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UMich Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts & Tips

August 7, 2024

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.

(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 2024-25 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also offers tips about how to address each one:

2024-2025 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, 300 words)

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,” whether that’s as 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)

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. A solid move is to research and cite UMich student-run organizations and/or local nonprofit groups—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. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

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, 550 words)

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 the essays 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.

UMich Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

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.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• 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. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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4 Top Tips for University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

College Essays

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.

Feature Image: Ken Lund /Flickr

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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!

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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University of Michigan Supplemental Essays Prompts: 2024-2025

The University of Michigan has published its 2024-2025 admissions essays for applicants to the Class of 2029. 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!

2024-2025 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 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 2029.

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How to write the university of michigan essays 2020-2021: the incomparable guide (examples included).

Located in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan is a college with a long-standing history of rigorous academic programs and successful alumni.

There are over 40,000 students that attend UM, pursuing degrees in one of 250 programs.

• The University of Michigan has an acceptance rate of 28%.

If academic prestige is at the top of your criteria for a school, look no further.

According to the “Rankings, Facts & Figures” page of the UM website , the college has some astounding achievements under its belt:

• #1 Public University For Your Money
• 97%+ students return after freshman year
• Top 25 University Worldwide

If you’re not convinced yet, check out the Ann Arbor arts scene and sprawling University of Michigan campus.

Take a tour to see what life would be like at Michigan. You might be ready to pack your bags, but you’ll have to apply to get it in first!

The University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Requirements

The University of Michigan does not host its own application but gives prospective students the option to apply via the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success Application or Common App .

• Both of these application options require standard essays in addition to Michigan-specific essays.

You can check out our thorough guides to the standard Coalition essays here and those for the Common App essays here .

For the Michigan supplemental, you will be required to answer two relatively lengthier questions that are labeled as “Essay #1” and “Essay #2.”

They should have more structure than a short answer question.  You’ll also notice that the word count limit is significantly larger than other supplemental essays.

Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. 100-300 words.) 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. Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 100-550 words.) 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?

Click above to watch a video on how to write Michigan Supplemental Essays.

Brainstorming the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

You’ve finished listing your activities in the application? Great. Now it’s time to play pretend. We need to exercise your brainstorming muscles.

Think about all of the activities in which you participate and then to choose the only one you could not give up.

• For example, if you are a musician, then pick one instrument and one associated activity you can describe.

Furthermore, if you are a classical pianist, you could describe how long you have been playing, why you intend to keep playing, and a major competition you have won or recital you have performed.

But it’s so hard to choose! While that’s true, remember this is a hypothetical scenario.

In a real situation, you might never give up soccer because it’s your ticket to a free ride to college.

You might not be financially stable enough to give up this opportunity.

• However, in a hypothetical situation, you might give up soccer because you feel more passionately about your work with the Future Business Leaders of America and would like to one day own and operate your own design-a-sneaker store.

To narrow down your options, first ask yourself these questions:

• How long have I been participating in this activity?
• Am I still an active participant?
• Do I hold a leadership role in any of these activities?
• Do I have a role model or mentor who has influenced my life through my participation in this activity?
• Have I grown (as a person, player, musician, etc.) over time while participating in this activity?
• Do I feel passionate about this activity?

To narrow the list down further, ask yourself why you would or would not keep specific options.

• This means that you will need to be precise in your description and use descriptive language to highlight your experience.

The questions above point you in the direction you need to go when writing your essays.

• An activity in which you have participated in for several years, have established yourself as a leader, worked with mentors, and have grown in some fashion could make a powerful essay.

When thinking through this brainstorming exercise, provide only enough context about your activity so that a reader will understand what it is.

• You would have to provide more information about competitive bottle flipping than for a well-known activity like marching band.
• Also, you want to save the majority of your words for describing why you would choose this activity above the others.

Use emotional language and specific examples when describing what the activity means to you.

• For example, you might explain how far you’ve come from having been a shy student who was interested in politics to becoming outgoing with your peers and well-versed in national political discourse.
• Allow your writing to tell your story.

The purpose of this essay is for you to begin thinking about your story. Clarity will lead to better writing, so take the time to figure out your storyboard.

Michigan Supplemental Essay #1: You and Your Community

Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. 100-300 words.) 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.

As outlined in the prompt above, a community can be defined in many different ways.

In this essay, you are tasked with writing about one of the communities or groups you belong to “and your place within it.”

Since you are undoubtedly a part of many different communities, first brainstorm every community/group that you belong to. The prompt offers these ideas as a start:

• Intellectual Heritage

Your community can be large (the United States of America) or it could be small (residents living on Pomegranate Street).

• What you have been able to contribute to your community is just as important if not more important than what the community has done for you.

Perhaps you mentored younger students, helped coordinate meetups, or aided in putting together a makerspace.

Whatever it is you did for your community, make sure you highlight how it made a difference from the status quo.

Get personalized advice!

What’s important here is to write, write, write.

You may find that while trying to come up with these examples, one may not have initially occurred to you on first reading.

Here are some additional examples of communities:

• Military families
• Teen court volunteers
• High school community
• Geocaching community
• African-American community
• Second-generation American community

Once you know what community you want to write about, it’s time to start thinking about how you fit into that community.

• If you feel like you’re more of an outsider than a participant, you may need to choose another option.
• The essay itself should find a good balance between describing the community and your role.

The idea of community is incredibly close to our sense of identity and purpose in life.

• Therefore, it’s okay for this essay to be personal and emotionally descriptive .
• It should not read like a textbook.
• It is a real and rich experience you are sharing with your readers and should be treated that way.

When describing your community, you might talk about the members, the place where you get together (be it a physical place, online, or more spiritually abstract), the goals or ideals of your group, and so on.

• For example, if you are writing about the bird-watching community in your town, you would highlight that it is made up of both expert professors and interested average citizens.
• You might meet up at the bird sanctuary and go on hikes all over the county in smaller groups.
• The goals of your community are to enjoy these beautiful creatures while also working together to protect them and create ideal conditions in which they can prosper.
• Then, you would describe your role in the community and, perhaps, what being a part of that community means to you.
• To continue our example, you might write about how you were introduced to the group because your mother is an ornithologist and you would tag along as a kid.
• Now you participate in the community through your own volition by organizing fundraising events and managing the group’s social media account.
• It doesn’t matter that you have no interest in ornithology as a career. You grew to love the community and will be a lifelong participant.

For this essay, you have a limit of 300 words.

Remember to balance describing your community and your role in order to create a compelling story.

If you briefly describe your role and focus only on the community at large, your readers will miss out on the opportunity to learn more about you as a person (and, by extension, you as a potential student).

Michigan Community Essay Examples

Michigan community essay example 1:

I have always known that soldiers and veterans are the people who have sacrificed for our country. Yet, I have undervalued them since they were of no consequence in my life. After my dad signed me up (read: forcibly volunteered) to assist a night game of bingo at the NY VA, I did not know I would be joining a new family. While distributing snacks, the patients constantly asked me about my well-being and personal stories. As I volunteered more, I met new family members. I cleaned wheelchairs and gathered them from the parking lot to ensure the wheelchair supply was always sufficient for visitors. Through this, I gained an appreciation for the precise care it took to transport family members and ensure they felt at home after surgery. Admittedly, I grow impatient when tasks are not moving at my desired pace, but if I was taking care of sick family members, I knew I had to change. Seeing the struggle it took for a family member to get into a wheelchair and retrieve his oxygen tank helped me realize that I had to develop patience and composure. At the VA, I became a grandson, who learned how to take accountability for his actions. I discovered communication skills that will help me become closer with those of different backgrounds. My VA family has molded me to connect with and lend a helping hand to new families. The Edward Ginsberg Center at your school is a platform that will allow me to leverage and expand my skills in community engagement. I can see myself taking on a leadership role, engaging in service, and continuing to contribute to the VA and other communities through the Community Leadership fellows program.

Michigan community essay example #2:

Generation Z  is my community. The teens and young adults of the world, stereotyped as the generation that can’t do anything other than look at a phone. The laziest generation. The most self-centered generation. I see another side of this generation, though.  Generation Z is a   community with  the power to change the world by noticing problems in the world and raising awareness. Gen Z is filled with ambitious dreamers who aren’t afraid to stand up and speak out. My community consists of young people globally speaking truths of power. Greta Thunberg is only seventeen, but has raised global awareness about the dangers of climate change. My place in this community is as someone who has noticed a global crisis regarding blindness and how easily it can be prevented. In 2018, I flew to Honduras to volunteer in a hospital and travel  to rural villages across the country to set up clinics to screen for cataracts and distribute reading glasses. I observed the cataract surgeries that I had funded by fundraising in the U.S. Each surgery only costs $50, but the villagers cannot afford it.  As someone in danger of going blind someday, it broke my heart to know that so many people were suffering and couldn’t afford the care that they needed. Though I was only sixteen, I took on the mentality of many other determined Gen Zers: I can fix this. My work with Unite for Sight didn’t end with my trip to Honduras. I hope to continue to fix this issue  by figuring out how to bring the price of the surgery down and make it more available to the public. I hope to make other Gen Z kids proud by taking initiative on a project that I am passionate about that will create lasting change. 

Michigan community essay example #3:

As my entrepreneurial fervor grew during my first three years of high school, I found myself feeling disjointed from my peers and looking for a community that would nurture my startup fever. When she noticed my budding interest, the head of a local incubator invited me to apply for their accelerator program. I initially felt unsure, but I gave it a shot, and as time went on, I felt as if I were transported to Ancient Athens during every Monday session. As a program meant to help individuals jumpstart and accelerate their businesses, the incubator prompted participants to think Socratically. We questioned and debated every preconceived notion regarding startups: how to conduct proper market research, when and why to shut down, and even whether a humanitarian venture could also be a profitable one. Our oratories were not dull, 10-minute long PowerPoints followed by the occasional golf clap; they were action-packed, 60-second elevator pitches accompanied by a barrage of inquiries and suggestions about statistical logos and story-telling pathos. Through numerous congregations within the polis, I gave a fellow participant the conviction to pursue his business of educating students on the college recruiting process, emphasizing how all of my friends loved athletics and wanted to go D1. In return, he helped me see that the biggest problem with teens wasn’t always finding opportunities; it was being ready and professional enough to capture it. Despite channeling Alexander the Great’s cutthroat competitiveness at the beginning, our group personified Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates in the end, as we considered each other’s ventures and employed our own ethos to help one another. We didn’t all have to be our own Homers — our Iliad and Odyssey were the cumulative success of all of our companies, forged by the collaborative intertwining of our stories.

Michigan community essay example #4:

Months of endless preparation have culminated in this very moment. Standing on the bema, I look down at my Star of David necklace, smiling. Today, I will become a Bat Mitzvah. Today, I will officially become an adult in the eyes of my community.    The global Jewish community is diverse, yet connected through our heritage and values. Integral to Jewish teachings is the responsibility to perform tikkun olam , which are acts of kindness performed to improve the world. This principle has been a driving force in my life, influencing my actions, shaping my decisions, and connecting me with my heritage.  I have found my niche within the Jewish community through the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. BBYO connects Jewish teens locally and globally, providing them with a platform to engage in social action in the spirit of tikkun olam. As the leader of my local BBYO chapter, it is my goal to create programming that highlights charity, where all who join leave feeling enriched and inspired to do good on their own.  BBYO has ingrained in me an important aspect of tikkun olam: giving back is not equivalent to donating material items. Rather, it can be in the form of guidance, demonstrating care, or providing others with new perspectives that enhance their life. Thus, my chapter promotes a variety of programs such as creating Mother’s Day baskets for domestically abused women in shelters, but also spending time with the elderly in our neighborhoods and encouraging others in random acts of kindness.  The Jewish community will always be my home. Within it, I have found young, Jewish leaders empowered to create a difference through tikkun olam . Together with my peers, my community has the ability to create positive change in our neighborhoods, countries, and throughout the world. 

Michigan Supplemental Essay #2:

Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 100-550 words.) 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?

The University of Michigan not only offers a wide array of degree programs but also strongly believes in the power of education to create informed and influential citizens.

Before writing this essay, you should perform significant research on the programs for which you are applying.

• It will be apparent to the admissions committee whether or not you took the time to learn about these programs.
• A potential student who has invested time in searching for the program that is perfect for her interests will be much more likely to write an authentic and convincing essay.

You may already know what degree programs you are interested in, but you might also be a part of a large group of students going to college that has no idea.

• If this is the case, determine which fields you are most interested in that you would also feel comfortable writing about.

The easy part of writing this essay is describing the university’s degree programs.

What’s more challenging is linking your interests to the curriculum.

• Perhaps you are interested in the University of Michigan’s nursing program. You have always been interested in science and medicine and participated in HOSA (a group for future health professionals) all four years of high school.
• You also studied abroad one summer and have become even more interested in global health as a potential career path.
• In this essay, you want to talk about your experience with HOSA and your dream of becoming a nurse.
• You also want to discuss that study abroad experience and how you would be interested in applying for a minor in “Population Health in a Global Context” offered by the nursing department.
• You also intend to participate in study abroad in college.

The key to this essay is specificity.

As much as possible, you should provide concrete examples of your experiences, interests, and career/college goals.

Perhaps you are interested in studying computer science and engineering because, after all, the University of Michigan has the co-founder of Google as a notable alumnus.

• Do the background research into the department of interest and look at the course description as well, and the capstone project expected of students.
• You should have demonstrated interest from high school, perhaps a science fair project, advanced classes, or a summer research internship.
• Let that set the foundation for the reason you want to pursue, say, in this case, computer science, and then highlight which classes will help you further your career aspirations.
• This will not be set in stone, but you need to demonstrate that you have some coherent plan.

Allow your excitement and passion to shine through your writing. The admissions committee wants to understand more about you and why UM is the perfect fit for you (and vice versa).

Why Michigan Essay Example

I was 5 when I sat in the stands of the Crisler Center, watching my dad receive his MBA from the University of Michigan. The person my dad has become, as a father and manager at Chrysler Motors, has inspired me to pursue computer science at U-M. As my passion developed, I joined the Cars Club (CC), in which we build fuel-efficient cars. A major experience included wiring trailer lights so that we could transport our newly built vehicles. As a newcomer to wiring, I measured and drilled holes, connected lighting, and combined wiring with hardware. The first step to wiring was running the length of the wire throughout the trailer. In order to feed the wire, I used a dipstick to pull and stretch the correct colored wires to corresponding locations of the trailer. Although my back ached with pain after lying under the trailer for an hour, I enjoyed drilling holes and connecting the wires to the lights. Eventually, the finished trailer was used to transport the team’s fuel-efficient car.    CC is very similar to your Supermileage team, a club I got to see at the Wilson center and one I will join thanks to my interest in engaging in hands-on experiences with prototypical vehicles and technologies. Using my experience in CC, I aim to collaborate with highly capable students to develop the solution to fuel economy issues. Another student organization that I will join is Code M, which will help me spread knowledge about computer science and engineering while learning through a collaborative environment and corporate events. I witnessed the culture and diversity of U-M at the MMSS camp, where I took the course Math and the Internet. During this course, I learned about cryptography, error correction code, and wiring logic gates by creating truth tables. A major class project required the creation of logic diagrams and wiring of logic gates to make a part of a “computer” that sends messages to Twitter. This was an arduous process, as I had exposure to neither making logic diagrams nor wiring in this context. However, the hands-on and interactive experiences that Professor Mark Conger provided, such as drawing and explaining logic diagrams, helped me grasp the concepts. In addition, I worked on public and private key encryption and sent messages to decode using ASCII, the modulo operation, and the Euclidean algorithm. The interactive style of the classroom encouraged me to ask Professor Conger for help on how to find the mod of numbers with large exponents. Professor Conger’s creative “magic” card game taught me binary, which helped me absorb challenging material. The environment at U-M gave me the tools to thrive. I envision myself at U-M College of Engineering computer science classes, considering my experience with programming websites that automate Pythagorean theorem calculations. Computer Architecture, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, and Advanced Embedded Systems are courses I will take in order to learn more about the applications of computer science. Using the knowledge from these classes, I will contribute to Mcity’s research and undergraduate research programs like SURE and SROP projects. Likewise, my goal is to contribute to the research on autonomous vehicles conducted by Ford and U-M in tandem. Seeing all of U-M’s initiatives, I know I can advance the automation of sustainable technologies at your school.

Conclusion: University of Michigan Supplemental Essays

It’s a good idea to type your answers in a word processor instead of directly into the application box.

This way, you can see all of your text at once and use a built-in spell check tool before copy and pasting your essays into the application.

Once you have a solid draft, read your work aloud and make revisions as you go. Finally, have a peer or adult read your writing for clarity and any grammar errors.

Essays are never perfect in the first draft. These strategies will help you polish your application until it shines.

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University of Michigan Supplemental Essays 2023-24

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?

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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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University of Michigan 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Feb 1

University of Michigan 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One essay of 300 words, one essay of 550 words

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.

Required for all applicants. 300 words maximum..

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. 550 words maximum..

Here is your Why Essay, and it’s a nice, hefty one at 550 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.

Stephen M. Ross School of Business 2024-25 Portfolio Prompt Explanations

Preferred admission applicants to the university of michigan’s stephen m. ross school of business will complete a portfolio . this portfolio is in addition to the materials you submit with your common application or coalition application. the ross school of business undergraduate admissions team conducts a separate review of your application and portfolio. , 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.).

This prompt is essentially asking you to do a case study: choose a problem in the world and analyze it, describing its implications and proposing a solution using business principles and practices. We recommend a “backward brainstorm” here. Start by thinking about what aspects of business drew you to the field, whether that be marketing, data analysis, financial accounting, or something else. Then, think about current events or issues and see if any of them could be solved using your favorite aspect of business. Whatever issue you choose, be sure to describe what it means for business. For example, maybe you’re intrigued by operations management and think that your city’s poor website resources are hindering local businesses from obtaining necessary licenses, a problem that could be fixed by optimizing operations at the city level. Perhaps you’re most interested in marketing and realized that local restaurants in your town are being supplanted by big chains, a problem that does not bode well for local business owners and could be ameliorated through improved marketing and advertising efforts. Remember that Ross is looking for creativity, originality, and interesting connections, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box! (Could this be a chance to apply your penchant for visual marketing to analyze the effectiveness of billboards on your local highway? Or suggest that they’re more of a traffic hazard than good for the community?) 

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. note: you will upload your artifact in the “portfolio” section of your submission..

This prompt is about creativity and originality. If you are a visual artist, this is the perfect place to upload some of your artwork, explaining how it represents your learning in action. If not, you can upload an audio file, essay, math problem, recipe, Minecraft structure, photo, or anything else that has significant meaning to you. Maybe you’ll upload a picture of your kitchen table with your notebooks open and a pan on the stove in the background to show that, as the eldest sibling, you do your coursework while cooking dinner for your younger siblings, interspersing math equations with recipe measurements. Perhaps you play the viola in the school orchestra and you want to upload a file that includes 20 seconds of you practicing a tricky passage followed by the same clip in performance to show how much “behind the scenes” work goes into the final product. Whatever you choose to upload here, make sure you explain both its significance in your life and how it shows your learning in action. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Michigan Essays

We have been reading Michigan essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Michigan Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the Michigan supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Michigan essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances .

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! The University of Michigan asks applicants to submit two supplemental essays: one (1) essay of 300 words and one (1) essay of 550 words.

Authenticity and reflection are key. You want to both ensure that you’re submitting essays that no one else could submit—meaning they contain specific details from your life or interests that aren’t easily replicable—and show that you’ve put thought and care into your response.

The University of Michigan supplement is due with your application. If you’re applying Early Action, that means by November 1. If you’re applying via Regular Decision, you need to submit your writing supplement by February 1.

The University of Michigan requires two (2) supplemental essays. But if you’re applying to the Ross School of Business, you will need to submit two (2) additional essays.

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University of Michigan Supplemental Essays + Examples

One of the weird things about U Mich’s supplemental essays isn’t really the essays themselves. Rather, here at PenningPapers, we noticed no one gives comprehensive details on how to ACTUALLY write the essay questions. All writing advice, not just for U Mich essays, must tell you how to ACTUALLY approach the essays. Unfortunately, most advice is just too vague.

Take U Mich’s second supplemental essay prompt for instance.

Prompt: “Why do you want to attend the University of Michigan?”

Answer: “To answer this question, you must show why you want to attend U Mich. Just talk about why you want to go! Maybe you have a major that fits their needs. Cool!”

“To answer this question, you must show why you want to attend U Mich. Just talk about why you want to go! Maybe you have a major that fits their needs. Cool!”

U Mich boasts an acceptance rate of 23% and a median unweighted GPA of 3.9 . So, obviously, advice like this doesn’t really need to be said.

If you’re striving to attend a school like this, you probably know basic reading comprehension. So, real advice would be a deconstruction of the essay question and how to approach the University of Michigan supplemental essays in a smart way!

Also, if you’re reading this article to figure out how to write the U Mich essays, you probably are wondering how to write the essays for other schools too.

Some of this advice is applicable to other highly competitive schools too such as Dartmouth, Cornell, Duke, etc. As a side note, you should be looking for articles that deconstruct the questions like I am doing below, and not just giving lazy advice!

Table of Contents

U Mich Community Essay Question

U mich “why us” essay question, optional u mich covid question, u mich school of education essay question.

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) U Mich Undergrad Website

Alright, a few rules here.

You can write about belonging to practically any community unless it demonstrates major red flags. Here’s an example: people who fall under the ENTJ personality trait of the MBTI personality test are part of the “commander personality” community. This is healthy, and they’re good answers. People who harbor resentment for the opposite sex such as the Red Pill, the Pink Pill, and the Incel community have a history of red flags. These are not healthy, and they’re bad answers.

Maybe you as an individual are a good person. It doesn’t matter. From a college admissions strategy perspective, you don’t want to risk compromising your admissions chances because of a community’s bad reputation.

Here are a couple of other good examples of healthy communities to write about in your University of Michigan essay:

• Your personal Dungeons and Dragons community
• The anime community (This can be tricky, but it’s also very interesting. I helped a lot of Asian American students in the SoCal area with these essays. (I also have a guide on this that you should probably check out here. )
• The Kpop community
• Ethnic community
• Religious community
• Atheist community
• Video game community
• Political ideology
• The fanbase for certain people
• Entrepreneurship community
• You and your circle of friends

Okay, once you’ve chosen a community you belong to, you want to achieve these two things.

• Open up to the admissions officers so they can understand you more.
• Demonstrate a character trait that they can see as valuable.

When you’re writing about your community, you’re showing something personal to the admissions officers. This is something that can be quite hard. Obviously, you don’t have to write everything embarrassing about yourself in the University of Michigan essays to get accepted. That’s not what they’re asking. They just want a deeper look into your life as a whole to better understand you.

You can’t do that by just telling them about the surface level of what your community is like. You do this by getting into detail about the intricacies of your experience in your community.

Here are a few examples. Can you differentiate which one gives the admissions officers a better look at the applicant’s community?

“My community is my Future Business Leaders of America club. In the club, my role is the president. I enjoy leading my team and showing everyone the power of entrepenuership, business, and leadership. We host workshops every other day, and we also host weekly lectures talking about the different monetization methods for people who want to start their own business. Our club has 50 students in it. It is very inspiring to see all of them work so hard to aim for their dreams and aspirations. I hope to do the same at the University of Michigan.” U Mich Essay Example Except 1

“It’s Monday morning. Among other things that commonly accompany Monday mornings, other than cold weather and fantasties of the weekend ahead, is my eccentric Vice President: Joe O’Conner. We were walking to the FBLA club meeting early to get the powerpoint set up and print out worksheets. Despite being the President, my thin frame and I barely kept up with the winter wrath. My Vice President on the other hand had the stoic Irish blood keeping him from shivering in the cold. ‘You and me, Dylan! We’re the most iconic duo! We both love the hustle, we live and breathe the grind. The grind never ends! It’s all about that mindset! The grind! The grindset! The…’ Joe was always like that, and I loved him like a brother for it. He was one of those guys who always seemed to be enthusiastic to work on anything. To drive the FBLA stereotype furhter, he had one of those toothy ‘my dad works at JP Morgan’ smiles. In some ways, we’re very different. Joe is much more talkative and extroverted than I. I am much more straightforward and aggressive in startup growth strategies than he is. Nonetheless, we both share a passion for the business and startup ‘hustle’. ‘Dylan, cold as ice. Joe, warm as the sun. They make a great gay couple.’ It’s what our entire team says, and they have for so long that it’s practically stuck with us as an inside joke. That was the thing about FBLA. What people see is the nonstop hustle and grit and sweat and tears. However, what a lot of people don’t see about my club, about my people, is just the amount of love and emotion that goes into FBLA. In our team, I’ve seen…” U Mich Essay Example Except 2

So, which one is the stronger U Mich essay example excerpt?

The second one! Great!

Do you notice how the writing here in the second example shows what the applicant’s experience and personal life in FBLA was like? It doesn’t just scratch the surface, it gets more personal. This doesn’t go for just this essay, but for all of the University of Michigan supplemental essays: admissions officers must see more of your personality. Imagine writing this in a narrative format instead of as a resume! It should be interesting and unique, not just multiple things to check off on a list.

Consider trying to write your essay in a narrative format. This will help you with writing more compelling content that can get deeper than the surface level.

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) U Mich Undergrad Website

Like all “Why Us” essay questions, the U Mich Why Us essay question requires that you demonstrate why you are a good fit for the school.

Think of the University of Michigan supplemental essays as a sorting tool. This question sorts through different students based on their responses. Admissions officers can see what value and worth they can provide to the school depending on what you say, so imagine yourself as an asset.

Some students are applying to the University of Michigan “just for the sake of it”; other people, on the other hand, may want to apply to the school because they actually very much need to attend for the sake of their particular career. In other words, why do you need to attend the University of Michigan more than any other school?

Is your major going to be incomplete without the help of the opportunities that U Mich provides? Does your current state lack the schools and community to support the particular kinds of projects that you want to undertake? Perhaps you would like to tap into the artificial intelligence market and you thought that visiting Silicon Valley would be a great option for that, only to realize that you couldn’t stand the bureaucratic startup nonsense.

One of the things you should avoid is talking about things from the School or College that can be provided at practically any school. If you’re applying for the University of Michigan CSE (Computer Science and Engineering) because you want to take computer science courses that fit your career path, that isn’t going to be strong enough. Remember: most schools have more than enough resources to provide you with the education you need to land a good career.

If you talk about the details of the classes provided in the program as well as the available clubs in the school, then that will be sufficient in answering this question.

Here are some examples

“I want to apply to the University of Michigan CSE because I know that the program has classes that will fit my career in computer science. I have a passion for computer science, and I want to explore more of that passion in the classes available in the program. These will fit my needs, and I will be able to pursue a career in computer science that will be fulfilling.” U Mich Why Us Example Essay Exceprt

“I have a plan to develop ‘x’ in the future as a possible startup. I would be in need of a strong team with the same tempermental proclivities and passion for entrepenuership as I have. However, I will also need to prepare myself with the proper computer science and software development knowledge to create a valuable product for the startup such that it can scale early on to begin with. This plan has bewitched me for the past two years, and I’ve blueprinted its formula in my head and in recent months in an organized planner. The University of Michigan CSE is the perfect program to give me the knowledge I need for the next four years to bootstrap my startup. I know that I cannot work under the pressure of venture capital investments backing up my work, but I can work at my own pace through my own grit and determination without the pressure of others. Thus, I will need everyhing in my arsenal of tools to prepare me for the right jumpstart. The University of Michigan’s classes in ‘x’ and particular the professors and their research in ‘y’ will help me enormously in my goal for achieving my dreams and aspirations.” U Mich Why Us Example Essay 2 Exceprt

Take note of how the first U Mich “Why Us” example excerpt is too vague in its description. It doesn’t really help us paint a good idea of why the person needs to attend the school for certain. We only know, like all other students, that the applicant in this essay wants to get into U Mich because there are good career prospects to be had for his intended major. However, it doesn’t really give a good idea of how the student stands out from the rest as someone who truly needs or deserves it compared to the other applicants. The second essay, on the other hand, does this.

Here’s another thing you want to consider about the U Mich “Why Us” essays. If you’re not specific enough about your plans, it is hard for the admissions officers to take your word for it. Think about this from the admissions officer’s shoes! If you hear someone say that they want to get in because they have hyper-specific details about how they’ll use the resources in the school to achieve their goal, you’ll think that they’re well-prepared and also deserving of attending the school.

Throughout this guide, you’re going to see this pattern repeat itself. All University of Michigan supplemental essays require you to be specific.

Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. The question will be optional and will appear in the Additional Information section of the application. Your response will be limited to 250 words. U Mich Undergrad Website

Compared to the rest of the University of Michigan supplemental essays, we see this one disregarded for some reason. Don’t ignore this one, or at least don’t assume it’s not as important just because everyone else went through their own trouble. In fact, don’t try to be too humble and ignore your struggles for this essay.

The admissions officers won’t think you’re being whiny, trust us! They’ll understand your scenario since COVID has been hard on everyone. (unless, of course, it’s small issues like having to wear a mask every day)

Practically everyone has had issues with COVID-19. Even if you were not affected as much, it’s something that has affected many others. Thus, if you want to approach this essay in a smart manner, you need to be both articulate and specific.

Remember, everyone has their own problems as well. Thus, you can’t just assume that your problems will give you special treatment.

You need to phrase the essay in a manner such that the admissions officers can see how you were disadvantaged, but they also need to believe you. The last thing they want is someone using this opportunity to get away with bad grades or get away with being lazy in their previous quarter.

Let’s take a few examples of good and bad ways to write the U Mich COVID-19 essay question.

“ During COVID-19, I was not able to focus on my studies because of the online learning format. I was not familiar with the software platform, and it was hard to learn how everything worked. Thus, I was unable to achieve the grades and marks that I wished to achieve. When I was coping with the online learning process, I also found it difficult to focus in class. It was easy to get distracted, and staying focused on the material being taught was a challenge.” U Mich COVID Example Essay 1 Exceprt

“ When the COVID-19 pademic hit, it was practically impossible to adapt to the online learning format. Not only was it difficult to learn how the new software and classroom structure would be formatted, but we were essentially set up for a difficult and quite possibly inescapably hard year. The teacher had to learn on their own how to make the classes work, and due to this technical difficulty we could not even process or grade assignements properly. For instance, I had submitted a set of 5 different assignments, but all of them were deemed late not because they were submitted late, but because of the error in the system. The teacher had told me that it was not my fault, but there was not much that could be done to right this wrong. “ U Mich COVID Example Essay 2 Exceprt

One of the important factors of the second except is that it gets into detail about how inescapable the difficulty was. Note that everyone’s struggles during the pandemic are valid. We understand that!

However, there are some disadvantages that are more severe than others. More often than not, we see people writing about their disadvantages in a way that actually does not reveal the whole picture. They only show how it is “sort of” bad, but they don’t show how “truly bad” it can be.

The chance you may be underestimating how much more difficult the pandemic made your academic journey is quite high! Besides, no one wants to look like they’re whining! Nonetheless, if you were disadvantaged due to the pandemic, it is your responsibility to show that in the most accurate way to the admissions officers.

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

Of all the University of Michigan supplemental essays, I believe that this one is the most interesting.

If you’re applying for U Mich’s School of Education, you already know the gravity of your field. Your career path is important enough that it will affect the lives of many students around the world. Thus, it makes sense to answer this question not only with passion but also with a well-thought-out plan. You want to approach this essay with the impression that you are someone who takes this career seriously, and you can’t do that without having a well-fleshed-out plan for your future.

Now, here’s the hard part: isn’t every teacher going to be doing the same thing?

Think about it. If you write your University of Michigan supplemental essays well and better than the rest, what happens? You get accepted to the School of Education, get a career as a teacher, work until you receive your tenure, and live comfortably.

If that’s the case for practically everyone, how on Earth are we going to stand out from the rest of the crowd?

Well, we believe it’s in the unique quality of where you plan to teach, who you want to teach, and your journey there. It’s special for everyone, but zero in on the details about what your journey was like getting there. Everyone has a similar path, but everyone also has a unique experience that motivated them to be a teacher.

Here is an example of a good and bad U Mich essay for the School of Education.

“I would like to teach high school students in the Southern Claifornia region, particulary the areas of SoCal that are struggling financially. I witness every day students and parents struggling with the education system. The students are unmotivated and the parents have given up hope. I would like to teach in this area because I once saw the corruption that occured in these areas. The pipeline was clear that students were simply being funneled in and out of an education system that didn’t care about their learning and career. When I made this realization, I wanted to help students and give them my empathy.” U Mich School of Education Example Essay 2 Exceprt

“At 7:30 PM, I start my camera and begin the livestream. I started Coffee Break, a livestream account of me studying along with strangers on the internet, when I started to get bored of video games. After having fallen out of love with the instant gratifcation of games, I started to drift in my interests, and eventually created Coffee Break as a place for other fellow gamers to semi-study and procrastinate together. Funnily enough, this acceptance of procrastinating actually led to people privately messaging me and telling me how much more work they’ve done. Everyone from premed students to high schoolers dreading their pre calculus tests joined the call and took turns playing comfy music while I livestreamed myself working on startup projects and drinking coffee. Funnily enough, after a few months of polling, I found that most of my students actually were from the Bay Area. They were mostly Asian American gamers. We sometimes shared stories of the insane and irrational tutoring businesses that our parents put us through, espeically the toxic capitalist undertones that fueled them. As an aspiring teacher, I want to make a change in this community. Coffee break has motivated me to take a more light approach to education. I would like to teach high school students in the Bay Area, and bring the energy I’ve developed at Coffee Break to ease the educational tension that so haunts the students there.” U Mich School of Education Example Essay 2 Exceprt

In the first essay, we can see the paragraph that answers the question. However, it doesn’t really give us a good idea of what their future plans really are. There is no distinction between the first essay excerpt and that of someone who is trying to find straws to grab at. When writing any of the University of Michigan supplemental essays, you want to show attention to detail. This will make your essay more believable

Take a look at the second one. The second U Mich example excerpt dives into detail about how the applicant decided to pursue their career in education through Coffee Break. They know that they want to work with Bay Area high school students because their experience live-streaming has given them the right exposure to that population and their needs. Think of how your journey to helping students through teaching has manifested itself.

If you’re still struggling to write the University of Michigan supplemental essays and answer the prompts correctly, consider speaking with us for a free consultation . We will get back to you within 24 hours for a free essay review and advice.

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August 8, 2022

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.

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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.

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!

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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As students consider how they will contribute to the University of Michigan campus community and respond to question and essay prompts, they may wish to highlight things that had an impact on them such as: their involvement in clubs, competing as a student-athlete, studying abroad, going on a mission trip, being engaged in debate, participating in the performing or visual arts, having alumni ties to the institution, making a difference in their community, serving in a leadership capacity, being an entrepreneur, and many others. 

University of Michigan Questions

• 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)
• 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)

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? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Transfer Applicants:   If you are a transfer student, please view the Transfer Essay Questions webpage  for additional required essays.

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Hi all! I'm working on my UMich essays and I'm curious to see examples of essays that caught the admissions office's attention. Can anyone share their essays that worked or direct me to some resources where I can find them? It'd be super helpful in giving me an idea of what they're looking for!

Hey there! You're in luck, because CollegeVine indeed has a sampling of successful University of Michigan essays on their blog, as well as breakdowns of what each essay did well and what could have been done even better: https://blog.collegevine.com/university-of-michigan-essay-examples/.

I'd also be happy to share some general tips and guidance on how to write compelling essays for your University of Michigan application.

1. Focus on what makes you unique: UMich receives tens of thousands of applications every year, so it's essential to make your essay stand out. Emphasize experiences, skills, or perspectives that are unique to you, so your essay doesn't get lost in a sea of similar narratives.

2. Be genuine and authentic: Similarly, don't try to craft the "perfect" essay that you think the admissions office wants to read. Rather, write about experiences and emotions that are true to you. Admissions officers can tell when an essay is insincere or pre-packaged, so don't be afraid to let your personality shine through.

3. Relate your interests to UMich: Show how your interests and passions align with the opportunities available at the University of Michigan. This could include mentioning specific courses, professors, research opportunities, or clubs that excite you. Demonstrating that you've done your homework on the university will display your commitment and enthusiasm.

4. Use clear, concise language: While it might be tempting to insert big words or complex sentences to impress the admissions office, this can often hinder your message. Instead, prioritize clarity and conciseness in your writing to ensure that your essay doesn't become convoluted or difficult to understand.

5. Revise, revise, revise: Writing a winning UMich essay isn't a one-time effort. Be prepared to revise your essay multiple times to refine your ideas, tighten your language, and ensure that your essay flows smoothly. Consider asking someone (a teacher, mentor, or peer) to review your essay and offer constructive advice. Or, if you want to get a more objective set of eyes on your writing, remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review tool and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors.

While you can definitely use the example for inspiration, it's crucial to create a unique essay that reflects your personality, experiences, and aspirations, rather than trying to replicate what someone else did. Finally, if you want more specific guidance, consider referring to CollegeVine's breakdown of the current UMich supplemental essay prompts: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-michigan-essays.

Good luck, and happy writing!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

More From Forbes

The college essay: a mini-memoir.

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What if you were limited to 650 words to write your memoir? Upon what would you focus? What part(s) of your life would you choose to emphasize? How would you articulate your values and the experiences that have shaped you? In many ways, this is an unfair exercise, to be constricted to so few words in sharing your story. This is what the college essay asks of applicants. Then again, college admission is anything but fair.

A memoir asks the author to highlight a meaningful or noteworthy aspect of their life and to bring it alive for the reader. In its perfect form, it is an unveiling of the heart, an opportunity to laugh, cry, and spill your emotions onto the page. The college admission essay combines all of these expectations in one short snapshot. This can be daunting, even paralyzing for young people, many of whom have never been asked, or allowed, to speak from the heart in their writing. Instead, they have been schooled in the five-paragraph essay with an introduction, three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. It feels more like math than poetry and can be uninspiring. Then students at the end of high school are suddenly presented with the challenge of the personal narrative, as if dropped into the wilderness without a compass, ill-prepared, and lacking sufficient survival skills.

As applicants gaze into the vast expanse, often anxiety about getting it “right” stifles their voice. Those who can find their voice sometimes are at risk of having it garbled by heavy-handed editors–parents, teachers, consultants–who, while well-meaning, fail to honor the unique expression of a student’s lived experience. The temptation of over-applying artificial intelligence has made this even more fraught. The essay is meant to be authentic, honest, and personal, not contrived, flawless, or comprehensive .

How do I stand out in my essay? What do colleges want to hear? What topics should I avoid? Is this story too cliche? What if nothing traumatic has happened in my life? These are the questions that I have repeatedly heard over two decades as a high school counselor. They are born of the head, not the heart. They miss the mark that college admission should be about applying your voice not manufacturing a profile. At a time when student mental health on college campuses is in crisis, the admission experience—and the essay for sure— ought to be about getting within rather than just getting in.

The truth is that the college essay gets a disproportionate and undue amount of attention, such that it loses its magic, becoming more manipulation and less mini-memoir. I have read thousands of essays as an admission officer and then high school counselor and spoken to countless admission deans who have reviewed even more than I have. There is no shortage of books, websites, and “experts” who will purport to offer the secrets or code to crack the college essay. It feels to many students like the last thing they can control about the admission process and the key to college acceptance. The reality is that when applicants cede control, ignore instruction, stop strategizing, and simply write from the heart, they stand out. It is when they accept who they are and trust in the power and importance of their unique voice that these 650 words or less will carry the most meaning.

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My advice to students laboring over their college essays is to take a step back (and a deep breath) and think about how they want to be remembered by the admission reader. What impact do you want your words to have? What image do you want to leave them with? What moment, experience, or value do you want to impress upon them? Don’t try to write your autobiography, just share part of your story as any good memoir would.

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Beyond Plagiarism

Best Practices for the Responsible Use of Sources

Patchwriting as a Technique

I’m trying to paraphrase, but i can’t get far enough from the original language to make it my own. what can i do.

Paraphrasing can be difficult when you’re struggling to understand what a source is saying in the first place. Authors (and you, too!) spend a lot of time carefully choosing the words that they use, but sometimes unfamiliar jargon (the technical terms used in a particular field) can make it hard for you to respond to the original text. Learning academic jargon is just like becoming fluent in a foreign language: you might need to practice using new vocabulary and sentence structures in order to become comfortable with communicating in a new way.

Patchwriting happens when you rephrase a portion of source material, but your language remains too close to the vocabulary and/or sentence structure of the original text. All patchwriting is a kind of paraphrase, but successful paraphrase is not patchwritten.

If you use patchwriting in the final draft of an essay, your teachers will likely see this as an act of plagiarism since you are not directly quoting the original author or successfully using paraphrase or summary to put the author’s ideas into your own words. But patchwriting can have its place in the early stages of note-taking: it can be a useful step in the process of becoming fluent in the language of a particular field or subject, as long as the patchwriting does not remain in your final draft.

So where and when is patchwriting useful?

Let’s say you encounter the following quotation while doing research on the role of women in early 20th century college athletics:

“The logic of separate spheres easily applied to athletics, where physical differences required separate activities. At college the goals of the womanly woman and the manly man included physical fitness. Advocacy of physical exercise took hold during the first generation [of female college students, 1860s-1880], with doctors and educators observing both the dyspeptic tendencies of the young educated male and the chronic weakness of the female participant.”

Solomon, Barbara Miller.  In the Company of Educated Women: A History of Women and Higher Education in America.  New Haven, CT, Yale University Press, 1985, p. 103.

Paraphrase Attempt 1:

Mid-19th century society used physical differences to justify dividing activities into gender-specific separate spheres. Even though college men and women were both encouraged to exercise, the exercises they were to perform were divided because of these sex differences. This was because experts wanted to make sure that college education did not weaken the bodies of students who needed to be properly manly men, and womanly women after their school days were over.

If this paraphrase was in your final draft, you’d have a lot of problems. First of all, the language is too close to the original text without any quotations or citations–phrases like “separate spheres” and “manly men, and womanly women” are taken directly from the original text without attribution, while others like “manly, not sickly, young men” are technically not plagiarized, but they are a little too close to the original text. Text in red in the paragraph above is language that is much too close to the language of the original text. This is a classic example of patchwriting, where unfamiliar terminology (“separate spheres”) is borrowed from the original text.

But if this is the case, why are we talking about patchwriting in the first place?

While not appropriate for a final draft, patchwriting can be part of the process to help you to better understand your source material. Noticing where you have the most difficulty putting the original argument into your own words can point you to concepts that you might need to look up. In this example, you might need to do some research to understand what the “logic of separate spheres” really means. See Module II: Finding Sources if you need help figuring out where to look for this kind of definition.

Logic of separate spheres refers to one of the central ideals of 19th century American culture: that women and men had distinct (separate) physical, mental, and emotional capabilities that corresponded to the assignment of different social roles. Men were seen as best suited for public life and women for private, or domestic, activities.

If we go back to our paraphrase, we can see that this patchwriting is an attempt to figure out what these “separate spheres” are in terms of the argument that the original author is making. Here, patchwriting is being used to help you better understand the original text.

Now that you’ve clarified what these terms mean, you need to figure out what is really important about the original text for the argument you’re making. Doing so is important because even a short quotation can be used to support several different kinds of arguments in your own essay. Your act of patchwriting can help you identify the different components you noticed in the original author’s argument.

You could break down the author’s argument using the author’s original language, but in this case, it’s difficult for you because the author’s original argument is too full of jargon. Your patchwritten paraphrase attempt can make it easier to distill the most important parts of the author’s argument.

Now let’s look at your patchwritten paraphrase sentence by sentence:

Sentence 1) Mid-19th century society used physical differences to justify dividing activities into gender-specific separate spheres.

Sentence 2) Even though college men and women were both encouraged to exercise, the exercises they were to perform were divided because of these sex differences.

Sentence 3) This was because experts wanted to make sure that college education did not weaken the bodies of students who needed to be properly manly men, and womanly women after their school days were over.

For the sake of this exercise, let’s say you want to emphasize the point made in Sentence 2 in order to support the following argument: women were encouraged to be involved in an athletic culture, but football was seen as a sport that was too aggressive for women to play.

Once you’ve figured this out, return to the original source to see if a simple quotation would serve you. In this case, none of the three sentences in the original quote would provide all the information you want to offer, so you’re going to have to turn to paraphrase.

Let’s turn your patchwriting into paraphrase, using what you know about how you want to use this information and what you know about the importance of citing sources.

Paraphrase attempt 2:

Historian Barbara Miller Solomon has argued that exercise was seen as an important part of a mid-19th century college curriculum for both men and women, but cultural ideas about masculinity and femininity meant that each group was using exercise to achieve different roles in society (103).

As you can see, patchwriting helped us to identify unfamiliar jargon (“separate spheres”), determine what the original source was trying to say (cultural ideas about masculinity and femininity that determined different roles in society) and identify what part of the original source text we wanted to use to support our argument.

(Solomon 103)

Sometimes you might need to paraphrase the same passage several times, as we did here, to get away from the original language and sentence structure of the original.

Make sure that any paraphrase is always cited so that your reader can go back to the original source text if she wants to learn more about the author’s argument.

There are a lot of debates around the usefulness of patchwriting, and we’ve drawn our argument from scholars and researchers who see it as a potentially productive step in your writing process.

If you want to learn more about patchwriting, check out this video by Rebecca Moore Howard , the scholar who developed this concept.

Note: If you don’t see the video, allow Flash to run.

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A Guide to University of Michigan’s ‘Your Community’ Essay

This article is a first-person account by Robert Crystal, a CollegeVine livestream contributor. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

Breaking down the prompt.

• Defining Your Communities

The Purpose Behind Your Essay

Tips for writing your essay.

The University of Michigan asks all applicants to respond to its second prompt, which is about the different communities in your life. In this article, we will break down the prompt and go over the purpose behind your writing. By doing this, you can apply what you’ve learned to your own writing as you write your essay for the University of Michigan. 

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.”

For this prompt, you have a 300-word limit to craft your response. This essay fits into a very popular type of essay known as the community essay. Colleges ask you to write about the different communities you are a part of to gain a better understanding of who you are as an individual. The point of all application essays is to provide information about yourself so the college admissions officers can build a better portrait of who you are outside of the classroom. Your grades and test scores are important to understanding who you are as a student but essays are all about your personality.

The University of Michigan is a university that prides itself on the openness and the connection of its community, both between students on campus and between the university and the city of Ann Arbor. For this reason, admissions officers at the University of Michigan want to read about how you’ve contributed to your community. This will give admissions officers a better idea of how you will impact their college community. 

Defining Your Communities 

The University of Michigan’s admissions officers want to learn about the type of person you are outside of the classroom so they can understand how you will fit into its student body. Through this essay, they will decide if you are the type of person they want at their university. To best respond to this prompt, make sure you are answering all their questions. 

Start by defining the different types of communities you are a part of. There is a lot of flexibility in defining what a community is. As stated in the prompt, your community does not only have to be geographical, ethnic, racial, or societal. Your community can be any group that you feel like you belong to and share something in common with. This community can consist of any individuals who share interests with you, such as sports, academic passions, extracurricular activities, or even a tight group of friends who have life values. 

In this essay, focus primarily on your contributions to the community you’re involved in instead of just describing the community itself. This is important because the purpose behind this prompt is to convey who you are and the values or interests you hold. Writing about your community is how admissions officers will gain this information about you. 

During every application cycle, admission officers want to create a well-rounded student body. Each applicant admitted to the University of Michigan fits a certain role in the college community. The university needs to admit applicants who want to run for the student body, compete on the women’s rugby team, or play cello in their orchestra. While you’re writing your response, keep in mind that your goal is to convey how you will fit into the University of Michigan’s student body. 

Start your essay with a hook to keep your reader engaged . Admissions officers read many essays every day during application season, so you must capture their attention early on. With this community essay, you don’t want to spend too much time describing the community itself as this will dilute the impact. Your reader doesn’t need to know how many times you met with your community each week or the type of food served at each meeting. Instead, focus on how your community impacted your values and perspective on life. You’ll also want to focus on the impact you had on this community. 

All your writing should be immersive. You want your reader to feel like they are a part of your story and share the same emotions you have toward your chosen community. This is the best way to get admissions officers to understand who you are.

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