2011-2012 University of Michigan Application Thread

[kautionwirez]

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I agree. I looked through last year's thread; around ~August 19th, Michigan offered about 300/750 interviews. On the official tracker this year, it's around 188/750 as of August 10th. Only a few interviews have been given out since the 10th according to Twitter, so I would say no more than ~220/750 have been offered.

If you take away the auto-interviews, there are only a small number of non-auto interviews so far this cycle (relative to years past). I'm sure Michigan has their reasons, but I hope they're not just trying to poach high-stat applicants like WashU Haha, but in all seriousness, us non-interviewees will just have to wait patiently and hope for the best

most of them were auto invites based on stats?

 

[percy]

most of them were auto invites based on stats?

how would we have known if they were automatic?

 

[lbzak]

Does anyone know the likelihood of receiving an interview after being put "on hold" status? Michigan was one of my top choices and I was given this status a few days ago. I though my stats were around their average: 35R, 3.9 cGPA, 3.9 sGPA. Do you think it's because I am OOS and attend a rival Big 10 University?

Just kidding about that last part but you never know...

 

[MonkfishSushi]

how would we have known if they were automatic?

Keep in mind this is just my speculation. I could be in left field lwith Frazier 😛

1. Go to: http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/admissions/ On the rightmost toolbar, click "More Tracker Information PPT." Interviews by month as of August 10th are: June (111), July (64) and August (13).

We can be almost certain that the June invites are auto. A good chunk of the July/August could also be the "late" high stat applicants.

2. Michigan twitter page. The person is charge has been great about informing applicants of file reviews/interview offers. Assuming there are not significantly more file reviews that he did not post, there have only been a few non-auto interviews offered.

3. Only a few people on this tread have posted a non-autoautomatic interview i.e. it takes longer 1 week to receive the interview post-primary submission.

Whatever the case may, Michigan still has ~500 interview invites to send out so we should just hold our heads high and wait 👍

 

[phltz]

how would we have known if they were automatic?

Michigan gives out a small number of pre-secondary interview invitations. These are often referred to as "automatic" on SDN. Some subset of these people get their invitations in a very short period of time (maybe within 24 hours of verification), while others happen after a longer wait. This has given rise to speculation on SDN that the fast ones are totally automated, and are given out by computer without human involvement. However, this appears to be false, as they have claimed on their twitter feed that all "auto" invites are personally reviewed by the director (https://twitter.com/#!/UMichMedAdmiss/status/81857249756200960). There doesn't appear to be a clear numerical cutoff for these. I received a pre-secondary invite last year with a GPA of ~3.2, but a very high MCAT. Others did not with ~4.0 an similarly high MCATs.

The majority of invitations are not automatic, so it's not worth stressing if you don't hear back from them right away. Once you've sent in your stuff, try to sit back and relax for a while. If you do something new, send in an update letter. It doesn't help to obsessively stress out over who is getting an invitation and when.

 

[percy]

We can be almost certain that the June invites are auto.

It doesn't take long to review a file, "auto" or not. I find the reasoning a bit incomplete--which has little to say about its validity. But yeah, what do we know? I'm sure if you asked in one of their monthly chats, they'd let you know a rough estimate.

And thanks to phltz for a great answer!

 

[indonacious]

Their recent twitter posting...

"Auto/non-auto invites: much ado. Fact: we have nearly 500 invites remaining & it will take until January to extend them all-patience/thanks!"

Trying to stay optimistic even though I have been under review for a month now.

 

[Y88]

at least yall more patient than I am. it's been less than a week and im getting fidgety.

 

[camierz]

Their recent twitter posting...

"Auto/non-auto invites: much ado. Fact: we have nearly 500 invites remaining & it will take until January to extend them all-patience/thanks!"

Trying to stay optimistic even though I have been under review for a month now.

I've been under review for 2 months! It's just a long process, its hard to wait, but you just need to distract yourself with other things. It is hard to do so, but try not to think about it all of the time.

 

[isabella1]

Did everyone's payment submission show up right away? I submitted about a day ago, and it still shows up as if I haven't paid.

 

[Slev]

Did everyone's payment submission show up right away? I submitted about a day ago, and it still shows up as if I haven't paid.

Mine took a couple of days

 

[bookfreak89]

Complete and under review as of this morning. Let the games begin.

 

[scalab]

Under review...I hope I get an interview here. They seem so cool about the application process!

 

[idonotcare]

Put on hold 🙁

 

[Y88]

Put on hold, bleh...

 

[protonate]

I'm so sorry to hear about that guys. Keep your head up and never lose hope! When were you guys complete if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Y88]

Complete 8/17, pretty quick turnaound I'd say. Anyone have an idea/opinion on which has better prospects-being put on hold soon after completion vs being under review for a long time, then put on hold?

 

[idonotcare]

Completed 8/15. At this point assuming it's a rejection

 

[hopesolo]

I dunno. I have been "under review" since 8/1.

They must not know what to make of me.

lol i've been under review since 7/10 ...

 

[kduck]

lol i've been under review since 7/10 ...

Since 7/28... I still have hope! 🙂

 

[indonacious]

I've been under review since lk 7/17...but I am also OOS. So i'm hoping that since I'm under review and not on hold or rejected (idk if they are rejecting outright yet) that I should still have some hope...we'll see.

 

[hopesolo]

I've been under review since lk 7/17...but I am also OOS. So i'm hoping that since I'm under review and not on hold or rejected (idk if they are rejecting outright yet) that I should still have some hope...we'll see.

yea im OOS too. i no longer check my status anymore. i've come to accept that I will most likely be rejected since i've been under review for so long.

 

[crossscreen]

Hold, after two straight rejections I'll take it 👍

 

[Slev]

Love their twitter this morning:

SDN: Not a good use of your energy (and wrong anyway) trying to equate complete date, review times with possible outcomes-a LONG process.

They're watching us.... 🙂

 

[virelangue]

Placed on hold. . . 🙁 3.8 / 39, OOS applicant, about a week of review. Crossing fingers for an interview invite later on, but who knows?

 

[sam500]

Placed on hold. . . 🙁 3.8 / 39, OOS applicant, about a week of review. Crossing fingers for an interview invite later on, but who knows?

Does anyone know how the "On Hold" status differs from the "Under Review" status in the context of being under review for months?

Does "Under Review" mean they haven't finished looking over your app yet?

If this information is available elsewhere, could someone please point me to it?

Thanks very much!

 

[sam500]

On hold basically means "I'm all done considering this app - it's decent IMO, so let's just put it in this folder called 'On Hold' so we can see if the upcoming apps that we haven't read yet are better".

I would assume that still "under review" means you're still "under review", no decision (i.e. interview, hold, reject) have been made yet.

I'm not sure if "Under Review" can mean that.
If students can remain under review for months then the Adcom must have completely looked at their application several times.
Anyone know anything concrete?

 

[phltz]

I'm not sure if "Under Review" can mean that.
If students can remain under review for months then the Adcom must have completely looked at their application several times.
Anyone know anything concrete?

I'm not sure how Michigan specifically does this. At least a few med schools, however, have a system like this:

Each applicant is assigned to maybe one or possibly a small number of adcom members, who review the file in detail and come back to the full committee with a recommendation. The committee then discusses the applicant and votes. If the member or members assigned to a certain applicant can't make a given meeting, then that applicant's file won't be discussed at that time. Remembering that many of the adcom members are simultaneously busy clinicians, researchers, teachers, and parents, who are most likely horrifically overscheduled to begin with, and (like everyone) run the risk of having some unexpected emergency burst into their lives, one shouldn't be surprised if they occasionally miss a meeting or two and the whole process gets pushed back for a few weeks.

The Michigan admissions office is probably the most forthright, honest, and transparent admissions office in the country. If they say that being "Under Review" for a little while should not be overinterpreted, it shouldn't be overinterpreted. If they decide to put you on hold, they will tell you so promptly. They will not put you on some secret hold without telling you.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

You aren't sure if under review can mean under review? 😕

Anyway, if you make enough posts about it, the mysterious Michigan Twitter Updater will acknowledge your curiosity via their feed.

i don't know if curiosity is the proper word in this case.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

senseless worry?

warmer

 

[sam500]

senseless worry?

I was asking the community for information regarding status and the application process.

No critique of my mental state is necessary.

I will call the admissions office tomorrow for clarification.

 

[idonotcare]

To Director Ruiz:
Would it be possible for you to share some statistics on the applicants who are put "on hold"? (Percentage that was reconsidered and offered an interview last year)

Thanks

 

[idonotcare]

Re: Director Ruiz,
Thank you very much for your consideration. The reason I am asking (and many other applicants are wondering) is because the peculiar position the "on hold" status holds in the admission process: it's one step away from rejection and one step away from interview. We are not sure which way things will sway, and what events will warrant a re-evaluation for an "on hold" applicant. The quotation mark in file remains "open" seems to indicate a slim chance of admission. While I realize every cycle is different, numbers from last year will help us gauge the relative probability for an interview, and will help put much speculation (here or elsewhere) to rest. I understand the admission office's busy schedule, and to avoid distracting from the evaluation process, I was wondering if we can just get a ball-park figure (percentage will do) instead of a precise count?

Thank you again for taking the time to read the post

 

[applicant2012]

Re: Director Ruiz,
Thank you very much for your consideration. The reason I am asking (and many other applicants are wondering) is because the peculiar position the "on hold" status holds in the admission process: it's one step away from rejection and one step away from interview. We are not sure which way things will sway, and what events will warrant a re-evaluation for an "on hold" applicant. The quotation mark in file remains "open" seems to indicate a slim chance of admission. While I realize every cycle is different, numbers from last year will help us gauge the relative probability for an interview, and will help put much speculation (here or elsewhere) to rest. I understand the admission office's busy schedule, and to avoid distracting from the evaluation process, I was wondering if we can just get a ball-park figure (percentage will do) instead of a precise count?

Thank you again for taking the time to read the post

If it helps, I believe the twitter feed posted that zero applicants were accepted off the waitlist.

Whether or not "On Hold" is the same as "waitlisted" I'm not sure. It would be nice if there was a faq explaining all the admissions statuses. From all the speculation on this thread, it seems such information would allay a lot of stress.

As a side note, this thread feels fairly hostile towards speculation. This is SDN after-all and lack of information leads to speculation.

To add to this speculation: at interview U Mich Admissions told us that they are totally fine with filling up all their spots in the first few months (if it occurred). They are very aggressive with offering acceptances to worthy candidates rather than waiting to assess the total student pool, so despite this being a long process, it is definitely not a good thing if you are being considered for a long time.

 

[homomd]

Lol. They're responding to all of you guys on twitter. It's funny that they read this. Hi University of Michigan! I hope you invite me to an interview! 🙂

On a side note, does anyone know what it's like living in Ann Arbor?

 

[idonotcare]

If it helps, I believe the twitter feed posted that zero applicants were accepted off the waitlist.

Whether or not "On Hold" is the same as "waitlisted" I'm not sure. It would be nice if there was a faq explaining all the admissions statuses. From all the speculation on this thread, it seems such information would allay a lot of stress.

As a side note, this thread feels fairly hostile towards speculation. This is SDN after-all and lack of information leads to speculation.

To add to this speculation: at interview U Mich Admissions told us that they are totally fine with filling up all their spots in the first few months (if it occurred). They are very aggressive with offering acceptances to worthy candidates rather than waiting to assess the total student pool, so despite this being a long process, it is definitely not a good thing if you are being considered for a long time.

My understanding for "on-hold" is waitlist pre-interview, also a place holder for rejection before Jan. Out of the 750 interview invites, I am curious how many are direct invites from file review and how many are pulled off the "on hold" pool. Also, the separate "on hold" status is distinct from "under review," yet the wording suggest "on hold" are indeed still "under review." I appreciate Director Ruiz twitter reply and understand the complexity of the process. If he is unwilling to provide any numbers from last year or predictions for this year, would he be willing to explain the difference between the "under review" and "on hold" status, as both are one step away from interview? Are files "under review" for a long period of time being considered more actively than "on hold" applicants?

I think Michigan prides itself in transparency, and I think any clarification will be appreciated by the SDN community.

 

[DISCOSTEW]

it's common sense..

 

[percy]

Geez. Michigan has spoiled us! Their admissions/recruitment practices are almost too good... 😀

 

[dmf2682]

Would I be at a disadvantage if I hold a degree from Ohio state?

 

[camierz]

Lol. They're responding to all of you guys on twitter. It's funny that they read this. Hi University of Michigan! I hope you invite me to an interview! 🙂

On a side note, does anyone know what it's like living in Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is a great college town. It has a great atmosphere, especially on football saturdays! Rent is a little pricey, but it is a really nice place to live.

 

[indonacious]

Would I be at a disadvantage if I hold a degree from Ohio state?

Is this a joke...

I highly doubt that the adcom actively discriminated against OSU grads because of the rivalry regardless of its intensity.

your only disadvantage may lie in the fact that you are presumably OOS.

 

[a532]

Yep it's a joke about the OSU-Michigan football rivalry

Is this a joke...

I highly doubt that the adcom actively discriminated against OSU grads because of the rivalry regardless of its intensity.

your only disadvantage may lie in the fact that you are presumably OOS.

 

[Goblue89]

Ann Arbor is a great college town. It has a great atmosphere, especially on football saturdays! Rent is a little pricey, but it is a really nice place to live.

This is why you live in Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor really is a great place though, BEST restaurants ever!!!

 

[applicant2012]

This is why you live in Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor really is a great place though, BEST restaurants ever!!!

Really? What are the best restaurants there?

Is there a particular type of food they're famous for?

I miss Chicago's pizza, Boston's italian, and SF's sushi.

 

[Goblue89]

Really? What are the best restaurants there?

Is there a particular type of food they're famous for?

I miss Chicago's pizza, Boston's italian, and SF's sushi.

I would say they are famous not for a particular type of food but the diversity of such. If you get a chance to visit the med school I would make sure to visit downtown Ann Arbor and you will see what I am talking about
🙂

 

[TEagle]

Really? What are the best restaurants there?

Is there a particular type of food they're famous for?

I miss Chicago's pizza, Boston's italian, and SF's sushi.

I've lived in Ann Arbor since I was 4 so I've had a lot of time to explore the food here...
My favorites in Ann Arbor:

Expensive: West End Grill, Pacific Rim, Melange, Chop House, Gratzi (West End and Pacific Rim are my two favorites)

Middle: Zingermans Deli or Zingermans Roadhouse, Mani Osteria, Frita Batidos, Jolly Pumpkin, Blue Tractor, Cafe Habana, Cafe Felix, Monahan's Seafood in Kerrytown, Morgan and York Deli, Prickly Pear

Best Meals Under $10: Kosmo Diner in Kerrytown, Fleetwood Diner

Best Beer in town: Jolly Pumpkin

 

[sydloy]

Did it take a little while to show that you've paid the secondary fee on the status site?

 

[Slev]

Did it take a little while to show that you've paid the secondary fee on the status site?

Don't worry, it just takes a couple of days. I think I submitted on a Friday and it was marked as paid by Monday.

 

[nadaba]

Interviewed here on Friday. Super impressed with the whole day, from the hospital to the interviewers to the student tour guides. Good luck to those still waiting!

 

[poots]

Interviewing here and recently secured a student host. However, in my excitement to nab a host quickly, I failed to read the stipulations (I saw they were listed above the available hosts before I chose one) and now, of course, I can't see whatever was there. This is all through the Michigan status page/secondary site. Did anyone who got a host note what it said, or for anyone trying to get a host, if you see the text I'm talking about, mind sharing? Thanks.