There are so many reasons someone might want to transfer to the University of Michigan.
UMich was ranked as the best public university in the nation by The Times, and sits within the top 5 in the nation for psychology, dentistry, education, and more. The University of Michigan combines Ivy League academics with the one-of-a-kind feel of a big, public university.
And UMich does so from within one of the best college towns in the country. In fact, it isn’t rare to find Ann Arbor ranked as the best town for college students anywhere in the US.
It’s no surprise, with a wonderful city, athletics program, and academics, that the students at UMich are happy to be there. Niche ranked UMich as the 5th best school in the country for student life.
And, the University of Michigan has a roughly 50/50 ratio of in-state to out-of-state students on their Ann Arbor campus, demonstrating that UMich might be an ideal fit for a transfer student applying from anywhere in the world.
In fact, it may be a better time to apply to UMich as a transfer student than ever before, as in the last year, the transfer student population has grown by 8%.
But before a student submits a transfer application, there is important information that transfers need to know to be prepared to be accepted at UMich and make the most of their time there.
As such, this article breaks down the vital information transfer students need to know to best prepare for that acceptance letter in the mail.
We’ll be breaking down deadlines, requirements, transfer student statistics, and more to best equip readers with the tools they’ll need to begin the process of becoming a University of Michigan Wolverine.
University of Michigan Transfer Acceptance Rate
The transfer student acceptance rate at the University of Michigan is 41.5%.
Out of the 4,942 transfer students who applied to the University of Michigan, 2,051 were admitted, and 1,407 enrolled.
In comparison, the overall acceptance rate for the University of Michigan sits at around 26%.
As such, percentage-wise, transfer students may be at an advantage for admission compared to students who apply out of high school.
There is little discrepancy between the acceptance rate of students applying from a community college versus a 4-year university, with both sitting around 41%.
The same is the case for financial aid, where the University of Michigan claims that there is no significant difference between the rate of financial aid assistance being given to transfer vs. non-transfer students.
Application Requirements & GPA for University of Michigan Transfers
The minimum GPA for transfer students is a 2.0, but in order for students to be competitive, they will likely achieve a 3.0 or better.
Depending on the college to which one is applying, a higher GPA may be required, such as the College of Engineering which requires a 3.0.
The University of Michigan has specific transfer requirements on a college-by-college basis. However, the largest pool of students will submit their application to the admissions office, which reviews the applications of all students applying to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and the College of Engineering.
While the College of Engineering has a specific set of coursework it requires of transfer students, LSA does not.
LSA does not require any coursework but states that competitive candidates will usually have two semesters of relevant classes under their belt.
Besides the standard documentation required for college admission (transcripts, Common Application, etc.), UMich also gives students the option of submitting a letter of recommendation to distinguish themselves from the competition.
Finally, it is highly advised one look at the specific requirements for the particular college they are applying.
UMich has 14+ colleges students may apply to, and each has its own admissions requirements and standards for what a competitive applicant looks like.
University of Michigan University Transfer Deadline
The application deadline for UMich transfers is February 1st for the fall term. There is no early-decision deadline for transfer applicants.
Because UMich offers a spring and summer half-term of 7 weeks each, February 1st is also the deadline to enroll during the spring and summer half terms.
Transfer students’ first semester cannot be a full spring term, but they can opt to begin attending UMich during a 7-week spring or summer half-term if they so choose.
The application deadline for the winter term is October 1st.
The School of Music, Theatre & Dance has a separate application deadline of December 1st.
For fall transfers, it is recommended they complete their financial aid application prior to December 15th, though the final deadline is March 31st.
What is the Decision Date for UMich Transfers?
The date by which students expecting to enroll in the fall must decide whether they will accept their offer of admission from UMich is May 1st.
Although the time of the year during which decisions will be sent to applicants varies, generally transfer students who applied prior to February will learn if they were admitted before the end of April.
Those applying for the winter term will hear back regarding their admissions decision prior to the end of November.
Deciding Whether You Should Transfer to University of Michigan
But even after the application has been completed, and one has done all the necessary work needed to enroll in the specific college they are interested in, an important question remains: is UMich the right school for me?
Although the answer to this question will vary from person to person, essential affordances only available to transfer students make UMich an excellent choice for those considering it.
For one thing, if one is applying from a community college, there are both professional development and financial opportunities available at UMich that no other students will have access to.
One such program is the Community College Summer Fellowship Program. Community college students interested in transferring to UMich will have the opportunity to conduct research alongside University of Michigan faculty while receiving a stipend of up to $5,000.
A similar paid research program only available to transfer students is Changing Gears, available to both community college and transfers from 4-year universities.
Furthermore, a variety of scholarships are available exclusively for community college transfer students. One such scholarship, the Community College Scholar Award, pays $5,000 per year.
Finally, there are two separate networking programs only available to transfer students. The first is for transfer students from community colleges, called M-Connect, and the second is Transfer Connections, which is open to transfer students more broadly.
M-Connect can help students prior to being enrolled at UMich by providing application assistance and guidance regarding which courses would be transferable at Michigan.
After enrollment, M-Connect students will have access to counseling, research opportunities, exclusive classes, and more.
Transfer Connections is focused on building relationships between transfer students via social events and skill-building activities.
Through Transfer Connections, students will be introduced to a variety of UMich resources, and fellow transfer students, in a guided way.
All of this is to say that UMich cares about transfer students, and has many wonderful affordances for transfer students that one may not find elsewhere.
Besides considering the wonderful academic and student-life affordances at UMich, another important factor in deciding is what a school offers to transfer students.
As the above section demonstrates, UMich offers a lot.
RECAP: How to Apply As a Transfer Student to University of Michigan
To recap, the first thing a potential transfer student needs to do to begin their journey to Ann Arbor is to look at the specific requirements of the college they expect to apply.
With over 14 different colleges, each with its own admissions criteria, researching one’s specific college is strongly advised.
To aid in this process, community college students can reach out to M-Connect, a service on campus that aids potential transfer students from Michigan community colleges in the application process.
Regardless of which college to which students expect to apply, they will have to try to attain a GPA of at least a 3.0 in order to be competitive, even though, technically, the minimum required GPA is a 2.0.
Those hoping to transfer to UMich in the winter semester will need to fill out their application by October 1st. They will then hear back regarding their admissions decision by the end of November.
Students applying for the fall or the spring/summer half terms will have to submit their applications prior to February 1st. Decisions for these students will be released by the end of April.
For financial aid, students should turn in their application before December 15th, but the technical deadline is March 31st.
And the final step is to submit one’s final decision and $300 enrollment deposit by May 1st.
And once this is complete, students will be all set to attend what might be the best public university in the United States.
It is a school with wonderful campus life, Ivy League academics, one of the nation’s best sports teams, and rich campus traditions that can make any transfer student proud to call themselves a Wolverine.
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