Affirmative Action and The University of Michigan's Admissions Policy
Confidential
Socioeconomicallv Disadvantaged Student or Education
The University is committed to a rich educational experience for its students, which should include interaction with students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. A diverse, as opposed to a homogeneous. student population enhances the education experience for all students. Consequently. 20 points will be awarded to an applicant who:
is sociocconomically disadvantaged. with indicators such as parents’ occupations. single parent upbringing, a deceased parent, necessary excessive work hours while attending school. overcoming extraordinary obstacles, such as abuse, or homelessness; or
is a student educated in a high school serving a population that is predominantly sociocconomically disadvantaged.
Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority Identity or Education
The University is committed to an educational experience that involves students interacting with other students of different races and ethnicities than their own. Consequently, 20 points will be awarded to an applicant who:
is a member of a federally recognized underrepresented race or ethnicity, which is also underrepresented on the UM Ann Arbor campus; or
is a student educated in a high school serving a population that is predominantly comprised of federally recognized underrepresented races and/or ethnicities, which are also underrepresented on the CM Ann Arbor campus.
Scholarship Athlete
In anticipation of their contributions to the University and in recognition of the tradition and national prominence of Michigan intercollegiate athletics, applicants being officially recruited and considered for athletic scholarships should have 20 points added to their score.
Provost’s Discretion
At the discretion of the Provost (only), up to an additional 20 points may be awarded to an applicant.
Professional Diversity
Over time, some professions have become composed predominantly of one gender or another. The School of Nursing has identified a need to enroll more members of an underrepresented gender to enhance its educational environment and to improve the diversity within its profession. A counselor should award 5 points to those applicants who are men applying to the School of Nursing. (See the Guidelines for Calculation of an Engineering Selection Index for the Professional Diversity points awarded for women applicants to the College of Engineering.)
Affirmative Action and The University of Michigan's Admissions Policy
So, it seems that if you are a "member of a federally recognized underrepresented race or ethnicity, which is also underrepresented on the UM Ann Arbor campus" you get 20 points regardless of the fact that you may benefit from other advantages.
You could be the son of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, have attended private schools your entire life, scored 1500 on the SAT's and STILL have 20 points extra points awarded to you on basis of race alone. I don't know how anyone can defend that. Granted, there probably aren't very many students who fall into that catagory, but I think that example illustrates how flawed the U of M policy is.
The School of Nursing thing is a cover (what, only 5 points?) to implement it to get women to enter the School of Engineering (and subsequently flunk out, but hey, we satisfied our quotas, right?).