Click here to view or print this page as a PDF file.
Complete your application by October 31st.
Receive a decision by December 21st.
The University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions is pleased to announce the implementation of an “Early Response” deadline for prospective freshman applying for Fall 2008. For all students whose completed1 applications are received by October 31st, we will guarantee that a decision2 will be released by December 21st. Students whose applications are complete after the Early Response deadline will receive decisions on a rolling basis, approximately 8-12 weeks after their completed application is received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Our final deadline for applications will continue to be February 1st (applications must be postmarked by this date).
(Please note: Our Early Response deadline applies only to freshman applicants applying for fall term. Students applying to the School of Art & Design and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance are exempt from the Early Response decision date, as admissions decisions are released after portfolio review or auditions are complete.)
We will begin reviewing completed applications in late September and we will begin releasing decisions in early November. All applications are reviewed using the same guidelines – we will not be awarding priority in the review of an application simply because it was submitted for Early Response. So while there is no advantage in the review process for completing an application before October 31st, we continue to urge students to get all application materials in early for the benefit of receiving a decision quickly. To help our students prepare for the Early Response deadline, we will be releasing the freshman application written response questions, as well as the forms for academic teacher and high school counselor recommendations, in early June. Nothing is due in the summer months; however, we encourage students to choose the academic teacher they want to ask for a recommendation and to give this teacher the recommendation form before leaving for summer break. We also encourage students to begin at least preliminary work on their written responses over the summer if the student wants to apply for Early Response.
We are also pleased to announce that every other Friday, beginning on November 9th, 2007, we will be releasing admissions decisions for Engineering, LSA, Kinesiology, and Nursing3. As in prior years, we will continue to review students completed applications and release decisions within 8-12 weeks. All decisions, including admit, defer, and deny, will be mailed by the decision release date. We regret that we cannot release admissions decisions over the phone.
1A completed application consists of:
- The application form
- 3 written response questions (additional written response required for consideration for preferred admission)
- High School transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendation (must be from a teacher in an academic subject – either English, math, science, social science, foreign language or computer programming)
- SAT or ACT w/writing test scores (must be sent directly from the testing agency – rush paper scores not accepted)
2Decisions will include admit, defer, and deny. Students who are deferred will receive a final decision by early April.
3Students applying to the School of Art & Design and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance are exempt from the Early Response decision date; admissions decisions for these schools are released after portfolio review or auditions are complete.
Our Fall decision release schedule:
November 9th, 2007
November 23rd, 2007
December 7th, 2007
December 21st, 2007 (All students who applied by our Early Response date of October 31st will receive a decision by this date)
We anticipate decisions will continue approximately every other week throughout the Winter and Spring.
FAQ’s
Why should I complete my application by the Early Response deadline?
The primary goal of implementing an Early Response deadline is to give students a guaranteed decision date. For students who look at Michigan as one of their top-choice schools, a decision of admit, defer, or deny before the end of December allows the student to plan accordingly.
What is considered a completed application?
Freshmen wishing to be considered for the Early Response deadline must have their applications completed by October 31st – all materials must be received (not postmarked) by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by October 31st. A completed application consists of:
- The application form
- 3 written response questions (additional written response required for consideration for preferred admission)
- High School transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendation (must be from a teacher in an academic subject – either English, math, science, social science, foreign language or computer programming)
- SAT or ACT w/writing test scores (must be sent directly from the testing agency – rush paper scores not accepted)
Why is Michigan adding an Early Response option to its Rolling Admissions process?
We’ve received feedback that students in previous years have been frustrated with our response time. In the spirit of trying to provide you with more clarity in our admissions process we have opened the option for all students who are able to complete their applications before October 31st to receive a decision before the end of December. Although we are implementing an Early Response deadline and decision release date, we will still be using a Rolling Admission practice for anyone who submits a completed application by February 1st.
Should I still apply early?
Yes! Completed applications will be reviewed prior to the Early Response deadline. Application review begins each year in late September and our first decisions are released in early November. All completed applications submitted after the Early Response deadline will be reviewed under a Rolling Admission practice and will have a decision released within 8-12 weeks. There is, however, no advantage for applying during our Early Response time frame other than receiving your decision by a specified date – we will not be awarding priority in the review of an application simply because it was submitted for Early Response.
Should I run into my High School Counselor’s office on the first day of classes to have them send my transcript so that it arrives before the Early Response deadline?
No – follow their guidelines for when they would like a transcript request. If the transcript is sent by mid-October, it should reach us by the Early Response deadline. There is no value added by camping out in front of your counselor’s office on the first day of classes in August or September – they still have to write a letter of recommendation for you, so you want to respect the other responsibilities that they have.
How do I get my application decision to be released in the “first round” of decisions?
The first date we will be releasing admissions decisions is November 9, 2007; however, there is no way to guarantee that your application will have a decision by this time. As we have done in previous years, we will continue to review applications as soon as they are completed. Because of our individualized, holistic, and comprehensive review process, each application takes a significant amount of time to review; early in our application season, however, we see a smaller application volume which is why we are able to release some decisions as early as November 9th.
Is the Early Response deadline a received by or postmarked by date?
The Early Response deadline of October 31 is a received-by date. We encourage all students to mail their application materials early to ensure their receipt by this date, or to send items through a mail service that can confirm delivery date. Please note that we do not accept rushed paper ACT or SAT scores.
When will decisions be released?
Students whose applications are complete by October 31st will have a decision release date of December 21st. All other students can expect a decision 8-12 weeks after their completed application is received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
If I don’t receive my decision in the mail on a decision release date, what does that mean?
It means that your decision is not yet ready to be released or that your decision is still in the mail. Unless your application was complete by the Early Response deadline of October 31st, you are not guaranteed a decision by any specific decision release date. If your application was completed by our Early Response deadline, you can expect that a decision will be mailed by December 21st. We mail decisions via the U.S. Postal Service under a first-class rate; mail is generally received within just a few days but we do not have control over the exact date of receipt. Please note that it may take up to 12 weeks for a decision to be released for any student’s application that was not completed by the Early Response deadline.
If I apply at the same time as a friend, will both of our decisions be released on the same day?
Not necessarily, unless both applications were complete by the Early Response deadline of October 31. Much of the timing of decisions is dependent on when the application was complete, with all necessary documents (transcript(s), academic teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, SAT/ACT with writing scores) submitted. Even if all documents were submitted at the same time, there is still a possibility that decisions may not be ready to be released on the same day.
How soon will I get a decision if I don’t apply by the Early Response deadline?
If you are unable to complete your application by the Early Response deadline of October 31, you have until February 1 to apply. Decisions will continue to be released on a rolling basis from November through April, so we still encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. An average decision time is 8-12 weeks.
If I apply for Early Response and I am admitted, am I required to come to Michigan?
No. The Early Response decision is non-binding; you are still permitted to apply to and enroll at another school if you so choose.
Can I apply to other Early Action/Early Decision/Early Response schools along with Michigan?
Yes. Because our decision is non-binding, you are still permitted to apply to other schools that use an early admissions program such as Early Action or Early Decision. Depending on the other school’s requirements, however, you may be required to attend their school if admitted and cancel your application to Michigan.
Will an application for Early Response be reviewed differently than an application submitted for Rolling Admission?
No. All applications are reviewed using the same guidelines – we will not be awarding priority in the review of an application simply because it was completed in time for Early Response. Check out our admissions process page for more information regarding how applications are reviewed.
How will I know if my application is complete?
Students should regularly check their application status on Wolverine Access. Before accessing the application status page, students will need to create a “friend account”. Please note that it takes a minimum of 10 business days before your application status appears online once the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has received your application.
Which address will my decision be sent to?
We will send your admissions decision to the address you provided in your application. If you need to update your address, you’ll need to update your personal information in Wolverine Access. Please note that it takes a minimum of 10 business days before your application status appears online once the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has received your application.
If I plan to take the ACT or SAT in October, will that score arrive in time to complete my application for Early Response?
Yes. If you have taken the ACT or SAT previously and are taking the test again in October, you must send in your previous scores to complete your application. Once your new test scores from the October exam are received, we will add that information to your application and consider that in the review process. On the day of the test you must indicate that you want your scores sent to the University of Michigan so that we receive them as soon as the score is available. If you are taking the ACT or SAT for the first time in October and still wish to be considered for the Early Response deadline, you must complete the rest of your application by October 31st and we will begin the review of your application once your ACT or SAT test scores have arrived. On the day of the test you must indicate that you want your scores sent to the University of Michigan so that we receive them as soon as the score is available.