26 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Essay Examples

To get into the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2023, you have to write strong supplemental essays.

In this article, I've gathered 26 of the best supplemental and Common App essay examples for Michigan.

University of Michigan Admissions FAQ

Here are some answers to common questions regarding applying to UMich.

As one of the highest ranked public universities in the U.S., Michigan has a reputation that makes for a competitive admissions process.

University of Michigan's Acceptance Rate

This past year, a record 79,743 students applied to Michigan and only 16,071 were offered admission.

That gives Michigan an overall admit rate of just 20.15% for the Class of 2026.

University of Michigan Acceptance Scattergram

Here's a scattergram that shows admitted and rejected applicants for Michigan in recent years.

In order to stand out from other applicants, you'll need to write your best supplemental essays. Here you can find 26 examples of Michigan essays that worked.

Since many of Michigan's prompts have stayed the same year after year, these examples answer this year's prompts.

What is Michigan's application deadline for this year?

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers two admissions deadlines for Fall 2023: early action and regular decision.

For this year, Michigan's deadlines are:

  • Early Action (EA): November 1st, 2022
  • Regular Decision (RD): February 1st, 2023

Some students like transfer students may apply in Winter 2023 or Summer 2023, for which there are two deadlines:

  • Winter 2023 RD: October 1st, 2022
  • Summer 2023 RD: February 1st, 2023

What are the University of Michigan supplemental prompts for 2022-23?

This year, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor requires applicants to write two supplemental essays. The first essay is limited to 300 words while the second essay is longer, with a maximum of 550 words.

The Michigan supplemental prompts are:

1. Community Essay (Required for all applicants.)

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. (100-300 words)

2. Why Michigan Essay (Required for all applicants.)

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)

26 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor EssaysThatWorked

Check out these 26 Michigan essays that worked.

Below you can read example supplemental essays for Michigan, as well as Common App essays from admitted students.

Get inspired and start writing your own successful Michigan essays.

Prompt: Communities and Groups

  • 1. Christian Faith
  • 2. Horseback Riding
  • 3. Youth Court
  • 4. Two Sides
  • 5. Marching Band Family
  • 6. Chinese Christian Church
  • 7. Whitman Navigators
  • 8. Diverse Community
  • 9. The Nabe

Prompt: Area of Study / Why Michigan?

  • 10. Education Program
  • 11. Business Opportunities
  • 12. Engineering at Michigan
  • 13. Economics and Political Science
  • 14. Michigan Faculty
  • 15. Interdisciplinary Learning
  • 16. Michigan Opportunities
  • 17. School of Kinesiology

Prompt: Extracurricular Activity

  • 18. Summer in the City
  • 19. Riding Horses
  • 20. Restorative Justice
  • 23. Speech and Debate
  • 25. Soccer Lessons
  • 26. Playing Horn

1. Michigan Community Essay: "Christian Faith"

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. (100-300 words)

I am a member of the Grosse Pointe chapter of YoungLife, a non-denominational Christian youth group. However, I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a "Christian."

My relationship with God is exactly that—mine. I sometimes question certain Christian teachings and beliefs, and I'm not 100 percent sure that I am officially any one religion.

This is not only OK, but encouraged at YoungLife; the motto of the organization is "Come as you are." The differences between myself and the person sitting next to me at Sunday Club don't matter there.

Our diverging ideas and opinions, some of which may be about religion itself, become white noise as we sing along with the leaders to start each Club at the YoungLife House. My understanding of Christianity can be polar opposite of that person—my friend—next to me, but we are connected in the Club's universal idea of being yourself and accepting others for doing the same.

I am still figuring out my individual ideologies, and I expect it to take time before I fully understand my feelings. My views may will fall within those of a Christian church, they partially could, or they might not at all. I haven't solved my religious puzzle yet, but I don't feel like an outsider because of it. The people at YoungLife respect my internal journey. They understand that I don't fully understand my religion yet.

2. Michigan Community Essay: "Horseback Riding"

As the first horse walked in for the HJAM hunter derby in May, I sat on the grassy hill overlooking the show grounds with my friends and the “big girls” for the first time. In just a few years, I would be one of the “big girls” that the younger kids would look up to. Brought together by long horse show days highlighted by donkey races in Kentucky, boat days in Traverse City, and “Ride and Drives” in Ohio, the group of riders that compete at the horse shows have become my friends for life.

Starting in the early 2010’s, when all of us rode ponies, everyone began to come out of their shell as we bonded over our love for this sport. Jumping the “kid jumps” until it was too dark, our group became inseparable, and Sundays, the last day of a horse show, became increasingly dreaded as it meant we had to say goodbye until the next show.

Trading in ponies for horses and bows for hair nets, we became engaged in much more mature activities- like water fights and golf cart races. Beginning to conquer bigger divisions and national finals, riding became more serious, however, being surrounded by this community kept it light hearted as we cheered each other on ringside.

Entering into my final junior year as a rider, I have trouble believing that I have become one of the “big girls” as it seems just yesterday I gazed up at my mentors on the hill almost a decade ago. Knowing that the friendships I have made will last a lifetime, I am forever grateful to the early mornings and long nights that brought us together and cannot wait to watch where each of us end up: both inside and outside of the ring.

3. Michigan Community Essay: "Youth Court"

A defining factor of my interests and character is membership to Ontario County Youth Court. Not only have I enjoyed the career exploration, new opportunities, and service aspects of the program, but also the people within it. Youth court provides as alternative path legal path for youth offenders. But also serves the community of members who conduct the trials. This has allowed me to gain an understanding of other people’s situations and circumstances.

After four years of dedicated membership, I have assumed leadership positions within the program. This includes acting as lead prosecutor, along with the elected chair of the Ontario County Youth Court Steering Committee. As chair, I have planned successful member outreach events such as a Halloween party and a career exploration event. By acting as a mentor and providing guidance towards my fellow members, I have encouraged others to develop a passion for youth court and law. Without this community, I would have never discovered my true passion for law, or broadened my understanding of others.

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4. Michigan Community Essay: "Two Sides"

I grew up with big glass doors in my living room, bold doors that opened to a garden on one side and a living room on the other. When you walked outside, you entered an untamed mosaic of bamboo, peonies, lavender, hummingbirds, bees and the occasional free-spirited cat. Grey stepping stones guided you through the mystical garden in a seemingly random fashion. The other side of the doors open up to a different type of community, a community where shoes and dirt weren’t allowed, corners were sharp, and the main odor was all-purpose cleaning spray.

These two worlds were separated by a mere panel of transparent doors. I believe that I am the product of both of them. These two spaces, along with my mother, formed the person that I am today. From the garden community, I learned to be pure and kind, while the indoor community warned me to also stay guarded. I’m reserved, but with a touch of confidence; forgiving but not ignorant; and perseverent yet flexible.

Things used to seem binary; I was either the garden or the room. However, I now believe that I am the living, breathing evidence that maybe life isn’t so one-sided. Maybe some us will realize that one side calls to us, while others will become the glass doors and, instead of standing on either side, experience multiple worlds.

5. Michigan Community Essay: "Marching Band Family"

As I prepared for my freshman year of high school, I was terrified I would never find my place at Grosse Pointe South. But when I started my first marching band camp a month before school began, I found the friends that would form my tightest-knit community for the next four years.

No matter how busy my schedule has become, the six hours I spend each week at marching band have remained a constant throughout high school. These friends have been the most unfailingly kind people I have met at South, and have provided me a place where I feel confident presenting myself authentically to the people around me.

As a section leader this year, I have gained experience as a supporter and motivator. My goal has been to help the underclassmen find the same community in marching band that I did.

This role has taught me a lot about collaboration. My fellow section leaders and I have shared responsibility for the quality of every performance we give and held meetings to discuss ways to improve rehearsal productivity. It has been incredible to see our hard work result in such enjoyable performances for our school and surrounding community.

The Grosse Pointe South Marching Band has become my second family throughout the last four years. I am incredibly grateful for the friends I will miss so much next year, and for the opportunity to provide underclassmen with the same kind and accepting environment that I was welcomed into four years ago.

6. Michigan Community Essay: "Chinese Christian Church"

As you walk onto my church grounds, you would be a little befuddled. What used to be a small one-story home now houses the Chinese Christian Church of Columbia--the former garage/carport is now the sanctuary, the swimming pool has been replaced with the education building, and the old house is now the kitchen and fellowship building. But the most glaring aspect is the separate services, divided by language not time. Our church walks between traditional Chinese culture and contemporary American beliefs. Many of the ABCs (American-born Chinese) and the few Americans join together for the English service, centered around more contemporary worship and disciple-building. The older immigrant population and the Chinese students from the surrounding universities gather for the Chinese service, featuring more conservative worship with hymns and focused on outreach.

Though we are divided by language and cultural barriers, we are joined together with a shared faith. While I call the English congregation home, I occasionally serve on the worship team for the Chinese service and as an interpreter for joint adult and youth events (when the Chinese and English service join together). While I serve in both congregations, my main focus is the children’s ministry where I am a Sunday school teacher and an activities coordinator. Every week, I love walking into the classroom, seeing the happy faces of curious children ready to learn new Bible stories despite their occasional rowdy and disobedient behavior. While the students learn, I share the same search for answers in my faith. With my church being a melting pot of cultures and language, we work to push aside those barriers to be joined together under one faith. Despite the challenges, the tight-knit community that has sprung up from our tiny house church has won my heart.

7. Michigan Community Essay: "Whitman Navigators"

I quit keeping track of how many times I've said "Hi, welcome to Whitman!" after my first Back-to-School-Night. As a member of the Whitman Navigator team for three years, I've greeted a few hundred parents, oriented three classes of freshmen, and built lasting friendships with fellow Navigators and staff. Navigators are Whitman students who lead Freshman Orientation and Back-to-School-Night, as well as give tours to transfer students.

In this capacity, I've worked with our two principals, Dr. Goodwin (now retired) and Dr. Dodd, on building a more welcoming Whitman. The community I love best is that of my high school, Walt Whitman. My place is similar to that of a Walmart Greeter, in that I am the first person freshmen see when they enter the front door. Using my school spirit and three years' experience, I enthusiastically guide these freshmen through their first encounter with this large, and often intimidating, new community.

Last year, I received my first question that I couldn't answer. As a chorus student, my knowledge of the Fine Arts at Whitman is limited; when a freshman asked me about ceramics courses, I paused and pondered. Rather than providing her with false information, I said, "I actually couldn't tell you.

At the end of orientation, I'll refer you to Gianni, a Navigator who took ceramics last year." The closeness of the Navigator community meant that I knew the right person to answer her question. Here I was, answering the freshman's question in a position of authority, when only four years ago I was in her shoes. Navigators granted me the opportunity to help others acclimate to the school, and I developed leadership traits through which I could guide people successfully.

8. Michigan Community Essay: "Diverse Community"

In my hometown, you can hear the cows moo and the tractors hum. The smell of manure might only be overtaken by the fumes of a Ford F-150. Farms line the sides of the roads I take to school. I have lived in rural Carroll County, Maryland my whole life. I have grown to love it. The people are friendly, neighborhoods are safe, and schools are good. However, there is one main issue. Everyone here is white.

While visiting the University of Michigan, I noticed the treelined campus. I pictured myself meeting peers in the dorms and classrooms. I was overwhelmed when I stepped into the Big House. But the thing that stood out the most was the diversity of Ann Arbor. Being in a place where a variety of ethnicities is so prevalent was a wake-up call to what I have been missing my whole life.

The diverse community of the University of Michigan is a place where I could see myself thrive. Being around and learning from people with unique backgrounds has been a rare commodity in my life. Around the age of thirteen, I realized what I had been missing within Carroll County, so I joined a soccer team in a more diverse neighboring county. This team gave me a taste of what life is like away from my rural hometown.

In college I want to belong to a society of people all different from each other. I would be able to learn so many valuable life lessons. University of Michigan is a place where I could share my story, as well as take in the stories of many different people. In college, I want to join a community filled with variety and open mindedness, rather than remaining in my ethnically homogenous past.

9. Michigan Community Essay: "The Nabe"

The bus took ten minutes to get home this time, not the usual thirty. This wasn’t my home, but it would essentially become just that.

The Morristown Neighborhood House is a center that provides a free and safe after-school environment for local children. While I had previously participated in various service programs, something was different about NH. Whether it was teaching long division or playing a game of chess, the bonds I established with the kids were real, human connections.

It was a privilege to be appointed service coordinator at the end of my junior year. But, I wanted to further immerse myself into “the Nabe.” While there were various summer options, I felt that there couldn’t be a better choice than signing up to be a camp counselor at the Nabe.

The kids became family; through sarcophagus art projects, writing practice, Xbox tournaments, implicit bias discussions, and trips to the park, they became the little siblings I never had. When I brought in ice cream for all of them on my birthday, I was showered with hugs. No foreign exchange trip could outdo that.

I am a member of many communities based on my geography, ethnicity, interests, and talents, but the most meaningful community is the one that I never thought I would be a part of. Bryan, Genesis, Justin, John, Christian, Jason, Jazarah, Jaeden, Steven, Angelique, Isabella... and Yajur.

On that first bus ride to the Nabe, I never saw it coming.

10. Why Michigan: "Education Program"

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? (100-550 words)

Growing up, I always pictured myself as a great teacher as an adult. With the second best secondary education program in the country and an emphasis on the liberal arts and undergraduate education, I am confident that U-M will shape me into the great educator I’ve dreamed of becoming since I was a kid.

Hallmarks of a liberal arts education include teamwork, problem-solving, clear writing, and effective communication. These are also skills that any exceptional teacher needs. U-M offers an unparalleled curriculum that prepares students to successfully run classrooms and obtain Provisional Teacher Certifications upon graduation, exposing students to diverse classes and people in Ann Arbor, and providing them with an invaluable liberal arts education along the way.

Being an effective teacher means connecting with and stimulating all students at its core. The liberal arts foundation I will receive in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts (LSA), married with the experiential education and training the School of Education (SoE) will provide, will mold me into that great teacher—a mentor and role model for any student, regardless of creed—I’ve always aspired to become.

The Teacher Education Preferred Admission (TEPA) for incoming freshmen piqued my interest because the program is the crossroad between the liberal arts and teacher education; two components I was looking for in a college. TEPA will allow me to build a strong liberal arts base in LSA my first two years on campus before entering SoE, while also gaining beneficial experiences in the education field early on.

The education-oriented programs WE READ and Students Empowering Education specifically appealed to me because they will bridge my liberal arts education with my anticipated career as a high school English teacher. Similarly, my Spanish classes will have a practical application in the Ann Arbor Language Partnership, a program that immediately interested me as a potential Spanish minor.

During my first two years as a pre-admit, I'll be supported by my TEPA peers and staff, specifically from my SoE personal adviser. TEPA will take the large campus and make it feel smaller, allowing me to form organic connections with like-minded people and groups that can cultivate my interest in education before entering SoE junior year.

I need a meaningful education to be a meaningful educator. Truthfully, I could go to almost any college to become a teacher, but only schools that synthesize in- and out-of-classroom learning like SoE produce great ones. U-M ranking sixth in the country for undergraduate teaching bolstered my interest in the university and confirmed what I already knew: I will receive an education in LSA and SoE that will change who I am as a person and not just a student, and prepare me to provide the same for others as a teacher.

The great educator I’ve always envisioned myself becoming is one that can inspire without bounds. From my time as a student, I’ve come to realize that a truly influential teacher can work with students who have little in common with themselves and still be impactful. LSA's purposeful and broad curriculum, paired with SoE's hands-on courses and fieldwork, and the additional opportunities available through TEPA, will shape me into that life-changing teacher, for any student who walks through my classroom door.

11. Why Michigan: "Business Opportunities"

Growing up in a community that bleeds maize and blue, the community represented by the University of Michigan has always been one that I could see myself representing as both a student and alumni. From football games at the big house to classes at Ross, each and every opportunity available at U of M represents a piece of my life that I hope to continue to incorporate into my life for the rest of my life.

The opportunity to take courses that allow for enriched experiences in developing a real business is one that I intend to be involved in as soon as possible. I will use this type of class as a way to test my skills and learn where I need to become stronger as a leader and student. Watching others equally driven as me, their tactics that are successful and not successful will imprint on how I attack problems in the future and shape my overall leadership style.

By being involved in the Multidisciplinary Action Projects down the road as a graduate student, I hope to learn firsthand what it takes to run and be involved with real businesses. Firsthand exposure is the best way to learn how to solve problems- especially surrounded by peers who are equally as driven and dedicated as I am.

Filled with students striving for nothing but the best they are capable of is a community that I am certain I will enrich and fit into. By sharing ideas and collaborating together instead of against each other, each and every one of us will contribute to the business world as leaders and innovators.

The University of Michigan is a place I can see myself learning and growing as a leader for the next four years as I intend to use all of the tools at my disposal to become a top business person. The opportunities within the school I will be involved in and the peers that I will work beside only enrich the values of what being a Wolverine mean to me.

12. Why Michigan: "Engineering at 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.

13. Why Michigan: "Economics and Political Science"

In my junior year microeconomics class, my teacher extensively explored the ways in which people from different socioeconomic classes were affected by our economic system. I was frustrated by the ways our country forces those living in poverty to spend the little money they have on taxable goods. I began to empathize with them. How can people pull themselves out of poverty if their government seems to be working against them? More than anything, I was frustrated that I felt powerless to help them in any way.

Those lessons inspired and motivated me. I had always looked at economics as nothing more than an analysis of business models and resource allocation. I began to see it as a way to fix fundamental problems in our society, from examining the effects of healthcare expansion on crime and poverty rates to studying how shifts in our political climate affect how our country’s financial process will change. I now see economics as a way to help those in need in my country and throughout the world.

I volunteered after school for Representative Dingell and had the opportunity to attend numerous events hosted by the Ford School. Again and again, I was impressed by the extent of the Ford School’s student involvement in critical issues. Through my work with the Congresswoman, I was able to gain a greater understanding of how different groups of people were affected by shifts in political and economic priorities. My goal is to become a civil rights attorney or study economics as a way to promote sustainable growth in developing nations.

I want to begin my studies at the University of Michigan in LSA to gain a foundation in economics and political science-related courses. After my first year, I hope to gain admission to the Ford School. The connections that LSA and Ford have to Poverty Solutions solidified by interest in the University of Michigan. If I attended these schools as an undergraduate student, I would be able to assist with research on the causes and ramifications of poverty. Professor Michael Barr’s research on policy initiatives and our financial system is fascinating from the perspective of a prospective economics major. At the University of Michigan, I would be able to join teams of renowned researchers working toward the betterment of our society and our world.

The range of schools working in connection with Poverty Solutions is evidence of the University’s devotion to civic engagement. I would be able to participate in groundbreaking research regarding issues I am interested in; I would have the ability to study poverty and ways to stunt or alleviate its effects in other countries. As someone hoping to pursue a career in public service, it is truly incredible to have the opportunity to join a research community specifically geared toward solving problems I am passionate about solving.

I want to join the University of Michigan’s legacy of innovators. I want to be part of the LSA community, studying economics and political science. I want to attend the Ford School and understand how policy in America and abroad has an effect on global poverty. I want to be involved with the Poverty Solutions Initiative, conducting groundbreaking research on the ways we can reform our financial system to better serve the lower and middle classes.

14. Why Michigan: "Michigan Faculty"

Riding the elevator to the seventh floor of Haven Hall, my heart was practically leaping out of my chest. I was meeting with Dr. Jenna Bednar of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Department of Political Science, and as I recalled her credentials- B.A. in Political Science from Michigan, M.A. and PhD in Political Science from Stanford- I felt increasingly out of place. As a junior in high school with limited political experience, I am grateful that she agreed to take time out of her day to meet with me and answer my numerous questions about LSA, Michigan, and political theory.

Upon entering her office, my eyes were drawn to bookshelves full of political literature, from the classics like De Tocqueville and Locke (which I read in a summer college program in 2017), to her own recently published work, The Robust Federation. Encouraged by her broad smile and having just completed an official campus tour, I launched into my questions. Dr. Bednar described the connections she and her students have made at Michigan, through LSA and in general.

This revealed to me that the faculty would take a personal interest in my academic career. We discussed the average class size in LSA and the Department of Political Science, her academic background, and how to survive Michigan winters. Dr. Bednar then brought my attention to the benefits that LSA Political Science gives its students.

For example, as head of the Michigan in Washington program, Dr. Bednar's passion for both political science and education was evident as she introduced me to one of Michigan's most influential academic programs. Although I hail from two miles outside the D.C. border, I aspire to participate in the Michigan in Washington program, to build on my internship of the past year with my delegate to the Maryland General Assembly.

Under his guidance, I conducted nationwide policy research, attended civic association meetings and development forums, and traveled to our state capitol to watch the legislative process unfold. Consequently, an internship at the federal level is my logical next step toward building the foundations of a political career.

Dr. Bednar, upon hearing about my internship with my delegate, suggested that I think about the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. I believe that this research program offers a unique means of building my understanding of political science. I am eager to apply to the UROP program in hopes of furthering my research skills within the complex political landscape of today. Furthermore, the variety of courses that I can explore as a political science major is remarkable: from "Sports, Politics, and Society", to "Nations and Nationalism," the scope of topics will keep me engaged.

When I sat down with Dr. Bednar, I expected a five-minute chat; I received forty-five minutes of helpful advice, political theorizing, and well wishes. Leaving her office, I felt energized and ready to dive into LSA Political Science right there. Her demeanor helped to build my confidence to boldly seek connections in my search for knowledge. I saw the Michigan difference firsthand, from various undergraduate opportunities for political science, to a universal love for the school from students and faculty alike.

15. Why Michigan: "Interdisciplinary Learning"

My favorite class in high school was also my hardest. It was World Culture/World Literature, an hour and a half each day of seeing history, art, and literature not as separate entities but as intricately connected, one incomplete without the other. I learned to see humanism in Greek sculpture, religious propaganda in the chiaroscuro of Baroque paintings, disillusionment in modern art. Although seemingly unrelated to my STEM-leaning interests, the analytical skills I learned there would prove invaluable in neuroscience research. Connecting electroencephalography results to mechanisms for chronic pain relief wasn’t all too different from drawing links between historical movements and paintings; both required an intimate knowledge of background information and a willingness to take risks, to see new relationships and forge unprecedented connections.

LSA embodies precisely this mentality, fostering interdisciplinary learning and problem-solving. With classes like “Health, Biology, and Society: What is Cancer?”, bridging humanistic and biological approaches to disease, and graduation requirements ranging from Natural Sciences to Race and Ethnicity, LSA prepares students for the real world, where problems necessitate not just single-minded expertise but also a diverse understanding of other factors involved. My internship experience only confirmed the practicality of this perspective; we used mindfulness meditation alongside spinal cord stimulation technologies to treat chronic pain.

This mindset is not confined to learning inside the classroom. The LSA Opportunity Hub is robust, connecting students to internships at Nike, Forbes, and the US Department of Education, among other places. To intern as a research assistant at Mayo Clinic, to use mathematical models to predict brain tumor growth like current Michigan junior Tatum Doyle would be an unequalled opportunity. Her work in incorporating mathematical concepts in medical research personifies the LSA culture, where problems are best solved holistically. LSA’s interdisciplinary approach does not detract from fostering specialization and excellence in specific fields, but adds; its Biochemistry program promotes innovation and independence in its students and is ranked top in the nation.

I remember boiling down cabbage with my dad to make acid/base indicators. In elementary school, my teacher wrote that I had been spending too much time reading animal books and too little time playing with other kids. I loved (and still love) all things living, often marvelling at the complexity of the animal kingdom, the human body, the organs, and the cells that were the foundation for everything else. The first time I read about the process of translation, of rendering mRNA into proteins, my eyes filled with tears; this is what I wanted to do, to apply the chemistry that had defined my childhood to my love of biology.

LSA shares that passion, dedicating a plethora of resources, both intellectual and material, to its Biochemistry department. With equipment like atomic absorption spectrophotometers, classes in Endocrinology, and distinguished professors, the University of Michigan has everything any biochemistry undergraduate student would need, and much more. To research under a PI like Dr. Kopelman, winner of the J. William Fulbright Research Award, would be a dream fulfilled. His work in employing 5-dimensional chemical imaging to visualize and treat tumors does what LSA does best; it uses an interdisciplinary approach to make academic discoveries both relevant and essential in the real world. It is a culture I would be honored to take part in, should I be accepted.

16. Why Michigan: "Michigan Opportunities"

Sweat drips down my face onto homework in front of me.

I just got home from a soccer game; I’m not stressed. This is until I realize I still have a plethora of edits to make on my lab report as well as emails to write for an upcoming NHS event. AND I have three tests the next day.

Although stressful, I enjoy every minute of juggling a variety of academics and extracurriculars. I appreciate all the opportunities my high school offers to me and I take advantage of as many as I can handle. Thanks to my involved years of high school, I have received a great education as well as many experiences I would never trade away.

Entering my senior year and researching universities I may want to attend, there is one question which continuously presents itself. What do I want to major in when I get to college? It is a scary question and I have never known the answer. Despite participating in many extracurriculars such as National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Math Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America, I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.

As a student at LSA, I would be able to use the abundance of resources to explore possibilities for life after college. Since I am one of the many college applicants who has not decided upon a major, a large, liberal arts college like LSA is the perfect place for me to discover more about myself, pursue interests, and find my purpose. I have considered medicine, business, economics, and law. The two courses I have enjoyed the most are biomedical sciences and US History. I am truly all over the map!

With so much variety at LSA, I would be able to change majors or take a diverse group of classes so that I could find what I want to study. LSA is unique from its University of Michigan counterparts because it offers a broader range of departments, majors, and courses. The flexibility at LSA would help me discover what I want my life to be like while supporting me through my journey.

Additionally, LSA provides students with multiple opportunities not found anywhere else at University of Michigan. One program that caught my eye was Michigan Learning Communities. This program appeals to me because having the resources of this large university, yet finding a niche in the community to challenge myself and others, can help me grow as a student and a person. Similarly, the Opportunity Hub at LSA jumped out at me as I researched the University and toured the school. I would take full advantage of the great connections the Opportunity Hub provides, as it could help me find an internship or job offer when the perfect time comes. MLCs, the Opportunity Hub, and the many other programs which LSA offers are the main reasons why LSA would be the best college fit for me.

I was initially drawn to the University of Michigan by the beautiful campus, great athletics programs, unmatched prestige, and massive alumni network. However, as I dove deeper, I discovered LSA, a school that can help me realize my purpose and passions while providing a focused learning environment to lead me to a bright future.

17. Why Michigan: "School of Kinesiology"

Throughout my college search, I had yet to come across the perfect undergraduate school for my interests. The safe pick was always the standard “College of Arts and Sciences” or its equivalent, with the most varied options for me to craft my experience. Something was different about Michigan. I didn’t need to craft my own academic experience at another university when the perfect one was already designed here: The School of Kinesiology’s Movement Science program.

In my house, we never eat scrambled eggs. We eat denatured albumin and yolk proteins served with a sprinkling of sodium chloride; cooking was chemistry, not just a chore. From a young age, my parents have cultivated a sense of curiosity in me. So when I injured my left wrist in the summer before freshman year, it was so much more than just an injury. I researched more into my growth plate dislocation and radial fracture. I got to see the details of the procedure, the recovery process, and the gradual reversion of my X-rays to a normal wrist image. This fascinating journey got me through an otherwise disappointing summer: no basketball and no french horn.

While the seeds were planted during my injury, they didn’t start blooming until I spent a week shadowing Dr. Kesavan Ramanujan in the Royal United Hospital, Bath, England. I realized that the field of orthopedics was a field where I could visually identify a problem, come up with a solution, implement the solution through operation, and help someone progress to full recovery. The gratification on the doctor’s faces when their recovered patients came back to visit them was infectious. While this trip was my first time staying abroad without my family, the biggest takeaway for me was that I had found a career I was truly interested in.

My volunteer work at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Physiotherapy Clinic has only strengthened this notion. While my work as a volunteer may be the more routine tasks: making schedules, doing paperwork, cleaning the beds and the gym, setting up hot packs, cold packs, and stimulation pads, I have learned so much about the subtle details of patient interaction through what I absorb from the physical therapists. Even if a PT is having a bad day, they have taught me how important it is to have a smile on your face for the next patient coming through the doors. They have also taught me how much of an intersection there is between teaching and medicine/therapy.

These experiences draw me to the School of Kinesiology, and specifically the Movement Science program. The opportunity to actively engage with skeletomuscular system studies as opposed to solely classroom learning appeals to me, as do the extensive research opportunities. The specialized IONM Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Program-- the only accredited IONM program in the world-- would give me the chance to engage in an exciting, interdisciplinary curriculum that cannot be found anywhere else.

From scrambled eggs to broken bones; from British adventures to lessons learned in the RWJ clinic. Discovering my passion for orthopedics and movement science has already been an exhilarating ride; yet, these have all been just the beginning steps of my journey. I cannot think of a better place to continue than the University of Michigan.

18. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Summer in the City"

Prompt: If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (150 words max)

I would chose to continue my involvement with Summer in the City, a nonprofit that empowers young citizens to revitalize Detroit through beautification and youth engagement, because I believe heavily in the power and potential of two things: Detroit and young people.

At SITC, I can see the difference I’m making through the murals I paint and the kids I play with. With each brush stroke, I am moving the city one step in a positive direction. And with each high five from my “buddy” at the camp, I feel like I am part of the grassroots, youth-driven movement the city needs.

19. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Riding Horses"

For as long as I can remember, riding horses has played an integral part of my day to day life. It has taught me more than I could learn anywhere else and truly morphed my character forever. Riding has become a key part of my identity. Spending 30+ hours a week at the barn in addition to nearly 20 weekends of the year at horse shows, it has shown me the impact that long term effort has on success. This time commitment has also allowed me to make close friends that I hope to stay connected with for the rest of my lifetime. Riding has ultimately become more than a sport to me, but rather part of my life: a part of my life that I will treasure for as long as I am alive.

20. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Restorative Justice"

With my aspirations to pursue a career in law, I would continue with youth court. Restorative justice is a concept that repairs damages and restores harmony. Instead of merely correcting illegal actions, an offender is integrated back into the community as a productive member of society. As a member, this is the greatest sense of satisfaction. Allowing someone the chance to change truly displays why I have remained devoted to the program for years.

At the University of Michigan, I would continue my restorative justice journey by involving myself in the Office of Student Conflict Resolution. I understand people have faults, which lead to disputes. With my vast experience with a variety of cases, I can assist others in making amends. Therefore, I am hopeful that I would be selected as a Student Resolution Panelist to be further educated on methods and approaches using restorative justice.

21. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Nanny"

Working as a nanny has taught me much more than any club or organization could. Growing up with a single mom, I wasn’t always the primary focus: I had to learn how to take care of myself and carve my own path. Now, being a nanny enables me to be a role model and guide for kids whose parents might not have the time or ability to do so. And as the child of a working parent, I’m also aware of the constant stress parents are under.

Not only does being a nanny teach me how to handle the responsibilities of caring for a child, it also allows me to reminisce on my childhood. Whether I’m helping David with his Spanish homework, teaching Edward how to say hi, or finding Leprechaun footprints with William, I can feel the unique impact I’m making on their lives, an impact which is irreplaceable.

22. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "DECA"

Throughout middle school and my freshman year of high school, I was a mouse. I was terrified of making a spectacle of myself. The first time I walked into a DECA meeting -- one of only five girls in a group of 50, and the only freshman -- I nearly turned around and left.

Since that day, I have earned three medals and been named a state finalist. That mousey freshman would never believe I could receive statewide recognition for a competition that required me to communicate my ideas to strangers. Walking into my first meeting was a huge step outside my comfort zone. Since then, my experiences in competitions have given me a breakthrough in self-confidence, and for that I am especially grateful. Not only has DECA enhanced my high school career, but it has helped me learn to take pride in myself and my ideas.

23. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Speech and Debate"

Since September of sophomore year, I have been attempting to persuade everyone and everything, from walls, to friends, to rearview mirrors, to agree with me. Through competitive topics in Speech & Debate, I'm learning how today’s issues affect American teens. From analyzing drug culture and its impact on youth, to assessing politics' role plays in dating, I'm granted the opportunity to broaden my perspective.

In the process, I'm meeting some of the most intelligent and fascinating students at tournaments. The Speech community is a creative outlet where I'm comfortable having my ideas challenged and challenging others. I plan to join the Michigan Debate team, and help coach high school Speech teams in Ann Arbor (my coaches are college students), because I believe that every teenager should be encouraged to critically explore current events, while getting comfortable speaking to inanimate objects, judges, and competitors in the process.

24. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "EMT"

I love being an EMT. I love the urgency of working in an ambulance, the way my heart quickens and my mind focuses when providing emergency patient care. But most of all, I love helping individuals in my community in a way most other people can’t. As EMT's, we’re endowed with the opportunity to intervene at the most critical points in a person's life, to provide calm and stability in life-or-death situations.

These are moments cemented in their memories, ones that define their conception of hardship and struggle. Every call I run presents a chance to make a permanent difference, from a classmate’s suicide attempt to a stranger’s car accident. By being there and providing compassion within chaos, I cherish the opportunity to positively influence each of my patient's lives. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

25. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Soccer Lessons"

The activity which I am most passionate about and plan to continue is soccer. Soccer has taught me multiple skills applicable to all aspects of life. These include leadership, teamwork, and work ethic. As captain of the soccer team, I have taken away various lessons I can apply in life. For instance, I have improved not only giving constructive criticism, but also receiving it- something which I am still working toward. Similarly, I have learned to be a better teammate, as soccer is reliant on playing together. Most significantly, soccer has brought me a desire to work hard, as being great requires so much more than pure talent. The impact of soccer on my life has created a new challenge for my future. I would like to continue playing because I want to take what I have learned and expand on it, and ultimately teach these lessons to others.

26. Michigan Extracurricular Activity: "Playing Horn"

It started from scratch, in 4th grade band Just me, my horn, and a small music stand Not knowing where, one day, this horn would take me Not knowing it would all be so grand.

I practiced for years, my range did expand I kept working and listening to teacher’s commands I’d keep on improving, as long as I practiced Whenever I got some time on my hands.

Failures have been tough to fully withstand. Each judge’s musical taste is hard to understand. But under the bright lights of Juilliard and Lincoln Center My journey could not have been better planned.

Looking back to where I began I couldn’t have imagined where I would land Only one activity? I’d keep playing my horn You have to play it to truly understand.

What Can You Learn From These Michigan Essays?

If you want to get into the University of Michigan in 2022, you'll need to write great supplemental essays.

Here are 26 Michigan essays that worked for the 2022 supplemental prompts so you can improve your essays.

If you enjoyed reading these Michigan essays, check out essays for other top public universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley

Are you applying to Michigan? What did you think of these U of M essays?

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College Essays

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The University of Michigan is one of the highest-ranked universities in the nation and is therefore a popular choice for many students, especially those in Michigan and the Midwest. At present, U-M's got a relatively low acceptance rate of just 20% .

If you're planning to apply to this coveted university, then you'll need to know how to write your best University of Michigan supplemental essay possible . Read on to learn what the University of Michigan supplemental essays entail and to get some advice on answering the various prompts. We also give you real University of Michigan essay examples and general tips for producing a great college essay.

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What Are the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays?

All applicants to the University of Michigan are required to submit two supplemental essays  in addition to a personal statement written in response to a prompt in the Common Application. 

So in total — and regardless of your major — you'll have to write three University of Michigan essays.

Although you'll have several prompts to choose from for your Common App/Coalition App essay, you'll only get one prompt for each University of Michigan supplemental essay (meaning you don't get to choose a prompt).

Here are the University of Michigan essay prompts you must answer for the 2022-2023 supplement:

Essay 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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

Essay 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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

Each University of Michigan supplemental essay has its own maximum word limit, with Essay 2's limit (550 words) being a bit longer than Essay 1's (300 words). For both essays, you must write at least 100 words.

The University of Michigan Essay Prompts, Analyzed

Now that we've gone over the basic essay requirements, let's take a closer look at each University of Michigan supplemental essay and how you can answer the prompt effectively.

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University of Michigan Supplemental Essay 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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

This essay prompt wants to know what makes you unique and what community you see yourself as belonging to. In other words, you're being asked to write a diversity essay , which focuses on you as an individual and what you have contributed to and gained from your specific community.

Through this essay, the University of Michigan admissions committee hopes to learn more about your values, goals, hardships, and achievements. This is why it's important to be your authentic self . Admissions officers will definitely be able to tell if you are exaggerating or making things up. Avoid trying to sound like someone else — write about what's important to you personally.

The prompt gives some examples of possible communities, but here are some more:

  • Your gender identity
  • Your sexual orientation
  • Your school
  • Your neighborhood
  • Your disability
  • A rare or strange talent you have
  • A particular club or organization you are a member of
  • Do you have any distinct characteristic that has defined you for much of your life? (This could be your ethnicity, race, or religion, for example.)
  • How would other people describe you? Ask your family and friends.
  • Do you have an uncommon or unique skill, interest, or experience?

Once you know what community you've chosen to write about, think about how this community has influenced you and your goals .

For example, maybe you grew up in a military family and had to move to new states and countries a lot as a child. You could discuss how this experience was isolating at first but how you eventually came to know other kids in military families, developing a sort of support network. Now you credit your experiences with moving with helping you learn to adapt quickly to new environments.

One compelling way you can let readers learn about your experience with your community is by telling your story through a specific anecdote , conversation you had, challenge you faced, etc.

You should also mention how you see your role in this community now . Has this role changed over time, or not? Why do you suppose so? For instance, maybe you used to be ashamed of your Navajo heritage but since having met other Navajo people your age, you now consider yourself a proud advocate for Native Americans and other indigenous groups around the world.

Finally, show, don't tell . Use imagery and realism to grab your readers and make them feel what you felt, see what you saw. Literary devices can help you more clearly describe your experience(s) with your community.

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University of Michigan Supplemental Essay 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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

You've got a higher word limit for this second University of Michigan supplemental essay than you do for the first one, so be prepared to dig deeper into your topic.

With this essay prompt, you're being asked, "Why U-M?" In other words, you need to write a "why this college" essay , with a focus on how the University of Michigan will be a fantastic fit for you and your academic goals.

Here, you're told directly what to write about: the "unique qualities" of the specific school/college at U-M to which you're applying. This means you could focus on traits such as these in your essay:

  • Specific classes U-M offers that you're interested in taking
  • A required curriculum that appeals to you in some way
  • A particular professor you're excited to work with
  • A lecture series or other program your school/college/department puts on
  • A certain building, lab, or campus facility you can't wait to use
  • Extracurricular activities or clubs related to your major or academic interests
  • Career advice and internship opportunities (e.g., what's offered via the LSA Opportunity Hub )

With this essay, you'll need to be extremely specific to be effective . The admissions committee wants to see that you know what distinguishes U-M from other equally renowned universities and that you have a clear idea of how you'll take advantage of the benefits offered here to further your own intellectual and professional pursuits.

You should also talk about what you hope to do and accomplish at the University of Michigan . For example, perhaps you're planning to major in Korean and are eager to attend the Nam Center for Korean Studies' Colloquium Series so you can get a better grasp of the kinds of topics currently being addressed by academics in the field of Korean studies.

If you're not sure what to write about, browse your college/school's official U-M web pages to get a feel for what types of amenities, events, activities, classes, and support it offers undergrads.

You can also try asking current students or recent graduates about their experiences at Michigan and what resources, classes, and/or professors they recommend. Reddit and College Confidential are two good places to look for student opinions.

As you write, take care to avoid overly general descriptions— focus instead on what makes U-M stand apart from other schools you're applying to .

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2 Real University of Michigan Essay Examples + Analysis

Sometimes seeing a real essay can give you a better idea of how you can approach and work on your own statement. Below we give you two University of Michigan essay examples written by a real admitted student , along with analysis as to what makes them work.

University of Michigan Essay Example 1

This first essay example is from a student on Reddit who was admitted to U-M in early 2018 (for the academic year starting in fall 2018). It is in response to prompt #1 above.

"Alice, I'm-I'm trans," he stammered.

My school's theatre group is an ever-expanding Ohana; to quote Disney's Lilo and Stitch , "Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind."

While this movie had over-prepared me for laser-beaming alien invasions, there was nothing about helping someone come out. Nevertheless, this was the person with whom I laughed, cried, and held hands through curtain calls; this was no alien, but a sibling. He was family.

Although theatre kids love performing for an audience, more importantly, we share an unconditional love for one another. Arriving in Pennsylvania as an international transfer student, I found myself twice removed from Hill's popular social scene, and it was the theatre company who welcomed me without ever questioning my self-worth. They became the anchor of my tempest-tossed first year; in them I found a home.

Thus, when my friend came out to me, I could only give him the love that I once received. When our cast misused his pronouns and name, I corrected them. Together, we transformed gender-specific roles into gender-neutral ones so everyone could partake in our productions. Off-stage, I held him as he grappled with his family's reaction. I grew into an advocate for queer students, both within the theatre company and at school as the co-president of Hill's gay-straight alliance, a position that I have held for two years. I look out for the "othered", lost, and lonely; I welcome them to a family that will never leave them behind.

Here's what makes this University of Michigan supplemental essay work:

  • It's got an interesting hook. Starting the essay with a real quotation from someone close to the applicant gives us a real, unfiltered look into this student's life and how she interacts with those in her identified community.
  • It's unapologetically honest. The student explains how she, too, has struggled with making friends and how the theatre company—her newfound community—ultimately helped her to feel welcome. In return, she actively supports her friend and goes out of her way to advocate for gay and transgender rights through her school's gay-straight alliance. She clearly cares very deeply about others.

University of Michigan Essay Example 2

This next essay example is from the same student on Reddit who got into U-M in early 2018. It is in response to prompt #2 above.

"Could Freud's theory of Eros and Thanatos apply to civilizations, especially with regard to their domination and subservience?" I asked, Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince in my hand. Having spent the first two months of senior year reading political treatises, poems, psychological and anthropological works in a History course, this was the first time these texts intersected in my mind. Suddenly, history assumed a completely new form. No more was it only a series of discrete events, but it had blossomed into all the knowledge that this world had to offer, and my desire to explore humanity in multiple ways, instead of restricting myself to only one avenue, would similarly flourish at Michigan's College of Life, Science, and the Arts due to its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning.

As a child of a trilingual mother, I have grown to appreciate integrative learning: to explain how the world worked, my mother employed English and Russian, languages that she knew of, where Vietnamese failed. My initial hunger to overcome these linguistic boundaries has risen since to social and humanitarian ones as well, for as there are words without equivalents, there are communities whose disenfranchisement are unparalleled and cannot be resolved without understanding the history of civil rights worldwide. I will attain such a global outlook in LSA's Residential College program. With its smaller class size and emphasis on communal learning, the program and the varied experience of my fellow RC students will open my eyes to issues I have yet to undergo.

As a future activist, I will harness my education to benefit marginalized groups in underdeveloped, post-colonial countries. As a Social Theory and Practice (STP) and International Studies double major with a specialization in Comparative Culture and Identity (CCI), I will critique and analyze the role of institutions in the global context of behavioral expressions. These skills facilitate the execution of policies that will empower disenfranchised citizens to overcome their legal and economic struggles. Courses such as "Intergroup Conflict and Coexistence: Religion, Ethnicity and Culture" will equip me with important tools with which I can drive social change. Moreover, STP offerings, particularly "History and Theory of Punishment," allow me to craft an education aimed at creating legislations and organizations that will address the social inequality of ethnic and religious minorities in former colonies in Southeast Asia. Finally, I will tie this knowledge to reality by pursuing an STP Honors thesis.

Outside of the classroom, I can pursue the optiMize challenge and devise practical solutions to the issues that impoverished communities face in Vietnam; with my intersectional perspective, I can provide a fresh outlook and facilitate our work with various demographics. I will also lend my voice to the Tab Michigan as an opinion writer, borrowing from my own experiences, having grown up at the twilight of cultures and languages. Furthermore, given my love for performing arts, I will take part in 58 Greene, specifically for its multicultural focus, and MUSKET/UAC. In regard to affinity groups, I plan to join BiLateral, since I want to network with other bisexual members of the community, as well as raise awareness on Michigan's campus about ourselves. As a Wolverine sibling, I will employ my interdisciplinary lessons and hands-on work to make a difference on the Ann Arbor campus and in the world.

  • It's extremely specific. The student not only makes telling connections between her love of interdisciplinary learning and desired major, but also name-drops specific classes she wants to take, explains how she'll take advantage of the optiMize challenge, and talks about specific groups she'd like to join. There's absolutely no doubt this student has done her research and is truly passionate about attending Michigan.
  • It flows well. The entire essay follows a clear arc, starting with an anecdote of the applicant's first time she managed to make connections between different topics she was studying, and moving on toward her interest in the interdisciplinary offerings at U-M and how they can help her become a future activist.

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How to Write a University of Michigan Supplemental Essay

Tip 1: use specific details and examples.

The key to writing an amazing University of Michigan supplemental essay is to write clearly and specifically so that the admissions committee can really feel your passion and understand what makes you the person you are today. After all, your ultimate goal is to tell a compelling story that will leave a mark on your readers.

So don't write vaguely —litter your essay with names, places, dialogue, and images. At the same time, try to stay focused by presenting an easy-to-follow story and logical structure.

For essay 1, for instance, you'll be way more successful if you home in on a specific community you're part of and what it's done for you, rather than trying to cram in tons of details about other communities you relate to. Pick one central topic for each essay, and stick with it.

Tip 2: Be Your Authentic Self

Another tip is to be completely and unapologetically honest in your University of Michigan essays. Write in a voice that's completely and utterly yours and concentrate on a story, person, event, or moment that means a lot to you personally—not what somebody told you to write about, even if that topic sounds more "impressive." So if you want to throw in a joke, go ahead and do it!

Just be sure to avoid the following in your essay , as doing any of these can make you seem lazy, inappropriate, arrogant, or plain unlikable:

  • Typos or errors in spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation
  • Overused quotations or clichéd analogies —writing something such as "It was raining cats and dogs" will make your essay come across unoriginal and bland
  • Inappropriate events or stories —your U-M essay is not the time to write about something illegal or highly immoral you did!
  • Anything outright rude or impolite —for example, don't attack the U-M admissions officers or write something mean about someone at school

Tip 3: Don't Repeat Anything You've Written in Other Essays

One of the tricky problems with writing your University of Michigan supplemental essays is that you need to ensure you're not having too much overlap in your essays , especially between your supplemental essays and your Common App/Coalition App personal essay.

While it's OK to have a little bit of overlap in general content, try to select essay prompts so that you're focusing on different (but still equally important) parts of yourself.

For example, because U-M requires a diversity essay as part of its supplement, you'd probably be better off not choosing the first Common App prompt (which is also about communities and your background).

Remember that the admissions committee wants to get a complete, holistic picture of who you are , so take care to incorporate all major (but different) aspects of yourself in your University of Michigan essays.

Tip 4: Edit and Proofread Before You Submit

Lastly, make sure to edit and proofread each University of Michigan supplemental essay you write before you submit your application.

Once you have a rough draft written, put it away for a few days. Then, take it out again and look it over with a fresh set of eyes. Check for any areas that are unclear, out of place, or irrelevant, and edit as needed.

Keep doing this process until you have a fairly clean rough draft and then give it to somebody you trust, such as a parent or teacher. Have them give you feedback on the content and structure of your essay; they should also look for technical errors.

Once your essay is almost ready to go, give it one last proofread. You should now have a fantastic University of Michigan supplemental essay!

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What's Next?

Want to learn more about the University of Michigan? Then check out our Michigan admission requirements page , where we give you everything you need to know to get into this famed school.

Though the University of Michigan is not an Ivy League school , it's considered to be a Public Ivy. Learn what this means and why Michigan qualifies for this honor in our guide to Public Ivies .

Applying to other schools in Michigan or the Midwest? Then check out our essay-writing guides for Michigan State University , the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , and Notre Dame .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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UMich Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Tips

July 25, 2023

supplemental essay university of michigan

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.

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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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University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-24

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Like all college essays, the University of Michigan supplemental essays offer the admissions team insight into who you are and what you’ll bring to campus. Given UMich’s ranking as #3 among public universities nationwide, your UMich supplemental essays are vital to crafting a competitive University of Michigan application.

As one of the best colleges in Michigan and even the Midwest , the University of Michigan attracts students from across the nation. Additionally, with its location in Ann Arbor, Michigan , an excellent college town, it’s no wonder so many students strive to become a part of this buzzing campus community. 

With the low University of Michigan acceptance rate, you’ll want to make your UMich supplemental essays stand out. In this guide, we’ll discuss the University of Michigan essay requirements and prompts so that you are prepared to write stellar essays.

UMich Supplemental Essays: Quick Facts

  • University of Michigan Acceptance Rate: 20%–U.S. News ranks University of Michigan as a most selective school. 
  • One 100-300 word essay
  • One 100-550 word essay
  • The University of Michigan Application: UMich exclusively uses the Common App for first-year admission . Be sure to have your supplemental essays and all other application requirements ready when applying . 
  • Early Action: November 1st
  • Regular Decision: February 1st 
  • * School of Music, Theatre, & Dance students: December
  • University of Michigan Essay Tip: Start early when working on your UMich supplemental essays! Through your essays, the admissions team should get a good glimpse of who you are beyond your academic achievements. Remember, the UMich acceptance rate is highly selective, so your University of Michigan supplemental essays have to stand out. 

Strong University of Michigan supplemental essays can make a major difference in the admissions process. If you’ve got your heart set on this top university, learning more about the UMich supplemental essays can help you begin your application process.

Does University of Michigan have essays?

university of michigan supplemental essays

Yes! In addition to the Common App personal statement, students applying to the University of Michigan must complete two additional supplemental essays. 

The UMich supplemental essays both have a 100 minimum word requirement. However, the maximum word limit varies between the UMich essay prompts, with one essay at 300 words and the other at 550 words. This may seem like a large range, but take each essay step by step.

Before panicking about your word count, make sure that you’ve chosen a compelling topic, interesting anecdote, or moment of personal growth to center on. When you’re finally ready to draft, remember that every word counts. Admissions reads plenty of essays, so don’t just add words without intention. Each word, sentence, and paragraph should serve a purpose. 

University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Requirements

There are two required UMich supplemental essays that all applicants must complete. All applicants will respond to the same UMich essay prompts. 

As we have already mentioned, the University of Michigan requires students to complete the 650-word max Common App Personal Statement, a 100-300 word Diversity Community Essay, and a 100-550 word Why School Essay.

If you think about it, you really have 1,500 words in total to impress the University of Michigan admissions team. So, plan each University of Michigan essay ahead of time. Be clear and concise in the things you want to say, and get personal with the details you choose to include. You want to make sure you craft a stellar University of Michigan essay that lets your personality shine through. This will help you increase your chances against the highly selective University of Michigan acceptance rate. 

The admissions review process

In the selection process , the University of Michigan admissions team looks at the entirety of the application. This includes a review of each applicant’s talents, interests, passions, and skills. By looking beyond grades and test scores, the school admits a widely diverse class of students. 

UMich uses a holistic review process. This means that no single element of your application will make or break your admissions odds; rather, the school seeks to understand each applicant as a whole person. So, use your UMich supplemental essays to demonstrate your academic preparation, extracurricular involvement, and desire to pursue excellence in a challenging environment.

UMich Essay #1: Diverse Community Essay

university of michigan supplemental essays

The first of the two University of Michigan supplemental essays may look familiar. Essentially, it’s a diverse community essay. This sort of essay is popular at colleges across the nation. 

Here’s the UMich prompt:  

UMich Essay #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. .

Why are prompts like these popular on college applications? Well, this question lets you show the admissions team how you may fit into the UMich campus community. How will you help in creating a diverse community? What unique perspectives and experiences will you bring? Basically, this essay is an opportunity to show how you’d enhance the UMich community.

Crafting your response

Firstly, to write a successful response to this UMich essay prompt, you’ll need to identify a community that you belong to. Then, you’ll need to think critically about how you interact with that community. Consider how you have impacted this community and how the community has impacted you. Use this University of Michigan essay to convey, in no more than 300 words, who you are and what you value.

Remember, the University of Michigan seeks to enroll a class with a wide variety of backgrounds, intellectual passions, and interests. Your diverse community essay should demonstrate how you fit into the UMich environment and plan to enrich the student body. So, show that you are a curious, open-minded, and proactive community member. 

For tips and tricks on approaching the first of the UMich supplemental essays, check out other cultural diversity and community essay examples.  

UMich Essay #2: Why School Essay?

university of michigan supplemental essays

The second of the University of Michigan supplemental essays is another common prompt among universities: the Why School Essay. 

Here’s the second University of Michigan essay prompt:

UMich Essay #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.

In this University of Michigan essay, you should tell the admissions team why you want to go to UMich. Don’t just list what you like about the school or restate information on their admissions website. The institution offers more than 280 degree programs across 14 undergraduate schools and colleges. However, you’ll want to focus on specific programs or offerings that excite you. 

Do a deep dive and let your educational and extracurricular interests fuel your search. Your University of Michigan essay should demonstrate exactly what has drawn you to UMich and why you belong on campus.  

Your Why School Essay should help the UMich admissions officers learn more about you as an individual and what you hope to gain from attending the University of Michigan. However, this essay needs to be specific. What makes the University of Michigan the perfect fit for you?

Do your research

To show your interest in UMich, you’ll need to do some research. As you prepare to write your UMich supplemental essays, reflect on specific aspects of the University of Michigan that align with your educational and career goals. Then, in this University of Michigan essay, use your research to describe your goals and how UMich will help you reach them. 

Remember, the University of Michigan is a highly competitive school. So, your UMich supplemental essays have to stand out. The second of your University of Michigan essays should allow the admissions team to get to know you while assessing mutual fit.

If you’re stuck writing your UMich Why School essay, check out these two successful University of Michigan essay examples . Here, you’ll find stellar UMich supplemental essay examples of the Why School essay as well as commentary from a former admissions officer on why each University of Michigan essay worked.

Tips for approaching the UMich Supplemental Essays

We’ve reviewed the UMich essay prompts and what kind of responses they are looking for. If you’re struggling to choose a topic, try to include information that hasn’t been shown in other parts of your application. Don’t shy away from using personal anecdotes and experiences. In fact, the best University of Michigan supplemental essays will do just that.

Additionally, in your UMich supplemental essays, you should highlight goals or passions that motivate you as well as impactful lessons you have learned. These details give life to your University of Michigan essay and help you stand out. However, make sure that you fully answer each prompt while doing so. 

Here are 4 tips to write better UMich supplemental essays: 

How to Write UMich Supplemental Essays

1. choose the right topic.

university of michigan supplemental essays

Carefully consider what experiences have meant the most to you while thinking about your future educational, career, and life goals. Choose topics that comprehensively answer each of the University of Michigan supplemental essays. However, your passion for your topic should shine through. So, choose themes that genuinely matter to you. 

2. Get personal

university of michigan supplemental essays

There is nothing less interesting than reading a surface-level college essay. In your essay, you should craft a story that brings your application to life. Use anecdotes, personal details, and meaningful experiences to paint a picture of who you are. As you do so, demonstrate why you deserve to attend the University of Michigan.

3. Draft your essay

university of michigan supplemental essays

Remember that you’ll likely write multiple rough drafts before you hone in on your final piece. Although you must adhere to a limited word count in your final draft, your rough drafts can (and should!) be longer than the word count. Consider your rough drafts as a place to get all of your thoughts down on paper. From there, you can see what you want to focus on. It’s better to start with more information than you need than to not have enough to begin with!

4. Leave time to edit and revise

university of michigan supplemental essays

Always leave plenty of time for revision. Grammatical errors can be distracting and leave the admissions team with the wrong impression of you. Don’t let grammar and mechanics be the fatal flaw that impedes your admissions odds.  Ideally, have a couple of people look over your work before you submit your final essays. In addition to checking for grammatical and spelling errors, your proofreaders can let you know how they perceive your essays. Does your main point come across? Is your personality evident? Get second and third opinions where possible! 

Writing your University of Michigan essays can feel daunting at first. However, with these tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to writing outstanding UMich supplemental essays in no time. And, most importantly, make sure to get your essays and application done by the deadlines !

How to make your UMich Essays stand out!

The best way to prepare to write University of Michigan supplemental essays that stand out is by getting ahead of the game. And staying organized is a great way to do so. Create an application checklist in order to manage your UMich supplemental essays along with your other application requirements. 

Standout UMich supplemental essays can make all the difference in the application process. Remember, your University of Michigan supplemental essays should show the UMich admissions team what makes you unique. Convince your reader why you are a highly qualified applicant who deserves admission to UMich. Your University of Michigan supplemental essays should showcase your personality, experiences, and potential contributions. So, make an argument about why you are the perfect fit for the UMich community when answering the UMich essay prompts.

Make sure that your UMich supplemental essays have:

  • An authentic and personal writing voice 
  • Personal experiences, values, passions, goals (be sure to include how these have impacted your personal growth)
  • Use of imagery, thoughtful language, strong narrative flow, and storytelling
  • School-specific details

And, here are some things to keep out of your UMich supplemental essays: 

  • Generic or cliche responses 
  • Information that was already shared in other parts of your application

University of Michigan Supplemental Essays – 5 Takeaways

university of michigan supplemental essays

Let’s go over some final takeaways to keep in mind when tackling the UMich supplemental essays. 

1. Start early

Give yourself ample time to develop college essay ideas, write drafts, and review them multiple times. Before starting to brainstorm and draft, you should familiarize yourself with the UMich application and University of Michigan supplemental essays requirements. Take time to review past University of Michigan supplemental essays to gain insight on what the admissions team looks for. You’ll want to make sure you have budgeted enough time to write both required University of Michigan supplemental essays.

2. Do your research

Before you even begin drafting your University of Michigan supplemental essays, you should do your research on the University of Michigan. Your University of Michigan supplemental essays should include school-specific details and demonstrate how the school environment will help you to achieve your goals. The schools you apply to should meet all of your needs. So, spend time looking into their offerings such as majors, internships, student organizations, and campus culture. Use your findings to show that you have invested time and energy into finding the best college for you. 

3. Create an outline

In addition to researching the school, you should outline your thoughts and ideas before drafting your essay. Outlines allow you to organize your thoughts, structure your essay, and ensure that your University of Michigan supplemental essays answer the UMich essay prompts entirely. This helps streamline your writing process by clarifying your main points and maintaining focus throughout your University of Michigan supplemental essays. Clarity counts for more than creativity of vocabulary, especially when you’re limited in word count. So, focus on quality over quantity. To write clear and concise University of Michigan supplemental essays, you should narrow your thoughts down to only your strongest arguments. 

4. Show don’t tell

Utilize “show” vs “tell” writing. Your UMich supplemental essays should show readers who you are beyond your academic achievements. Stories are more effective at explaining your qualities and passions than statements. What have you done that shows your interests? What examples can you give of your character? Your University of Michigan supplemental essays should paint a clear picture of who you are and why you would succeed at the University of Michigan. Give life to facts and details by using anecdotes and intriguing hooks. This will make your University of Michigan supplemental essays more interesting and fun to read. 

5. Proofread and ask for help

The editing phase of writing your University of Michigan supplemental essays is just as important as the writing phase. UMich supplemental essays are evaluated for content and writing style as well as grammar and mechanics. So, you will want to make sure you’ve reviewed your University of Michigan supplemental essays for each component. Having someone else review your essay can make a huge difference. So, make sure you leave sufficient time for this step. However, remember to filter the feedback you get on your University of Michigan supplemental essays. Don’t compromise your own writing style and voice by taking someone else’s notes. 

We hope that you have found this guide useful! Remember to revisit this article when you’re in the thick of writing your own University of Michigan supplemental essays. You may also check out this guide on How to Get Into the University of Michigan. Additionally, you can learn more about what it takes to apply to and attend the University of Michigan from a recent alum in this webinar .

If you’re looking for personalized attention when approaching your University of Michigan essays, reach out to our advisors at CollegeAdvisor to help you write the very best UMich supplemental essays. Click here to schedule a free consultation.

university of michigan supplemental essays

This essay guide was written by Bailey Bennett. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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supplemental essay university of michigan

August 8, 2022

Tips for Answering the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]

Tips for Answering the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]

The University of Michigan is a large (over 40,000 students), predominantly residential campus located in the small city of Ann Arbor. This well known school has an outstanding reputation for research, academic rigor and athletic spirit—it is often referred to as a public-Ivy. It offers a non-binding Early Action option with an application deadline of November 1st and accepts either the Common Application or Coalition Application with no preference. In the university’s efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the sort of student you might become at the University of Michigan, your application will ask you to write a main essay for whichever application type you select, as well as three supplemental essays.

Before you begin writing, take the time to research and identify what appeals to you most about the school . Consider location, athletics, academic programs, residential colleges, professors, particular clubs, study abroad programs, and anything else that attracts you to the University of Michigan. These responses are your opportunity to share more about yourself to make the strongest possible case for both your potential fit with the school and for the ways in which an education at UM will prepare you for the future.

Get a free consultation: Click here to schedule a call to find out how our admissions experts can help YOU get accepted to the University of Michigan!

Below are some suggestions to help you address the supplemental prompts.

The University of Michigan supplemental essay questions

University of michigan supplemental essay #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; 1,500 character limit )

If you have applied to other selective schools, you are likely to be familiar with this sort of “diversity” prompt . What they are getting at is your personal story and how you might relate with others of similar and different life experiences. While there might be some overlap in how these communities/groups are defined, try to focus on the precise intersection that shapes your sense of identity. Describe how each factor contributes to who you are and how you engage with the world around you. Your story does not have to be exotic ; it just needs to reveal your sense of self-awareness, of both the world you come from and your place within it. Diversity is essential to the University of Michigan, as showcased on its website: “U-M is committed to creating a campus environment of equity and inclusion where students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds live, learn, and work together.” As you tell your story, consider how you will contribute to and benefit from this diverse atmosphere. How might you connect with other students, faculty, staff and the community at the University? Do your research and consider specific ways you can get involved.

Hop on a free discovery to call find out how we can help you get accepted >>

University of Michigan supplemental essay #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; 2,750 character limit )

This is another opportunity to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and identified distinctive aspects of the program at the University of Michigan. You must communicate what appeals to you and how the specific program/curriculum will prepare you to achieve your goals. If you are undecided, you can speak to your areas of interest and how you might explore them at the University of Michigan. Consider the 14 different undergraduate Schools and Colleges it boasts to determine which might be the best prospective home for you. Be sure to notice that many programs at the university do not require application until your second year of college. Most students at the University of Michigan are admitted to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) for their first year of study, while others (business school students, for example) go through the Preferred Admission process while still in high school, which allows them sophomore entry to a particular School/College provided they meet certain academic conditions. 

If you are applying to a School/College that predominantly admits new classes via Preferred Admission (e.g., Ross School of Business), it is critical that you decide now, while still a high school student, which School/College you’re targeting; it can be difficult to transfer from one School/College to another after your first year of study, even with exceptional grades. Review the degree/graduation requirements—what do you find attractive or what might be beneficial to you about this particular school? Why is this specific school such a good match for your interests, learning style, or ultimate goals? Provide details and support your statements with reasons why a particular program or School at the University of Michigan is the ideal place for you !

School of Education applicants only

Discuss where you would like to teach and/or the types of students you would like to teach and how you developed this commitment.

This is a question asking as much for information about your teaching future and desires as it is for your teaching history and your passions and skills up to the present. Be sure to demonstrate past experience, passion, and values that are all relevant to the field of teaching, as well as relatively specific goals and reasons behind them.

Final thoughts on applying to the University of Michigan

As a school that accepts the Common Application , the University of Michigan is committed to a holistic review of your application materials. This means it takes all aspects of your application into account. Don’t miss your opportunity to stand out among your peers; provide a genuine sense of your character through your essay responses!

To provide some context for where you might stand, of the 79,743 students who applied to enter the class of 2025 at the University of Michigan, 16,071 or about 20% were offered admission. The interquartile (middle 50th percent) ranges for SAT scores were between 1400 and 1540. For ACT scores, they ranged from 32 to 35. The average entering GPA was 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. This is a competitive applicant pool.

While keeping these statistics in mind, take a moment to relax and plan. Make sure you meet all deadlines and allow yourself adequate time to write and revise your essays . Consider the best way to communicate your personal experiences, convey your interests, express your enthusiasm for learning, and demonstrate how and why the University of Michigan is the best place for you!

If you’re applying to the University of Michigan, you already know you’re up against tight competition. Don’t be overwhelmed. Get the guidance of an experienced admissions specialist who will help you stand out from a highly competitive applicant pool so you can apply with confidence, and get accepted! Click here to get started!

Ivy League and Common Application Tips: How to get Accepted

Related Resources:

  • From Example to Exemplary , a free guide to writing great application essays
  • The Essay Whisperer: How to Write a College Application Essay
  • Mining Identity for College Essays, Personal Statements

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Blog > Essay Advice , State School , Supplementals > How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

The University of Michigan—or UMich, if you’re feeling casual—is one of the best large state schools in the country. We’ve already gone in-depth on Michigan admission tips and tricks in our UMich Common Data Set and How to Get into UMich posts.

In this post, I’ll cover the last piece of your application puzzle: those tricky University of Michigan supplemental essays. We’ll go through both prompts and cover strategies for approaching them.

University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts

As a quick refresher from our giant supplemental essay guide , let’s briefly review what the purpose of a supplemental essay is.

If your personal statement is the centerpiece of your college application, then what are your supplemental essays for? They exist to…

  • support the narrative you lay out in your personal statement.
  • add diversity to that narrative by covering topics you weren’t able to in your personal statement.
  • show academic, cultural, or values-based alignment with the school you’re applying to.

For UMich, you’ll have a couple of supplemental essay questions to answer in addition to your personal statement. Let’s take a look.

Prompt #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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

As you probably guessed, this one’s what we like to call a community essay . It’s a genre of supplemental essay that urges you to reveal something about yourself by reflecting on a community that has influenced you. We’ve written a lot more about community essays elsewhere, but here we’ll focus specifically on writing one for UMich.

Let’s start with the two central questions from our community essay post:

  • What will your UMich admissions officer learn about you?
  • What school values can you connect with through the prompt?

So, question number one should be a no-brainer. The whole point of writing an essay is to reveal something about yourself anyway. The key, then, is to decide what to reveal about yourself.

Enter: question two. This tip is one of our best for writing strong supplemental essays. Since supplementals are one of the only places you get to explicitly make the case that you belong at the University of Michigan, you need to make them count. This prompt in particular gives you a great opportunity to make the case for a cultural, values-based fit.

To find that fit, browse the University of Michigan website. Look at the motto, mission statement, and strategic plan. Write down values as you find them—values like intellectual exploration, diversity, community engagement, and more.

Once you’ve identified a value or two that you agree and align with, then you’ll be ready to choose your community and get to writing.

The prompt tells us that you can choose from all kinds of communities you’re part of. Maybe that’s your family, your religious community, or your community of online Jane Austen enthusiasts.

Whatever your community is, remember to answer the central directions of the prompt: 1) describe your community, and 2) describe your place in it. As you go, keep those core values in mind.

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? (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words /maximum 550 words)

Ah, yes. A classic why this school/major essay . If your community essay shows values-based alignment with UMich, then what should this essay show? Ding, ding, ding! You guessed it: academic alignment. You can always incorporate more values, too. But the main purpose of this prompt is to drive home the message that you’re a natural fit for the program you’re applying to.

There’s also another main purpose. Michigan wants to admit students who want to be there. Part of answering this question well is showing that you care enough about UMich to do your homework. Good research is key.

So before you start writing, spend at least half an hour browsing through the website of the college or school you’re applying to. Take a look at their values page, if they have one. Click through student and faculty research projects, course offerings, academic clubs and organizations, interesting research or internship opportunities, and more. If you’re applying to UMich LSA, for example, you might look at the strategic vision page, the research page, or the page for prospective students .Take notes and keep track of links.

As you go, be on the lookout for details that connect you to UMich. Is someone doing similar research to you? Is there a perfect internship for your field of interest? Can’t wait to take a specific class? Interested in the specific intersection of fields that you can only find at UMich? Make the connections clear.

There are a few ground rules you should consider:

  • Be specific . While you might draw on ideas from other supplementals, all the details you use should be specific to UMich.
  • Remember your narrative . This supplemental essay is still all about showing how great a fit you are for UMich. The more seamlessly you can connect yourself, your background, and your goals to UMich, the better.
  • Answer the question . Don’t forget to answer the central question: How would that curriculum support your interests ?

When written well, a “why this school/major” supplemental essay will show admissions officers that you’re a natural fit.

Key Takeaways

I want to wrap up this post by quickly returning to the idea of your overall application narrative . We have a whole post on what it means to have a cohesive application narrative, but the principle applies here, too.

Your personal statement says one thing about you, your first supplemental says another, and your second supplemental says yet another thing about you.

Before you start writing at all, spend some time thinking about how all three of your essays will work together. Your UMich admissions officer will be reading them side by side, so you should plan them side by side.

Make sure you have clear strengths but also some narrative diversity. You’re not just a physics nerd, you’re a physics nerd who loves poetry. You’re an actress who has dedicated herself to the stage and to teaching dramatic arts. You’re a staunch data analyst and a relentless advocate for justice.

Whoever you are, your Michigan admissions officers should get a robust picture of you (and your fit for UMich!) across all your essays.

Okay, now you’re ready to start writing. If you want even more support before you get started, check out the Essay Academy—our comprehensive digital college essay course, filled with even more instructions and examples. See you there. 👋

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September 11, 2023

2023-2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Prompts

A building with several columns is featured beyond a lawn at the University of Michigan.

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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How to write umich supplemental essays - examples & tips.

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Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 11/6/23

Ready to learn how to write the UMich supplemental essays? This guide has all the information you need.  

The college admissions process can be pretty lengthy. If you’re applying to the University of Michigan , you need your transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and letters of recommendation. You’ll also be required to write essays .

The Michigan University supplemental essays make up the meatiest part of the application. Here, you show the admissions committee different sides of yourself than your grades and test scores reveal. The essays can add tremendous value to your application and highlight your candidacy. 

This comprehensive guide will teach you all about the University of Michigan supplemental essays . We’ll discuss their purpose, offer tips to create your own masterfully, and give some examples of University of Michigan supplemental essays. If you want to boost your chances of acceptance to the University of Michigan, read on! 

UMichigan Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

The University of Michigan requires that all applicants write two supplemental essays regardless of what program they want to enter. Remember that you still need to complete an essay as part of the Common Application or the Coalition Application. 

Any school’s supplemental essay prompts can vary from year to year, but most will revolve around similar themes. Below are the 2023-2024 UMichigan supplemental essay prompts : 

UMich Supplemental Essay Prompt #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."

UMich Supplemental Essay 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?"

female student studying from book

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for the University of Michigan

While the rest of your application components are essential, your grades and test scores don’t show the admissions committee the person behind the numbers and accolades. The UMichigan supplemental essays are a way to humanize your application. You get to show the admissions committee how your experiences have shaped you.

While you should make sure that you’re adequately answering the prompt, you still have a lot of freedom in your essays. You may choose to focus on a variety of themes and topics, including: 

  • Your background and community
  • Instances that you’ve overcome adversity
  • How going to this school will help you realize your aspirations
  • How your acceptance would improve the school’s culture and community

The supplemental essay prompts can feel tricky because of their broadness. However, these top tips will help you flawlessly execute essays that captivate the reader. You’ll be able to demonstrate why you should be accepted into any program at the University of Michigan.  

female student writing on paper

How to Write UMich Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

As a refresher, UMich’s essay prompt #1 is: “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.” 

The purpose of this prompt is for the admissions committee to evaluate your character and individuality. You want to show the UMichigan who you are beyond numbers and scores. This a great opportunity to portray yourself authentically.

"who are you" written in scrabble letters

This prompt has a minimum word count of 100 words and a maximum of 300 words. Here are some tips to help you tackle this essay: 

  • Tip #1: Demonstrate Curiosity : UMich seeks to admit students “who will lend educational and cultural diversity to campus and who are curious about new ideas, people, and experiences.” Reflect on what you’ve learned from the others in your community and how that has increased your curiosity about others. 
  • Tip #2: Brainstorm Your Narrative : UMich advises starting with a brain dump and then narrowing your ideas down to organize your thoughts. Compile a list of communities you belong to and consider meaningful aspects of each one. Then, identify which community could make the most compelling narrative.
  • Tip #3: Tell Your Unique Story : Prioritize authenticity; don’t just avoid cliches for the sake of it. What matters most is that it’s your story. Your essay shouldn’t be able to apply to anyone else. 

How to Write UMich Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

The second UMich essay prompt is: “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 asks you to discuss your reasons for choosing UMichigan and your future aspirations. It also allows you to share more about your interests and passions through your discussion of your intended area of study. 

"why?" written on post-it note with greenery in background

You’ll need to answer this prompt in a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 550 words. Here are some things to keep in mind as you answer this prompt:

  • Tip #1: Don’t Overlook Your Intro + Conclusion : It’s easy to just focus on the body of the essay, but make sure you still start and end well. You need to make a good impression with your introduction , and you should go out with a bang at the end by getting specific about how you see your future at UMich. 
  • Tip #2: Stay on Topic : UMich also encourages applicants to make sure they’re actually answering the prompt . Some writers can lose sight of the prompt as they write. If you feel that you’re shifting off track of the story you want to tell, use an outline to organize your thoughts.
  • Tip #3: Edit, Edit, & Edit More : Your first draft won’t be perfect, so a second pair of eyes, like a parent, friend, or even an admissions consultant , can be a valuable asset. It’s also helpful to leave it for a few days after finishing your first draft so that you can look it over with fresh eyes and catch errors more easily. 

Examples of University of Michigan Supplemental Essays That Worked

Excellent essays can help you stand out in the admissions process and show why you’re a fantastic candidate. Below, you will find UMich supplemental essay examples written by real students who were admitted to UMichigan, to give you an idea of how to create meaningful essays. 

UMich Essay Example #1

The University of Michigan essay excerpt below addresses the first prompt, asking you to describe your place within one of the communities you belong to.

“The bus took ten minutes to get home this time, not the usual thirty. This wasn’t my home, but it would essentially become just that.
The Morristown Neighborhood House is a center that provides a free and safe after-school environment for local children…
While there were various summer options, I felt that there couldn’t be a better choice than signing up to be a camp counselor at the Nabe.
The kids became family; through sarcophagus art projects, writing practice, Xbox tournaments, implicit bias discussions, and trips to the park, they became the little siblings I never had. When I brought in ice cream for all of them on my birthday, I was showered with hugs. No foreign exchange trip could outdo that.
I am a member of many communities based on my geography, ethnicity, interests, and talents, but the most meaningful community is the one that I never thought I would be a part of…
On that first bus ride to the Nabe, I never saw it coming.”

People jumping on beach during sunset

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay immediately immerses the reader in the writer’s narrative. The writer demonstrates how they integrated into a community and forged meaningful relationships with the children at the camp. 

This essay shows the writer’s initiative to contribute to their community. It also demonstrates their impact on a group while in a leadership position. The writer’s story is short but impactful and shows that they have a strong spirit capable of contributing to their community and, hopefully, the University of Michigan’s. 

UMich Essay Example #2

The following essay excerpt addresses the University of Michigan’s second supplemental essay prompt, which asks students to describe why they’re drawn to their specific program at UMich. 

“In my junior year microeconomics class, my teacher extensively explored the ways in which people from different socioeconomic classes were affected by our economic system. I was frustrated by the ways our country forces those living in poverty to spend the little money they have on taxable goods. I began to empathize with them…
Those lessons inspired and motivated me. I had always looked at economics as nothing more than an analysis of business models and resource allocation. I began to see it as a way to fix fundamental problems in our society, from examining the effects of healthcare expansion on crime and poverty rates to studying how shifts in our political climate affect how our country’s financial process will change. I now see economics as a way to help those in need in my country and throughout the world.
I volunteered after school for Representative Dingell and had the opportunity to attend numerous events hosted by the Ford School…
I want to begin my studies at the University of Michigan in LSA to gain a foundation in economics and political science-related courses. After my first year, I hope to gain admission to the Ford School. The connections that LSA and Ford have to Poverty Solutions solidified my interest in the University of Michigan. If I attended these schools as an undergraduate student, I would be able to assist with research on the causes and ramifications of poverty…
The range of schools working in connection with Poverty Solutions is evidence of the University’s devotion to civic engagement. I would be able to participate in groundbreaking research regarding issues I am interested in; I would have the ability to study poverty and ways to stunt or alleviate its effects in other countries…
I want to join the University of Michigan’s legacy of innovators. I want to be part of the LSA community, studying economics and political science. I want to attend the Ford School and understand how policy in America and abroad has an effect on global poverty. I want to be involved with the Poverty Solutions Initiative, conducting groundbreaking research on the ways we can reform our financial system to better serve the lower and middle classes.”

tablet with graph on it

Why Essay #2 Worked

This essay wastes no time getting to a vital issue that the writer wants to address. The writer explains in detail what classes and causes motivate them. They explain what they aspire to do in the future and how their extracurricular activities align with their goals. 

This essay demonstrates that the writer has done their research and knows what path to take to achieve their goals. Best of all, the writer illuminates how admission to the University of Michigan can help them work toward their goals of a brighter future. 

The University of Michigan is looking for leaders who want to impact the world and their community through positive change. This essay’s conclusion perfectly outlines what the applicant wants to do.

Get More Sample Essays Here!

If you feel stuck and don’t know how to begin your essays, you can find inspiration in the work of others. To discover more sample essays, take a look at our college essay database down below!

UMich Supplemental Essay FAQs

Still have questions about how to write the University of Michigan essays? We’ve got you covered. 

1. Besides the Supplemental Essays, Are There Other Essays I Need to Write? 

Yes, you will need to write another essay in addition to the supplemental essays. When you apply with the Common Application or the Coalition Application, you’ll need to select one prompt to respond to from a list.

2. How Important Are the UMich Supplemental Essays? 

The University of Michigan essay section is a crucial part of your application. Remember that “Unlike test scores and transcripts, the college admissions essay[s] offers students a chance to showcase their personality.”

The admissions committee reviews college applications holistically, meaning that every part you submit counts toward their decision. Your essays are a way to inject life into your application and show the human behind the scores and grades. Don’t be afraid to show who you are; it can help you rightfully claim your seat at UMich. 

3. How Long Should the Essays Be?

The first UMichigan essay prompt should be a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 300. Prompt #2 has a 100-word minimum and a 550-word maximum. 

4. What Tone Should My Essays Convey? 

You don't want to sound too stiff and formal, nor do you want to fill your essay with slang —you want to shoot for conversational yet friendly and professional. Make sure that your voice shines through unedited! 

5. What’s the Best Thing I Can Do in My Essay? 

In your essay, be honest, concise, and coherent, and make sure that your reader can easily digest and follow your narrative. While you still want to sound like you, don’t be afraid to flash your intellect and be sure to include vibrant details and anecdotes that bring your essay to life! 

Write Your Future with the UMich Supplemental Essays

The University of Michigan is a great school to complete your undergraduate degree. Now that you know a lot more about what you should write in the supplemental essays, you can feel empowered knowing that you have the knowledge to deliver stellar pieces of writing. 

Don’t forget the purpose of the University of Michigan’s supplemental essays and the top tips to ensure your writing is polished. With this information, you can undoubtedly capture the admissions committee’s attention. Go forth knowing that you have the tools to submit the best supplemental essays and give yourself the best chance of acceptance!

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How to Write the University of Michigan Essays 2023-2024

supplemental essay university of michigan

The University of Michigan is one of the leading public universities not only in the U.S., but around the world. Consistently highly ranked, the research university consists of 12 different colleges, including the Ross School of Business, School of Kinesiology, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. 

The University of Michigan offers two forms of application: Early Action and Regular Decision. Make sure, however, to check the website of the UMich department you’re interested in. Certain programs have differing deadlines and individual requirements for specific majors.

Read these University of Michigan essay examples to inspire your own writing.

University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants—prompt 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 (100-550 words), all applicants—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 it. (100-300 words), ross school of business applicants—admissions portfolio: business case discussion.

Choose a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications. Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices. The review panel will look for creativity, drawing connections, and originality. Your response should be limited to approximately 500 words.

This case discussion helps us learn more about your understanding of business. The topic should be unique to your interests, experiences, and knowledge. There is no “right” or “wrong” business situation to choose — it’s truly up to you. We encourage you to select a topic that you are passionate about, and not a global topic that you are disconnected from.

Ross School of Business Applicants—Admissions Portfolio: Artifact & Description

Upload an artifact that represents something significant about your life and shows how you’ve put learning into action. This could be related to something inside or outside of the classroom (like an extracurricular accomplishment you’re particularly proud of). The goal is to give you the chance to showcase a unique aspect of yourself.

Artifact examples can include a: 

An academic project

A community project

Community newspaper article highlighting an important achievement

Personal website 

Piece on a school, extracurricular, or community program/event that you were instrumental in creating or implementing

High school or community award that was meaningful or prestigious

Local, state, or national competition related to a club or school activity 

Picture of something of value to you 

A culminating event for an ongoing activity from high school

The options for artifacts are endless — there is no need to feel limited by this list. Note that your artifact does not need to be business related. Ask yourself:  “What are you most proud of from your four years in high school?”

We also ask that you submit a short description that explains how your artifact demonstrates your learning in action. Essentially, what did you learn from this experience? Please limit this response to approximately 250 words.

How to Write the University of Michigan Essays

This essay is what CollegeVine calls a “ Why This College ” supplement: it is meant to gauge your interest in the school and how you would contribute to the academic and social environment of the university. This supplement contains two significant questions that you need to answer:

  • Why do you like the specific College at UMich?
  • Why is this program a good fit for you on a personal and academic level?

Basically, the admissions officers want to see whether you are genuinely passionate about attending the university (not reluctantly applying because your parents told you to, or because you see it as a safety school). They also want to know whether you have thought critically about how the college can support your academic and professional interests.

Specificity is key, and you’ll need to do your research. Put the time and effort into studying what the university has to offer and what opportunities appeal to you. Why do you be a student here? Why is this college different to you from any other university?

An effective way of checking that your essay is sufficiently specific to the school is the Name Plug-in Test. The steps to the Name Plug-In Test are as follows:

  • Replace the name of the school or department the essay is about with the name of a different school or department
  • Read the essay over with the new name
  • If the essay reads as an acceptable supplement for the new name school/department, it does not have enough detail.

The goal of this question is for admissions officers to see how invested you are in attending the program you select, and if you would be a good fit for that program. You can show them your interest and passion for the program by doing proper research on your compatibility with it. Go on your College or School’s website and try to find answers to the following questions:

  • Which professors would you be interested in working with? Why?
  • Which courses appeal to you?
  • What are programs within the department that interest you?
  • Are there any initiatives, events, or workshops the department has that differ from other universities?
  • What is the department atmosphere? Why would you want to be a part of that community?

For example, if you’re interested in studying Education and are passionate about social justice, the UMich School of Education (SOE) might be a good fit for you because there’s a strong emphasis on diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity. During your time in the SOE, you might join the Student Rights Project, an interdisciplinary initiative by law, social work, and education students at UMich. The goal of the project is to keep students “in school, learning, and out of the criminal justice system.” You’re particularly interested in helping provide special education support, as your sibling has a learning disability, and has faced an unsafe educational environment that led to unfair disciplinary action for their disability-related behavior.

This would be a strong example, as the student not only cites a unique resource at UMich, but also connects that resource to their personal goals and background. You have to go beyond listing things you’re interested in, as anyone can do that. Take your essay the next step and mention why you’re interested in those aspects of UMich, and how they support your goals.

Wondering how to research for this essay ? Go through the course catalog, ask current students of the college, and scroll through various affiliated websites. In the end, you’ll come out knowing whether UMich and the College are in fact a good fit for you. You’ll also have a large amount of material to “describe the unique qualities” of whichever program you are applying to. You have 550 words: ample space to fully (and with plenty of detail!) describe why UMich is the best place to support your goals.

The point of supplements in the college admissions process is for officers to gain a better, well-rounded understanding of who you are as an individual. Here, you are asked to reflect on a community that you are a part of, how it has changed you as an individual, and what role you fulfill in this community.

This question gives you three separate parts to respond to: “describe a community to which you belong” and “describe your place within it.” It is important to always make sure that you are answering each part of the supplement! UMich is a university that prides itself in the openness and connection of its community, both between students on campus and between the university and the city of Ann Arbor. The school wants to read about how you contributed to and learned from a specific community, to better understand how you might interact with others at UMich.

Although community is commonly thought of as a large cultural or societal group, you have flexibility in defining what your community is. As stated in the question, a community does not only have to be geographic, ethnic, racial, or societal: consider groups to which you belong that share something in common with you, regardless of size. It can consist of various individuals who all have a specific interest in common, like a sport, an academic passion, an extracurricular activity. It can also consist of a tight group of friends who all have bonded over a particular idea or club.

Choose a group you belong to that has been most fundamental in shaping who you are, or that has been doing the most significant work. The university wants to hear your story of connecting to your community, and how you have both grown from it and contributed to it.

For instance, maybe you’re a vegetarian, and you have a vegetarian recipes blog. You could discuss the connections you’ve made online (whether other bloggers or your audience), and how you’ve used your platform to discuss intersectional issues, like poverty and access to healthy/vegetarian food. Or, maybe you’re part of the Minecraft community, and have collaborated with people around the world to develop plugins for the game.

Remember that you should primarily focus on your contributions to the community, rather than simply describing the community itself. The essay, after all, should focus on you and who you are.

Ross School of Business Applicants—Admissions Portfolio

UMich’s Ross School has a renowned undergraduate program, ranked #3 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The school claims that its graduates can land jobs at some of the most popular corporations, and that they earn a median starting salary of $78,500. 

Applicants to this school must complete an Admissions Portfolio , which gives admissions officers a better look at your personality and goals. The portfolio is submitted through SlideRoom via the Common App or Coalition Application. This consists of two parts, the Business Case Discussion and the Artifact & Discussion. Read on to learn how to make your portfolio the best it can be.

With this prompt, Ross admissions officers want to better understand your grasp of business processes. Be sure to include technical terms and plenty of business jargon in order to demonstrate an understanding of the field. That being said, you don’t want your response to lack a narrative flair.

First, identify the current event or issue in your community that you wish to write about. Don’t worry about the scale of the issue, but rather, make sure it is something you can write about extensively. The prompt emphasizes that it should be a pre-established passion, and not a vague global topic that you’re not connected to. 

Ideally, the topic will be something you have experience with and have already made an effort to research or resolve. For example, if you volunteer at an animal shelter, your essay could be about stray animals in your community. If you’re one of the only girls in your STEM classes, your issue could be targeting the gender gap in the field.

You’ll want to start your essay with some sort of anecdotal line that provides enough context for readers to understand the issue at hand, and your connection to it. Then, you’ll want to spend the majority of your response constructing a business solution to the issue of your choosing. This, rather than the issue itself that you chose, is the most critical part of your response.

When crafting a business plan, think about marketing tactics, consider relevant costs, and define what success looks like. You’ll want to research different business models and plans online to adequately grasp the best approach to your solution. However, don’t just copy one you like; use creative ways to splice different techniques and make a business solution that is uniquely yours. 

For example, maybe you want to implement a foster care initiative to combat the overcrowding at your local shelter. You would need to brainstorm an incentive, such as free vaccinations or neutering/spaying services for adopted animals. Then, you would estimate the relevant costs to the shelter and justify how the business decision makes financial sense for the shelter using the proper terminology.

In your solution, the prompt emphasizes a focus on creativity and originality. The easiest way to communicate both of those things is by being specific and drawing on your personal experience. This will help you establish a unique perspective (your own!) and help admissions officers learn more about you and your approach to business – and the world. 

This prompt can be extremely overwhelming to read at first. There are probably a lot of accomplishments from your four years of high school that you are proud of, so it might be hard to narrow it down to just one. As you read over the list of examples, take note of whatever comes to mind and keep the result as a working list of options.

From this list, determine which activities meant the most to you, and that you felt the most passionately about. Then, think about which of these activities would be the most unique in the eyes of admissions officers. What best showcases a unique aspect of your personality that has not been adequately explored in other parts of your application? What demonstrates your ability to think outside of the box and pursue your passions?

Additionally, Ross only gives you 250 words to explain your artifact – so you’ll need to use this space wisely. Make sure you focus on the “learning in action” component to really drive home the extent of your intellectual curiosity. For instance, if your artifact is a personal website, you could discuss learning a new coding language to create it. If your artifact is a set piece you built for the school musical, you could discuss how you acquired woodworking and painting skills. 

Again, the prompt gives you a lot of room and flexibility, so it can be tempting to focus on what you choose to write about. But equally as important is how you write about the artifact in question. Whatever you choose to discuss, make sure to use specific and technical language to demonstrate that you genuinely learned something new. This specificity will also be instrumental in illustrating your authenticity to the admissions committee. With this in mind, you’ll be on track to submit a stellar artifact and description.

Want more guidance? Check out these University of Michigan essay examples written by real students!

Where to Get Your UMich Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UMich 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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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

supplemental essay university of michigan

The University of Michigan supplemental essays are a chance to share more of “your story.” Fortunately, the questions touch on common topics. Crafting thoughtful, differentiated responses is the key to success. 

Let’s break down each prompt and give you tips on how to reference the best examples. With proper planning, your responses will be sure to make a splash among the applicant pool! 

Also see:  How to write an essay about yourself

“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 prompt invites you to interpret the idea of community any way you’d like. Pick one community that is integral to your identity or passions. Another route is choosing a unique, stand-out community to which you belong. Either way, embrace the freedom of elaborating on any of the categories mentioned! 

For example, you could focus on belonging to the weightlifting club at your high school. This displays one of your interests and allows you to convey qualities like your work ethic and knack for motivating others. Another way to respond might be writing about your Mormon upbringing and the importance of your faith. You could share an anecdote about talking to those who misunderstand your religion; this showcases your empathy and ability to navigate tough conversations. 

In any case, avoid citing communities you have already mentioned in other portions of your application. Take advantage of this space to tell admissions about something new! Your game plan should be to first describe a community you value and what impact it’s had. Next, share a brief story about how you have enriched that community. Finally, to really excel with this response, look forward. Add how you want to continue building that community in college or apply its teachings to other aspects of your life. 

Questions to consider: 

  • Have you found community through a hobby? (bonus points if it is a niche, unconventional interest)
  • What perspectives did you form by growing up in a big city, or a rural small town? 
  • How have you connected with or uplifted others who belong to a marginalized group? 

Don’t miss:  How to write a 250 word essay

“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.” 

This prompt allows for almost twice as long a response as the first. A generous word limit signals that the admissions team especially values your answer to this question. Rightfully so, as it aims to understand why you are sincerely interested in the University of Michigan and your chosen field of study. 

First, think about what draws you to your academic track. Have you always been interested in the way things function, which you can explore through computer science? Has the Covid-19 pandemic intensified your interest in public health? Articulate what academically excites you and how you initially formed that curiosity. Sell why your enthusiasm for this subject would be a great addition to the incoming freshman class! 

The most important part of this response is communicating how Michigan is the best place to help further this interest. Research, research, research! You need to go beyond simply complimenting Michigan or coming up with broad and generic reasons for why it is great. Explore the course catalog and find a class that seems right up your alley. Look at student research spotlights and read up on professors’ publications. Browse study abroad offerings and other special educational programs. Making a list of specific examples is crucial. These details bolster your claim that Michigan will enable you to fulfill your academic and career goals. You should spend the bulk of your response discussing Michigan’s resources. Be sure to stay aligned with your desired area of study throughout your essay, as well. 

  • What professional aspirations will your studies help you achieve? 
  • Does Michigan offer a niche major or minor most other schools lack?
  • How will you individua lly contribute to the academic community at Michiga n? 

Final thoughts for students

Overall, the University of Michigan supplemental essays are pretty straightforward. To ace both questions, explain what makes you distinctive and why you believe Michigan is extraordinary in its offerings. Get all your thoughts down first, no matter the length. You can work on conciseness and polishing later. With these tips, you are well prepared to rock these responses. Write on! 

Additional resources

As a student working on college applications, you have a lot of responsibilities to balance and decisions to make. Luckily, we can walk you through these steps. Check out our guide on how many colleges to apply to , how to find safety, reach, and match schools , and whether you should send test scores to test-optional schools . You can also refer to our guides to planning college tours and choosing a college .

Finally, in order to keep your college options open, it’s important to cover yourself financially. That way, if your dream school accepts you, you’ll have a better chance of being able to accept their offer. Make sure you check out our list of scholarships for high school seniors . You can also explore scholarships by state or by major . Finally, check out our platfrom and apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for while you can!

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Other colleges to consider

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  • Pennsylvania State University (Throughout PA)

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supplemental essay university of michigan

How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

September 25, 2023

supplemental essay university of michigan

Dubbed as "the Harvard of the West," The University of Michigan—Ann Arbor has built a reputation as one of the most academically competitive institutions in the Midwest. With an acceptance rate of 18.2%, it's no surprise that over 83,000 students vied for admission this year. As the #1 public research university and the #2 public school in the U.S., Michigan offers a highly sought-after education. To distinguish yourself from the sea of applicants, it's crucial to showcase why you're an ideal fit through the University of Michigan supplemental essays 2023-2024.

Being a lifelong U-M football fan won't suffice when faced with such a staggering number of applications. You'll be competing against countless exceptional students. That's why I'm here to guide you through the prompts for the University of Michigan supplemental essays 2023-2024. I'll delve into each question, provide insights on crafting your response, and offer valuable tips to help you thrive in this process.

University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Prompt 1 (required: 300 word limit), 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. .

The University of Michigan is interested in your involvement with communities that you’re a part of in high school. From the question, you can see that “community” isn’t limited to a club or organization. Your response to the first question can reflect on the food your family makes, or you can talk about your hometown. No matter what you write about, make sure you focus on your place within this community. It’s easy to spend all 300 words describing your community when the admissions officer really wants to hear about you! You don’t necessarily have to talk about your race or cultural background either. Your community could be your group of friends who are all passionate about baking! As long as you are able to position this community as impactful and important to you personally, it’s fair game for this essay. Admissions officers want to know how you will fit into their community and contribute to the school—so don’t take this prompt lightly!

Prompt 2 (Required: 550 word limit)

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 is the longest of the supplemental essays and perhaps the most important. This is U-M’s version of the “why do you want to attend this school” essay. 

With approximately 275 majors and 14 undergraduate schools and colleges, the University of Michigan can be a great fit for many types of students. Make sure you’re researching the exact school within UMich that you hope to apply to. You might be interested in the College of Literature. Science, and the Arts (LSA), the largest college on campus in terms of majors and enrollment. Or, you have your eyes on the College of Engineering, which boasts an amazing program with 17 different specializations. There’s also the Ross School of Business, the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, and the School of Art and Design. 

Spend time looking through the different colleges and the majors within them. What kind of research opportunities do they provide? Who are some of the faculty? The more specific you can be about what aspects of the program interest you, the better. Regardless of your choice, your answer should focus on the specific resources within the college that you have chosen, your specific interests in the major you are applying for, alongside how the school will help you reach your future goals. Don’t forget to demonstrate why you in turn are going to be a strong fit for the college of your choice. 

Additional Tips for Writing the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Now that you’ve taken a look at the prompts , here are a few tips to help your brainstorming process: 

  • If You Get an Early Start, You Can Apply Early Action: If you have time, why not start working on the University of Michigan supplemental essays right now? Unlike Early Decision programs, Early Action does not bind you to UMich, so you are free to apply to other schools. Applying EA will allow you to receive your admissions decision sooner, which may relieve some application season stress
  • Remember to Connect Your Answers to Yourself : While it’s pretty easy to fill up a page with everything appealing about UMich, remember that the University of Michigan supplemental essays are designed to get to know you. Your answer to the question does not have to be extremely deep or existential if such a theme has no relevance to you. You need to write two essays that will help make you memorable: avoid writing about cliché features that have a hundred other essays and brochures about them.

Crafting strong and compelling responses to the University of Michigan supplemental essays is essential to stand out from the competitive pool of applicants. The key to success lies in connecting your answers to yourself and avoiding clichés, allowing your distinct voice and experiences to shine through in your essays. With careful preparation and thoughtful reflection, you can confidently tackle the University of Michigan supplemental essays and increase your chances of securing a coveted spot at this prestigious institution.

If you are looking for a college admissions counselor to help maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, we can help! InGenius Prep has helped more than 6,000 students around the world gain admission into the most competitive schools including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more. Sign up for a free strategy call today and join the 6,000+ students we've helped get accepted into their dream schools. 

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This is it. All of your late-night studying and volunteer weekends are about to pay off in a big way. You're about to apply to Michigan Ross — one of the best B-schools in the country. Time to channel all of that hard work into a standout (and complete!) application.

BBA First-Year Applicant Brochure

  • Check the deadlines.
  • Start the Common Application.
  • Select Preferred Admission for the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a “home school” .
  • Complete the four (yes, four!) essays.
  • Finish the Ross Admissions Portfolio.
  • Finish the Common Application.

1. Check the deadlines.

Early Action Deadline: Nov. 1.

We give preference to applications completed by the University of Michigan's Early Action deadline, Nov. 1. Your application will be considered complete only after you have submitted your Ross Admissions Portfolio. We will consider applications completed after Nov. 1 as space permits.

Regular Decision Deadline: Feb. 1.

Feb. 1 is the last day to submit an application to the University of Michigan’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions and your Ross Admissions Portfolio for Regular Decision.

We consider all applications that we receive on a rolling admissions basis. Preference is given to complete applications, which include the Ross Admissions Portfolio.

2. Start the Common Application .

Please choose only one application. The university will consider only the first application you submit.

3. Select your “U-M First-Year Admitting Unit” and “Preferred Admission” for the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the first step to getting into Michigan Ross as a first-year applicant is being admitted to another school or college at the University of Michigan. Regardless of your “First-Year Admitting Unit” here at U-M, you will take some classes at Ross as a first-year and begin your pre-requisite courses. You can choose from:

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA)

The College of Engineering

The School of Kinesiology (Sport Management only)

The School of Music Theatre & Dance

Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Ross students who apply through LSA enroll in Ross as a Direct Admit student. Students who choose one of the other schools will be Preferred Admit Students. 

  • In the Academics section of the Questions tab, choose a U-M College or School to which you are applying to. This is your “First-Year Admitting Unit.”
  • To proceed to the Ross Admissions Portfolio, you must select the Stephen M. Ross School of Business as your choice for preferred admission.
  • Please note: Applicants who apply to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, if admitted to both units, will enroll in Michigan Ross as a first-year and forfeit their admission to LSA. This is the primary path for admission to Michigan Ross.  Please know that applicants who are not offered admission to Michigan Ross will retain their offer to enroll in LSA. However, engagement with Michigan Ross in the future as a U-M student will be limited to programs other than the BBA. Please visit the Michigan Ross Admissions website for more information.
  • Please know that applicants who are not offered admission to Michigan Ross will retain their offer to enroll in LSA. However, engagement with Michigan Ross in the future as a U-M student will be limited to programs other than the BBA. Please visit the Michigan Ross Admissions website for more information.
  • You must also select "Yes" for the question- Are you applying to one of the programs listed above (Art & Design, Architecture, and Business) and do you understand you must submit a portfolio by the application deadline so that your creative work or skills will be considered as part of the admission process to University of Michigan?
  • Once you have properly and completely filled out the Academics section, a section titled Portfolio with a subsection of Instructions will appear on the left-hand side of the application. Click the link, and follow the instructions.
  • In SlideRoom, (the system through which you will submit your portfolio), create an account and submit your portfolio.

4. Complete the essays.

The writing portions of the Common Application and Ross Admissions Portfolio are meant to help you. We want to get to know you and let your best qualities shine through — this is our chance to learn more about the person behind the numbers.

For the final supplemental U-M essay , focus on your unique interests and goals and explain how the Ross BBA supports them. Your answer should clearly explain your interest in business and/or Michigan Ross. We are not looking for a description of U-M, the BBA program, or our rankings and statistics. This is the place to demonstrate your passion for business!

When completing the Common Application, you will also submit the Ross Admissions Portfolio.

5. Complete the Ross Admissions Portfolio .

The Ross Admissions Portfolio is your chance to fully express your interest in business in a more open-ended format. It’s also an opportunity to tell us more about what makes you unique.

The link to submit your portfolio is MichiganRossUndergrad.slideroom.com

There are two components of the Ross Admissions Portfolio:

1. Business Case Discussion: Choose a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications.

Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices. The review panel will look for creativity, drawing connections, and originality. Please limit this response to approximately 500 words.

2. Artifact & Description: Upload a document or artifact that represents something significant about your life to show your learning in action.​

Describe how your artifact demonstrates your learning in action. Please limit this response to approximately 250 words.

Ross Admissions Portfolio 

6. Finish the Common Application. Be sure to include:

  • $75 application fee (or fee waiver request and $5 fee to submit the Ross Admissions Portfolio)
  • High school transcript
  • School Report (Common App)
  • One Teacher Evaluation
  • SAT or ACT score, if available and you wish them to be considered or other test results like PSAT per the University of Michigan
  • TOEFL, Michigan English Test (MET), or IELTS scores (for nonnative speakers of English)

For complete information about University of Michigan application requirements, please see the central Office of Undergraduate Admissions requirements and deadlines .   

We review applications from February through April, but we aren’t able to review your application until you have been admitted by U-M. The majority of first-year applicants are notified of their decision between February and mid-April.  

To provide an idea of when you might hear from us (and to ease the suspense!), we’ll be sharing your decision on one of our scheduled release dates. Decisions are shared in no particular order, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t hear from us on the first release date.

Ross admission decisions arrive by email after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on select Fridays​

The exact decision release dates will be posted in early January.

If you are offered admission as a first-year applicant, you have until May 1 to accept the offer.

Check your Application Status

Your application appears in Enrollment Connect . Please utilize Enrollment Connect to check your application status and view your decision.

Important Dates

November 1:   Early Action deadline Late January:  Early Action decision from U-M February-April: Ross decisions released for Early Action February 1:  Regular Decision deadline March-April:  Ross receives Regular Decision admits from U-M and begins to review April: Ross decisions released for Regular Decision  

To get an idea of the students who join our program, you can check out the class profile below. As the numbers show, they’re a pretty stellar group.

Figures are for students earning First-Year Admission in 2020.

ADMITTED STUDENT COMPOSITION

RACE/ETHNICITY

Reflects admitted students for the incoming class in Fall 2023 *Race and ethnicity data is based on United States Department of Education federal reporting guidelines

If you are a Direct Admit, the following are academic requirements for your first year at Ross. If you are a Preferred Admit, you must satisfy all of the requirements below to be admitted to Ross for your second year. 

Enroll full time (12+ credits) in both fall and winter terms of your first year.

Complete First-Year Writing , ECON 101 , and Calculus I, II, or III at U-M, each with a grade of C or better, by the end of the winter term of your first year. AP credit can be substituted for Calculus I or II (MATH 120 or 121). IB or A-level credit can be substituted for ECON 101 and U-M Calculus I, II, or III.

Complete BA 100 and BCOM 250

​ BA 100 Introduction to Ross: Foundations in Learning Business , offered specifically for students admitted in their first year 

BCOM 250 Introduction to Business Communication

Maintain good academic standing (2.500 GPA or above per term) throughout the first year. GPAs are not rounded up.

Students are also expected to meet the following conditions:

  • Attend the Welcome Event at the Ross School of Business.
  • Meet regularly with your Ross Academic Advisor and participate in mandatory academic support activities as requested.
  • Inform your Ross Academic Advisor and Ross Undergraduate Admissions if you have been accused of or engaged in a form of academic dishonesty, behavioral misconduct, a policy violation (on or off campus), and/or criminal activity (including pending and convicted cases) upon matriculation (e.g., over the summer) and while at the University of Michigan.

The Ross School of Business reserves the right to withdraw your BBA admission offer if: 1) there has been a misrepresentation in or a violation of any of the terms of the application process or failure to meet first-year expectations; 2) we learn you have engaged in behavior prior to matriculation that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity; or 3) you do not meet the conditions of your admission offer.

We further reserve the right to require you to provide additional information and/or authorization for the release of information about any matter. Finally, we reserve the right to require the withdrawal of any student whose condition endangers his or her own well-being or the well-being of other students or precludes him or her from doing the required work.

Ross BBA Information Session for First-Year Applicants

Hear from our Admissions Director 

Learn more about the Michigan Ross BBA program in this virtual admissions session with BBA Admissions Director, Dr. Blaire Moody Rideout. Explore aspects of the curriculum, leadership development with Ross, business career paths, in-depth look at the admissions portfolio process, and ways students can engage beyond the BBA.

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supplemental essay university of michigan

For those of you applying to University of Michigan, read below to see how our team of former admissions officers would answer the supplemental essays:

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; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

This question is related to self identity. To help brainstorm, list a few groups, communities, and/or organizations that you feel a strong bond with. With just 300 words to use, spend the majority of time discussing why this particular community is meaningful to you and how it has helped shape your personality and beliefs. Whatever “place” or position you hold within the community, be proud of it. A compelling essay could discuss your workplace community, family and home, or larger ethnic or religious community in a city or town you’re from.

Don’t be afraid to be creative! One AcceptU student talked about the strangers he saw everyday on the subway he rode to and from a university summer research project. Those strangers became, for him, a community – plus we learned about his research interests and saw his creative side as he described each person and imagined what their lives were like.

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; minimum 100 words /maximum 550 words)

With thousands of new students each year, large public universities do their best to predict how each student will help fill various roles across different undergraduate colleges. To avoid getting lost within the masses, be as specific as possible when articulating your interests and your fit within a particular program. It can be useful to break this question down into two simple parts:

1. Which major(s) and program(s) appeal most to you and why?

2. How will you utilize the university’s resources to allow you to take advantage of the major(s) and program(s) that appeal to you?

Research each program and major (that interest you) at UM. Have you visited campus? If so, describe any interactions with students or faculty within the program of interest. What classes appeal to you within the major(s) of interest? What about other courses, programs and opportunities at UM might you participate in if you enrolled there? Answers to these questions allow admissions officers to connect the dots between your current interests and future goals.

supplemental essay university of michigan

Cecilia earned a BA from University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and an MS from Boston University, where she focused her studies on public relations and marketing. Cecilia oversees graduate programs: business development, partnerships, marketing and counselors. She also works with China partnerships. Originally from China, Cecilia is a native Mandarin speaker.

supplemental essay university of michigan

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U-M formally adopts test-optional admissions policy

By Lauren Love  Public Affairs

  • Campus News

The University of Michigan has formally implemented a test-optional policy for undergraduate admissions for future terms. This means that students applying for admission for the winter 2025 academic term and beyond continue to have the choice of whether to submit standardized test scores as part of their application.

“Our commitment today to a test-optional policy for undergraduate admissions demonstrates our focus on providing access to high-achieving students from all backgrounds,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management. ”Provost Laurie McCauley and I hope this action provides clarity on our process and helps students prepare for applying to U-M in 2025 and beyond.” 

A cross campus committee of faculty and staff worked throughout the past year reviewing the current research and literature, considering testing policies at peer institutions, and reviewing U-M application and student data. 

“Our well-established, holistic review provides a comprehensive picture of each student,” said Erica L. Sanders, assistant vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions. “Choosing a challenging core curriculum in context with what’s offered at the student’s high school is a good indicator of success. Sharing our test-optional policy now for future admissions cycles allows students to consider all factors when determining their plans for testing.”

In June 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U-M implemented a “test-flexible” policy due to the variability that existed for prospective undergraduate students to access standardized testing locally, nationally and internationally. The terminology “test-flexible” was used to offer the opportunity for students to submit any tests they had available, including PSAT, SAT, ACT, IB and AP scores. 

The move to the “test-optional” language clarifies that applicants continue to have the option to submit standardized test scores (ACT, SAT) if they choose, while other test scores (AP, IB, PSAT), which applicants may have available, will no longer be considered in their place. The shift to test-optional will begin with the 2025 application cycle. The university will monitor the standardized testing policy on an ongoing basis.   

“To make the recommendation, the committee analyzed the most recent U-M data on test-flexible admissions and reviewed all of the latest national research,” said committee member Michael Bastedo, associate dean of research and graduate studies, and professor of education in the Marsal Family School of Education. “We concluded that a test-optional policy was, at this time, the best reflection of how to ensure access and fairness to a diverse range of U-M applicants.” 

Since fall 2020, U-M has seen a significant increase in applications from students from all backgrounds. This suggests that a more flexible testing policy, paired with other efforts introduced during this time like virtual events, targeted communications, and individualized outreach, has helped the university develop a more diverse campus community. 

National benchmarking, conducted as part of the review, also indicated that the majority of U-M’s peer institutions, and the other public universities in Michigan, remain test-optional.

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University of Michigan solidifies test optional policy as other schools revive mandate

supplemental essay university of michigan

The University of Michigan said Thursday it has formalized how it will handle test scores during the admissions process with a test optional policy after a similar policy begun during the pandemic led to a more diverse campus.

The test optional policy gives prospective students the choice to submit SAT or ACT scores when applying, starting in winter 2025. But it eliminates other forms of testing from consideration.

The move puts UM among hundreds of schools nationwide that have dropped a standardized test requirement as part of the admissions process, especially during the pandemic when scores of colleges changed their policies and made test scores optional to include in the application process. But Michigan's largest university is bucking a trend among selective schools nationwide that are reinstating testing score requirements in applications that a recent survey projected to grow.

UM's move comes as the Ann Arbor university has worked to diversify its campus after Michigan voters in 2006 banned the consideration of race in college admissions and government hiring.

Proponents of test optional admission policies say it levels the playing field between students from wealthy and low income families; at least one Ivy League school says the policies work against students from a lower socio-economic backgrounds.

“Our commitment today to a test-optional policy for undergraduate admissions demonstrates our focus on providing access to high-achieving students from all backgrounds,” said Adele C. Brumfield, UM vice provost for enrollment management.

The university formalized its policy after it implemented a “test-flexible” policy in 2020 because the COVID pandemic created issues about the access to standardized testing. UM's policy gave prospective students who did not want to have SAT or ACT scores considered as part of their application the choice of submitting another form of testing, including Advanced Placement exam scores.

The test optional policy will continue that choice for prospective students to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of the application process, but other test scores will no longer be considered .

A UM committee of faculty and staff spent the past year reviewing student applications and data, along with current research and literature and testing policies at peer institutions. The review showed a significant increase in applications from students from all backgrounds since fall 2020, which officials attributed to the more flexible test policy and helped develop a more diverse campus.

“To make the recommendation, the committee analyzed the most recent U-M data on test-flexible admissions and reviewed all of the latest national research,” said committee member Michael Bastedo, associate dean of research and graduate studies, and professor of education in the Marsal Family School of Education. “We concluded that a test-optional policy was, at this time, the best reflection of how to ensure access and fairness to a diverse range of U-M applicants.” 

The university said it will continue to monitor the policy.

What others are doing

Universities have been dropping the requirement of standardized test scores as part of the college admissions process since the 1950s, but the number of schools who embraced it escalated during the pandemic , according to FairTest, The Nation Center for Fair & Open Testing.

UM joins approximately 1,825 schools that have declared test optional or test free for fall 2025, including nearly four dozen private and public colleges and universities in Michigan, said Harry Feder, executive director of FairTest.

"(University of) Michigan has demonstrated that it is a public serving university of excellence by making the test optional admissions policy permanent," Feder said. "Standardized testing serves as an unnecessary barrier that has a disparately negative impact on socioeconomically marginalized students."

It is also a "two-plus hour snapshot" of a student's performance "that is not particularly relevant to the deeper learning we hope happens on university campuses," he said.

"By committing itself to holistic admissions," Feder said, "Michigan gives all students the opportunity to demonstrate that they are worthy candidates for a Michigan education in a discipline of genuine interest. We applaud its decision." 

But some selective schools are starting to reinstate a test requirement. On Thursday, Yale University announced it would reinstate the test requirement, joining Dartmouth College, MIT and Georgetown University. Kaplan, an educational services company, surveyed more than 200 test optional schools in 2023 that showed 15% are considering reinstating or will definitely reinstate the requirement.

COVID transformed university admissions policies "almost overnight," said Brian Carlidge, senior vice president of Kaplan, as most schools went test optional.

"What we are seeing might be a slight turning of the tide, but not yet a sea change,” he said.

“Kaplan’s most recent college admissions officers survey finds that a significant percentage of test optional schools are reevaluating their policies, as they may have already served their purpose and run their course, and may now be counterproductive to their original intent," Carlidge said. "Trends like this tend to have a snowball effect, so if more top schools bring back the requirement, expect more to follow. We’ll be tracking this issue carefully over the year.”

[email protected]

Gizmodo

University of Michigan Says It's Not Selling Student Data to AI Companies

O n Thursday morning, news broke that someone was going around selling student data from the University of Michigan to tech workers that build AI chatbot tech. An employee at Google DeepMind, the company’s AI research hub, said they’d gotten an offer for recordings of lectures, student discussions, and office hours, as well as essays written by seniors and grad students all available for a paltry licensing fee. Now, the University says it was all a misunderstanding, that students gave their consent, and there’s nothing to worry about.

Susan Zhang, an engineer at DeepMind, said that she’d received a sponsored LinkedIn message hawking the information, and offering a free sample of the University of Michigan data to prove its worth.

“I’m reaching out because, based on your profile, you may be working with Large Language models (LLM’s) or natural language processing,” the sales message said. “I wanted to let you know that the University of Michigan is licensing academic speech data and student papers that could be very useful for training or tuning LLM’s.”

The message offers data from 85 hours worth of lectures, discussion sections, and interviews for $15,595, a second set of 829 papers written by University of Michigan students across various disciplines for $12,595, or a discount package for both data sets at $25,000.

However, the message “was sent out by a new third-party vendor that shared inaccurate information and has since been asked to halt their work,” Colleen Mastony a University of Michigan spokesperson, said in an email. “No transactions or sharing of content occurred by the vendor. Student data was not and has never been for sale by the University of Michigan.” Mastony didn’t share details about who this vendor was, or what, exactly, was inaccurate about the information they offered.

The University may not be selling the data directly, but it is (or was) being offered for sale by an organization called Catalyst Research Alliance, which claims to partner the University of Michigan as well as North Carolina State University. The website offers a sample of the data set , which comes with an essay titled “The Democratic Inadequacies of the European Union,” and what appears to be a recording of a class discussion section.

Catalyst Research Alliance and North Carolina State University did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to Mastony, the recordings and the papers were contributed by student volunteers who participated in two decades-old research studies, and none of the data included students’ names or any other personally identifiable information “These particular papers and recordings have long been available for free to academics – again without any identifying information – and have been used as a tool to improve writing and articulation in education,” Mastony said.

“I think it’s worth pursuing which universities are selling student data and what the terms are,” Zhang told Gizmodo in a message on X. “Licensing is better than scraping data without attribution but the attribution pipelines here are likely only built halfway (aka original creators won’t see a dime, whereas the reseller who stores data will capture all the profits).”

Training large language models like the software that runs chatbots such as ChatGPT and Bard requires massive, clearly labeled data sets across various subjects and disciplines. While the University of Michigan data set is small, well-organized content on a narrow swath of subjects could be useful for tuning certain models, particularly tools designed for specific purposes related to academia, formal communication, or for training more general AIs to improve their performance on individual areas of subject matter expertise.

Update 02/15/2024, 5:45 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from the University of Michigan.

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Click here to read the full article.

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University of Michigan 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Before we begin…

The University of Michigan supplement is one of the more comprehensive sets of essay questions out there; so if you’re applying to a wide swathe of schools, it’s an excellent place to start. The supplement asks you for a “why,” “community,” and “activity” essay — three assignments that are fairly common on applications at schools of all sizes and academic levels. Use this as an opportunity to think through the full package you want to present to admissions and highlight your diverse areas of interest.

Supplemental Essay Types:   Community , Why , Activity

University of Michigan 2019-2020 Application Essay Question Explanations

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. approximately 300 words..

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. 500 words maximum..

Here is your “why” essay, and it’s a nice, hefty one at 500 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.

2. (For transfer students only) Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

Required for all transfer applicants. 500 words maximum..

This is also a “why” essay, but the supporting information that connects you to the school will be drawn from your current undergraduate experience. Be specific about why you think Michigan is a better fit for you then your current stomping grounds. Of course, be careful not to smack talk the institution in which you’ve spent the last year or two years. Be considerate, while still being specific about your desire to change environments and asserting your Michigan-aligned goals for the future.

3. If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why?

Required for all applicants. approximately 150 words..

In this essay prompt, admissions wants to know about your ride or die. What is your all-time favorite activity? The one that gets you through finals week and heartbreak and sock-soaking rain? Talk about this activity or experience in a way that lets University of Michigan know that you’re a passionate and motivated person. Your essay should also say something about your priorities and outlook on the world. Do your weekly church bake sales give you the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen after a long week of crunching numbers? Do you take care of your neighbor’s kids in the afternoons to practice the skills you hope to use as an elementary teacher later in life? Use your favorite activity to tell admissions something new about yourself.

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  1. How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays: Examples

    How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompt #1 How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompt #2 The University of Michigan essays are kind of like the Pyramid of Giza if you turned it upside down and cut it into thirds. Maybe I should elaborate.

  2. Essay Questions

    The Common Application Personal Essay The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?

  3. 26 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)

    To get into the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2023, you have to write strong supplemental essays. In this article, I've gathered 26 of the best supplemental and Common App essay examples for Michigan. University of Michigan Admissions FAQ Here are some answers to common questions regarding applying to UMich.

  4. 4 Top Tips for University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

    All applicants to the University of Michigan are required to submit two supplemental essays in addition to a personal statement written in response to a prompt in the Common Application. So in total — and regardless of your major — you'll have to write three University of Michigan essays.

  5. University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

    The University of Michigan requires applicants to write two supplemental essays as part of their application. These essays are designed to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of the applicant's background, interests, and aspirations, and how they align with what the University of Michigan offers.

  6. 2023-24 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Guide

    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.

  7. UMich Supplemental Essays 2023-24

    July 25, 2023 bookmark College Essay Dave Bergman Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant.

  8. University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

    Yes, there are supplemental University of Michigan essays. In addition to the Common App Personal Statement, all applicants will complete two specific UMich supplemental essays. One of these University of Michigan essays is much longer than the other, with a maximum of 500 words.

  9. University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

    Yes! In addition to the Common App personal statement, students applying to the University of Michigan must complete two additional supplemental essays. The UMich supplemental essays both have a 100 minimum word requirement.

  10. Tips for Answering the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay

    Get a free consultation: Click here to schedule a call to find out how our admissions experts can help YOU get accepted to the University of Michigan! Below are some suggestions to help you address the supplemental prompts. The University of Michigan supplemental essay questions University of Michigan supplemental essay #1

  11. How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

    Key Takeaway. For the University of Michigan supplemental essays, you'll be writing a community essay and a "why this major" essay. To write them well, you'll need to think about your overall application narrative. The University of Michigan—or UMich, if you're feeling casual—is one of the best large state schools in the country.

  12. 2 University of Michigan Essay Examples

    Read our University of Michigan essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year's supplemental prompts. University of Michigan Essay Example #1

  13. 2023-2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Prompts

    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.

  14. How to Write UMich Supplemental Essays

    The University of Michigan requires that all applicants write two supplemental essays regardless of what program they want to enter. Remember that you still need to complete an essay as part of the Common Application or the Coalition Application.

  15. 5 Tips for the 'Why University of Michigan' Essay

    The University of Michigan's first supplemental essay is a "Why This College" essay, which should help you think through the optimal approach to answering the question. The prompt reads: "Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school (including preferred admission and dual degree programs ...

  16. How to Write the University of Michigan Essays 2023-2024

    University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts All Applicants—Prompt 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? (100-550 words)

  17. How to Respond to the 2023/2024 University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

    The University of Michigan supplemental essays are a chance to share more of "your story." Fortunately, the questions touch on common topics. Crafting thoughtful, differentiated responses is the key to success. Let's break down each prompt and give you tips on how to reference the best examples.

  18. University of Michigan 2018-19 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

    Regular Decision: Before we begin… The University of Michigan supplement is one of the more comprehensive sets of essay questions out there; so if you're applying to a wide swathe of schools, it's an excellent place to start.

  19. How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

    University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-2024 Prompt 1 (Required: 300 word limit) 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.

  20. How to Apply: First-Year BBA Applicants

    For the final supplemental U-M essay, focus on your unique interests and goals and explain how the Ross BBA supports them. Your answer should clearly explain your interest in business and/or Michigan Ross. ... For complete information about University of Michigan application requirements, please see the central Office of Undergraduate ...

  21. University of Michigan supplemental essays 2023

    For those of you applying to University of Michigan, read below to see how our team of former admissions officers would answer the supplemental essays: Essay #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 ...

  22. U-M formally adopts test-optional admissions policy

    The University of Michigan has formally implemented a test-optional policy for undergraduate admissions for future terms. This means that students applying for admission for the winter 2025 academic term and beyond continue to have the choice of whether to submit standardized test scores as part of their application.

  23. 2020-21 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Guide

    University of Michigan 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide Regular Decision: University of Michigan 2020-2021 Application Essay Question Explanations Supplemental Essay Types: Community, Why 1.

  24. University of Michigan solidifies test optional policy as other schools

    UM's move comes as the Ann Arbor university has worked to diversify its campus after Michigan voters in 2006 banned the consideration of race in college admissions and government hiring.

  25. University of Michigan Says It's Not Selling Student Data to AI Companies

    The message offers data from 85 hours worth of lectures, discussion sections, and interviews for $15,595, a second set of 829 papers written by University of Michigan students across various ...

  26. University of Michigan 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

    University of Michigan 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide Regular Decision: Before we begin… The University of Michigan supplement is one of the more comprehensive sets of essay questions out there; so if you're applying to a wide swathe of schools, it's an excellent place to start.