that increasing economic diversity in higher education was a priority. “America needs to have as big a pool of talented, hard-working, well-educated people as it can possibly get,” Bloomberg told me.

His main program is known as the American Talent Initiative, and its goal is to persuade colleges with high graduation rates to diversify. This morning, the group released its latest report , and it praises Baruch as a model college.

“There are very few colleges in the country like Baruch,” said Josh Wyner of the Aspen Institute, which helps run the American Talent Initiative. Indeed, among all U.S. colleges with a graduation rate above 70 percent, Baruch may be the most economically diverse. It both holds down tuition costs and creates clear pathways for students to earn degrees, Wyner said.

Other parts of the new report, however, are worrisome.

Bloomberg’s group set a goal almost a decade ago: Lift the annual enrollment of low- and moderate-income students at colleges with high graduation rates by 50,000 — or roughly 10 percent. The group planned to do so partly by building a membership organization where colleges could share strategies.

Initially, the progress was impressive. Enrollment jumped by more than 20,000 in the initiative’s first three years, putting it comfortably on pace to achieve the goal within a decade.

But momentum stalled in 2019-20. The reasons weren’t completely clear, but I’ve noticed that economic diversity often declines when college administrators aren’t paying close attention. Other priorities — sports teams, fund-raising, U.S. News’s rankings — take over. Covid made the situation worse, by exacerbating K-12 inequality and preventing some lower-income students from making it to college.

By fall 2021, all the early progress had been erased. Enrollment of lower-income students at colleges with high graduation rates was slightly below its 2015 level.

In response, the initiative got tougher. To remain members, college now must commit to specific lower-income enrollment levels, rather than vaguely promising to make progress. A small number of colleges have since dropped out. Among them, according to public records, were Penn State and Virginia Tech, as well as several private schools, including Wake Forest, which is among the country’s least economically diverse colleges, and Denison, in Ohio.

( This Times feature lets you look up economic diversity at nearly 300 colleges.)

But 125 colleges remained, including the entire Ivy League and the flagship state universities in California, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin. About 15 schools more have recently joined. Baruch is among them, as are Colorado College, Illinois State and Towson.

At these member schools, lower-income enrollment has fully recovered from its recent decline. Updated data isn’t available for the roughly 200 other colleges with a graduation rate of at least 70 percent, but their trend is unlikely to be so positive:

Successful strategies

The new report cities several promising strategies for lifting diversity, such as:

Reduce so-called merit aid , which tends to go to affluent students, and direct scholarships to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need. Boston University has recently done so.

Recruit more transfers from community colleges , where top students from modest backgrounds often start . Central Florida, Dayton, George Mason and the University of California all emphasize community-college transfers, and Princeton recently started a program.

Help students navigate higher education . Its bureaucracy can be so maddening that it keeps students from graduating. In response, Baruch has created an office called BOSS — Baruch One Stop Shop — where students can get help enrolling in classes or filling out aid forms. The college has also created cohorts of first-year students who take classes together and can help one another.

Baruch’s mission, Wu told me, is to educate a student body that resembles society at large — and increase upward mobility as a result. “Our diversity,” he said, “very much reflects the diversity of New York.”

Some colleges will soon charge $100,000 a year. My colleague Ron Lieber explains how it happened.

President Biden will announce student debt relief for millions of borrowers in a Wisconsin speech.

THE LATEST NEWS

Israel-hamas war.

The Israeli military has reduced the number of troops in Gaza. Only a fraction of the soldiers that it deployed to the enclave earlier in the war remain.

Despite the drawdown of troops, the military has promised a future mission in Rafah , southern Gaza.

The war reached the six-month mark with the conflict at an impasse.

Nicaragua, a supporter of Palestine, is bringing a case against Germany at the International Court of Justice for supplying arms to Israel.

War in Ukraine

Some Ukrainians, unable or unwilling to leave home, remain in villages on the front lines. See photos .

Donald Trump has a secret, long-shot plan to end the war by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory, The Washington Post reports.

“I am still learning how to forgive”: Rwandans marked 30 years since a genocide there killed around 800,000 people.

A British endurance athlete known as the Hardest Geezer ran the length of Africa in just under a year , The Guardian reports.

Trump has made many populist promises, but many corporate executives believe that his second-term agenda couldn’t really happen . They might be in denial.

Trump said at a fund-raiser that he wants immigrants in the U.S. from “nice” countries “like Denmark.”

An examination of Trump’s public statements revealed how he distorts his opponents’ record and exaggerates.

Many of today’s seniors have voted Democratic at every stage of their lives. Nate Cohn explains why .

A bipartisan group of former national security officials have asked lawmakers to impose limits on a president’s power to deploy troops on domestic soil .

Other Big Stories

The U.S. will experience its second total solar eclipse in seven years today. Read how to watch and see the cloud forecast where you are .

In coastal cities, commuters — spurred by new routes and faster boats — are using ferries to get around .

A Southwest Boeing 737-800 made an emergency landing after an engine cover fell off during takeoff.

Maryland passed two privacy bills that limit how tech platforms can harvest and use personal data of consumers and young people.

Economists sent similar résumés to job postings at about 100 of the largest U.S. companies — but changed the applicants’ names to suggest an ethnicity. Some companies discriminated against Black applicants much more than others.

America was once the country begging richer allies for help. It can pay it back by supporting Ukraine , Stacy Schiff writes.

If Gmail is making you miserable, stop using it , as Ezra Klein has.

Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss the election and tech regulation .

Here are columns by David French on the parallels between Gaza and Iraq and Maureen Dowd on Trump’s “blood bath” comments .

MORNING READS

Away games: Meet a group of New Yorkers who pooled money to buy a Danish minor league soccer team .

Health tech: Patients can pay to have artificial intelligence read their mammograms. Experts are both excited and concerned .

Metropolitan Diary: Best taxi ride in 50 years .

Lives Lived: Albert Heath was a virtuoso jazz drummer who collaborated with John Coltrane and Nina Simone. He died at 88 .

Women’s college basketball: South Carolina beat Iowa , 87-75, to win their second national title in three years. Iowa’s defeat comes days before Caitlin Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the W.N.B.A. Draft.

A G.O.A.T.: Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s coach, thanked Clark for making women’s basketball more popular. “ She carried a heavy load ,” Staley said. Read about Clark’s collegiate career .

Men’s college basketball: John Calipari is nearing a deal to coach at Arkansas .

UConn: The Huskies face Zach Edey and Purdue with a chance to become the first repeat men’s college basketball national champions since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

ARTS AND IDEAS

“University Challenge”: The New Yorker Brandon Blackwell knew that if he wanted to have a career in competitive quizzing, he had to move to its epicenter: London.

Despite already having a degree, he applied to Imperial College London to get a visa. Then, he competed for the college on the Britain’s premier quiz show, “University Challenge.” Blackwell’s appearance on the show in 2020 turned him into a national figure and Imperial — which had not won the competition since 2001 — into a “University Challenge” powerhouse .

More on culture

The “3 Body Problem,” a Netflix show, has outraged people in China despite it being from the country. That highlights how censorship has shaped public opinion , Li Yuan writes.

For nearly two decades, a gang stole items from small U.S. museums , including Yogi Berra’s championship rings.

In the finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry David essentially restaged the contentious “Seinfeld” ending, The Washington Post reports.

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Finish any blend of cheese in your fridge with this quick stovetop mac and cheese .

Trick your brain to love running with these three tips .

Buy a gift for under $25 .

Keep your dog warm and dry on rainy days with a raincoat .

Take our news quiz .

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangrams were curtain and taciturn .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David

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David Leonhardt runs The Morning , The Times’s flagship daily newsletter. Since joining The Times in 1999, he has been an economics columnist, opinion columnist, head of the Washington bureau and founding editor of the Upshot section, among other roles. More about David Leonhardt