Wolverine Scholars Program
The University of Michigan Law School is pleased to announce the Wolverine Scholars Program. This new initiative seeks those top scholars with exemplary academic records currently enrolled in the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor undergraduate student body who are interested in pursuing a legal education at Michigan Law starting in the Fall 2010 Term. The Law School’s in-depth familiarity with Michigan undergrad curricula and faculty, coupled with significant historic data for assessing the potential performance of Michigan undergrads at the Law School, will allow us to perform an intensive review of the undergraduate curriculum of applicants, even beyond the typical close scrutiny we devote, and have confidence in our ability to assess an applicant’s academic strengths and the likelihood of outstanding engagement with the Law School. For this select group of qualified applicants, therefore, we will omit our usual requirement that applicants submit an LSAT score.
With the exception of the intensified review of the undergraduate academic record and the omission of the LSAT, our admissions review and philosophy is the same for the Wolverine Scholars Program as it is generally. Thus, our evaluation criteria are holistic, and comprise the wide range of relevant considerations that can’t be reduced to any mechanical formula. We look for highly intelligent people who welcome challenging experiences, who have demonstrated leadership and community service, who have shown determination and discipline, who are eager to outdo themselves, and who are creative and resilient in dealing with adversity. We pay attention to evidence of academic progress. So, too, we pay attention to considerations – working many hours, coming from an educationally deprived background, having primary care responsibilities for family members, and so on – that may provide a context for the formal record of academic achievement. We seek students who relish both working together and engaging in constructive and challenging debate. We look for individuals with intriguingly different backgrounds, experiences, goals, and perspectives. Academic majors, work experience, extracurricular activities, distinctive moral and political outlooks, socioeconomic background, time living or working abroad, and more inform our admissions decisions. Thus, we urge applicants to supply whatever information they think will most fully present their qualifications and attributes.
Because we wish to encourage broad participation in this program, we will waive the usual application fee for anyone applying under the Wolverine Scholars program.
- UM undergraduates who have at least completed their junior year and at most are scheduled to graduate in Winter or Spring 2009 (that is, rising and graduating seniors) with at least six full-time semesters of attendance on the UM-Ann Arbor campus and a UM cumulative grade point average of ≥ 3.80 are eligible to apply. The six semesters may include a non-UM international study-abroad program. We welcome and encourage applications from all UM undergraduate schools and majors.
- Applications may be submitted beginning May 15, 2009. We recommend that all application components be received within our office by July 1, 2009. An application must be completed and processed by the Admissions Office no later than July 10 to be eligible for evaluation. Because of the constrained timeframe, late, delayed, or incomplete applications will not be evaluated. Each applicant will be advised of our decision by July 21, 2009. This timeline will allow adequate time for those applicants who wish to learn the outcome of their Wolverine Scholar application before deciding whether they wish to register for the October LSAT.
- A completed University of Michigan Law School application, available as a PDF or online via Embark, along with all usual application materials except for an LSAT score and LSDAS report: a Personal Statement and any optional essays; a resume or other list of activities and work experience; and letters of recommendation (as discussed in detail below). NOTE: Wolverine Scholar applicants should not use an LSDAS e-application to apply, as this will delay the application beyond the available timeframe for evaluation under the Wolverine Scholar program. Please see the Special Notes section below for additional information on the available application forms.
- Official transcripts sent directly from the Registrar’s Office of all undergraduate institutions you have attended to our office via US mail or any courier service. A UM official transcript received via Campus Mail will not complete this requirement. (An unofficial international transcript may be submitted, but an official transcript will be required as a condition of an offer if one is made.)
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation from UM instructional staff. One of the letters must be from a member of regular or supplemental faculty staff (tenured or tenure-track faculty, including visiting faculty, or full-time lecturers). Letters of recommendation will have heightened importance because of the intense academic review of this application process. Letters may be sent either directly from the recommender to the Law School Admissions Office, or via the UM Reference Letter Service.
- The attached waiver form completed with your signature, acknowledging the program application deadlines and authorizing our access via the University-wide data system to the ACT and/or SAT scores you submitted with your undergraduate application.
- The attached cover page, completed with your name and UMID number; please submit the cover page on the top of your other application materials at the time of submission.
- Because we are waiving the fee of all Wolverine Scholar applicants, you need not submit a fee.
- In order to be considered for the Wolverine Scholars program, applicants must not have taken the LSAT prior to receiving a decision from the Law School (which will occur by July 21). As discussed above, our timeline will allow adequate time for those applicants who wish to learn the outcome of their Wolverine Scholar application before deciding whether they wish to register for the October LSAT.
- In all instances where these specific instructions differ from the instructions in our application form (e.g., the required number of recommendation letters), these instructions control.
- Some application questions will be inapplicable for Wolverine Scholar applicants; leave any inapplicable questions blank. If you have any confusion about the application form, please contact the Admissions Office at 734.764.0537 or law.jd.admissions@umich.edu.
- Wolverine Scholar applicants should not use an LSDAS e-application to apply, as this will delay the application beyond the available timeframe for evaluation under the Wolverine Scholar program. You may apply either using our PDF application or through Embark. The PDF application may be printed and mailed or hand-delivered, and no fee waiver is necessary. Embark is also a great way to apply, but you will need to contact our office before submitting your application so we can have your application fee waived within Embark. When you contact us, please include your Embark ID number (which is generated when you begin an application).
If you are admitted:
- You will be expected to maintain a 3.80 UM grade point average in a full-time course load the remainder of your undergraduate career at UM-Ann Arbor. Failure to do so will trigger a review of the circumstances by the Law School Dean of Admissions on a case-by-case basis. A revocation of admission is a possible outcome of such a review.
- As a general matter, admission under the Wolverine Scholars program is non-binding, and you may apply to other law schools during the regular admission season. (Applying to other law schools will usually require that you register for and take the LSAT.) The deadline for deposit will be April 30, 2010. If, however, you request and are granted the opportunity to defer enrollment beyond Fall 2010, you will be required to complete a binding deferral agreement and to submit supplemental deposits over the course of the year.
If you are denied admission:
- You are welcome to re-apply without prejudice in our Early Decision or regular decision admissions processes. Application under our Early Decision or regular decision admissions processes will require that you register for and take the LSAT. The decision timeline of the Wolverine Scholars program will allow adequate time for those applicants who wish to learn the outcome of their Wolverine Scholar application before deciding whether they wish to register for the October LSAT.