College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA)
We review all LSA transfer applications on an individual, holistic, and comprehensive basis, and do not have minimum GPA or credit requirements. The following are some of the criteria that are used in the evaluation process.
Academic Performance:
The University of Michigan will evaluate a transfer students high school and post-secondary academic performance as part of the admission’s process. Therefore, students who did not have a competitive high school academic record are encouraged to complete at least three semesters of college work prior to application. When evaluating the post-secondary academic performance of a student we will recalculate the GPA using courses that are transferable. The average transferable GPA for community college students who were admitted in 2009 was a 3.7 GPA. Students with lower grades or a number of “Withdraws” on their transcript are encouraged to address them as part of their application for admission.
Test Scores:
If you did not take the ACT or SAT as a high school student, these scores will not be required as part of your transfer application to the University of Michigan and you should not sit for the exams as a college student. However, if you took the ACT or SAT as a high school student, we request that you send those score to the University so they can be evaluated as part of your transfer application. If your ACT or SAT scores are not posted on your high school transcript, please have the scores sent directly to Office of Undergraduate Admissions from the testing agency. If you have not yet had your scores reported to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, you may request to have them sent online using these links:
Credit Hours:
Transfer students at junior standing are given preference in the transfer process since students are not able to transfer more than 60 credits (62 with an Associates Degree) into LSA. Again, students with less competitive high school records are encouraged to apply as a transfer student once they are approaching junior standing and have established a solid post secondary academic record.
Course Selection:
The College of Literature, Science and the Arts does not require specific courses for transfer admission. As part of the evaluation process, your course selection, course progression, and course load will all be taken into consideration. Transfer students who have completed courses that fulfill LSA’s general education requirements are more competitive in the admission’s process.
The following are the general education requirements for the LSA:
- First year writing Requirement - 4 credits
- Quantitative Reasoning - 3 credits
- Foreign Language Requirement (2 year proficiency) - up to 16 credits
- Area Distribution Requirement - 30 credits
7 credits in the following three areas:
Natural Science (Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, etc.)
Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, History, etc.)
Humanities (Art History, Literature, Philosophy, etc.)
An additional 3 credits in one of the areas above, or in:
Mathematical & Symbolic Analysis (Calculus, Statistics, C++ Programming, etc.)
Creative Expression (Dance, Acting, Creative Writing, etc.)
Transfer Guides and Transfer Course Equivalencies are available for all of the community colleges in the state of Michigan and should be referenced as you elect courses to ensure that they classes you take will transfer and satisfy these requirements. Students who are following the MACRAO agreement should satisfy most of the distribution requirements of the college.
Personal Background:
We encourage you to give us additional information about yourself in the essays that will accompany your application. We want to know about your journey: where you’ve been and where you want to go. We look at the whole student and what they can bring to our campus community
