We’re in the thick of admissions recruitment season, and during this time, I get to speak with a lot of prospective students who want to apply to the Ford School. Some have been planning for months, and others just realized the deadline isn’t as far away as they thought. Wherever you are in the process, here’s some advice that may make the application easier.
#1 Start early
The strongest applications come from students who take time to think about their story and how the Ford School fits into their goals. We want to know who you are and what you want to do with your degree, so give yourself considerable time to reflect. I encourage you to write a draft, put it away, and then come back later with a fresh perspective. Starting early also gives you ample time to work with your recommenders. Your recommenders are often very busy, so giving them a few weeks to submit your letter is really helpful to them, and you’ll likely get stronger, more thoughtful letters.
#2 Join a Ford School event
Our Ask Me Anything sessions with students and alumni, information sessions, and one-on-one meetings with admissions staff are designed to help you get to know the school and our community. It’s your opportunity to ask questions, hear from current students, and see what life as a Fordie is really like. Our events often help applicants figure out what matters most to them (and it might give you good material for your essays!).
#3 Quit worrying about your stats
GPAs, GRE scores (you can submit GRE scores OR a statement of quantitative preparation), and your grades are all meaningful, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. The Ford School prides itself on being a school. We are looking for students who are ready to learn and grow. So if we believe you have the skills to succeed, that you’re a leader rooted in service and dedicated to the public good, then we want to consider you! Many prospective students think applying to graduate school at the University of Michigan is more competitive than applying as a first-year student, but that’s not necessarily true. Graduate admissions is about finding the right fit between your experiences, your goals, and what the Ford School can provide to you (with help from the many resources we provide, including Career Services, the Writing Center, the Policy Analysis Learning Lab, to name a few) to help you achieve those goals.
#4 Tell us your story—not the story you think we want to hear.
The Ford School’s application has two essays that get to the heart of who you are and why you think our program and community is the right place for you right now. We hope that the prompts here will help you write authentically about who you are, because that’s what makes a strong essay.
#5 Remember that the admissions team is here to help you
Logan, Zach, and I are here to help you, not to gatekeep. If you have a question about the process, don’t understand your next step, or just realized you entered a recommender’s email address incorrectly… don’t stress. Reach out to us! We’re happy to chat and help you move forward on your path to becoming a future Fordie.
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Dustin Castro is the associate director for Recruiting and Admissions at the Ford School. Dustin oversees the recruitment and admissions processes for the Ford School undergraduate and master's programs. He is a proud first-generation high school and college graduate from the University of Michigan!
