If you’ve been waitlisted and have questions about what this means, you’ve come to the right place. We realize this is a difficult decision, and we want to assure you that this decision was difficult for us to make as well. If you have any additional questions beyond the FAQ’s provided here, we invite you to visit our Ask Us! knowledge base or call us at 734.764.7433, Monday through Friday, 8:00a.m.—5:00p.m.(EST).
How was my application reviewed?
Each application submitted receives multiple comprehensive, holistic, and individualized reviews by at least 2 admissions staff members who have gone through an extensive application review training process. A full overview of exactly how applications are reviewed, which factors we look at in making decisions, and the rating sheet that is filled out for each read of your application is available online at our Admissions Process website.
What factors determine who is admitted?
Many applicants to U-M have outstanding academic achievements and credentials projecting success in college. Because of the limited number of spaces in our freshman class, we are unable to admit all qualified students. As a waitlisted student, we strongly believe you have the capability to be successful in college and that, if space were available, you could be successful at Michigan.
As a highly-selective institution of higher education, the University of Michigan receives applications from many more students than we have space to enroll. This year we received over 27,000 applications for an enrolling freshman class of about 5,400 students. This has, without question, been our most competitive admissions cycle in history.
How many students are typically waitlisted?
The number of students waitlisted each year varies depending on the size and credentials of the total freshman applicant pool.
Are students ranked in any order of best qualified to least?
There is no numeric ranking of students. If we are able to admit students from the waitlist, we will select those students who have the best overall qualifications based on the comprehensive, holistic, and individualized reviews of their application file.
When will I find out if I’m off of the waitlist and have been admitted?
If we have room in our freshman class to admit students from the waitlist, we will admit from those applicants who indicated they wanted to be on our extended waitlist as space becomes available. All students who have accepted our waitlist offer will receive an additional letter by late June which specifies whether space remains in our class.
What should I do now? Will it help to write, call, or visit U-M?
We highly recommend accepting our waitlist offer by the deadline of May 15; the most convenient way to do this is online via Wolverine Access. There have been many students in past years who have not accepted our waitlist offer; in some years we have gone to our waitlist and these students may have been admitted. If we decide to admit from our waitlist and you have not accepted your waitlist offer, we cannot admit you.
Other than accepting the waitlist offer, there is nothing further you should do at this time. If you have any new and compelling information that was not included with your application materials, you are welcome to send it to us and we will add it to your application. We may use this information in a further review of your file if we decide to admit students from our waitlist.
If you have questions regarding your admissions decision, you are welcome to call our office at 734.764.7433. As we do not use interviews as part of our evaluation process, a visit or phone call to our office will not influence our decision.
I think you’ve made the wrong decision. Can I appeal?
In order to appeal, you must have new and compelling information that was not included with your application. Appeals must be submitted in written form, will only be considered if they are from the applicant, and must be supported by appropriate documentation from outside sources. All documentation should be mailed with the letter of appeal to the address listed below. Any appeal not following these guidelines will not be considered. You can expect to receive a response to the appeal within three to six weeks after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives the required information.
The appeal and supporting documents should be sent to the following address:
University of Michigan
Admissions Review Committee
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
1220 Student Activities Building
515 E. Jefferson St.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1316
What additional advice can you give me?
Please be patient and make sure that you have other educational options. Remember, if you do not have the opportunity to enroll as a freshman, you can apply for admission later as a transfer student.