Early Action at University of Michigan

So my top choice right now is the University of Michigan and I was thinking about applying early action. Has anyone done that? What's the process like and is it really advantageous?

Applying Early Action (EA) to University of Michigan is essentially the same process as applying Regular Decision (RD). The only difference is the timeline. The deadline for EA at UMich is typically early (November 1st), and you'll hear back by mid-December.

One of the key benefits of EA is that you receive your admissions decision earlier. This can be beneficial for several reasons. First, if you’re admitted, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your senior year with your college plans already decided. Second, if you’re not admitted, you still have plenty of time to apply elsewhere. This early notification can alleviate a lot of the stress associated with the regular admissions process.

There's a common belief that applying EA might increase your chances of acceptance since the pool of applicants might potentially be less competitive than the RD pool. However, keep in mind that a high number of high-achieving students also opt to apply EA as well, so it's not always necessarily the case. Regardless, the main thing you’ll want to consider is whether your application will be as strong as possible by the EA deadline. If yes, then applying EA can be a great decision. But, if waiting for RD gives you some extra time to improve your grades, test scores, or complete a significant extracurricular project, then waiting could improve your eligibility.

Bottom line, make sure your application, including academics, extracurriculars and essays, is the best representation of you, whether you choose EA or RD.