Creating a Complete Application

Now that the early application deadline is nearing, many of you are beginning to put the final touches on your applications before the deadline for first consideration for merit-based scholarships. One of the other Information Mentors, Alyssa, has recently written a helpful post providing tips for helping you complete your application, and you can see that here. She, and other Information Mentors, have used this blog to give great advice on the nature of applying to UMSI, but today, I would like to talk a little about how to make your application as well rounded and “complete” as possible.

The first thing to consider is whether you have all of your application materials in order, and you can read more about the different parts of the application on the MSI application requirements page. It is essential to meet all of these requirements, and the admissions team will look for each section on every application. There is great advice on the UMSI Admissions blog about writing your personal statements, asking for letters of recommendation, and scholarships, and you should reference these posts for in-depth information about these sections. You should also make sure to pay special attention to the elements of your application that may be outside of your immediate control, like the letters of recommendation and test scores. I found it helpful to follow up with my writers and the testing agencies through emails or telephone calls to make sure they have sent everything to each one of my schools; this assurance can go a long way towards making you feel in control of these elements that you might never get to see. 

The admissions review committee takes a holistic approach to each prospective student’s application. This means that they look at the application as a whole, and not a conglomeration of separate sets of sections. Some things that the admissions team will look for when considering your application are how well you fit within the school’s mission, what your idea of the information profession is, and what you see yourself doing in the future of the field. The best places to express this information is in the statement of purpose and personal statement, and it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with the school’s mission, which you can read here. Addressing the five questions listed under the Statement of Purpose on the Applications Requirements page will allow you to address these topics, and will help you complete a well-rounded application that gives the admissions review committee an idea of how you believe you can further the field of information studies. Therefore, make sure that you have expressed yourself clearly in this section and answered all of the questions posed. Ultimately, each part of your application plays a role in the admissions process, and you want your application to present a balanced and informative vision of your past, your interest in information, and what you can contribute to UMSI and the information world.

The admissions team will consider your application once they have received it in its entirety. You can check on the status of your application, and what you are missing here. However, please note that it may take a few days for our system to recognize and process an application, so please have patience. If you do not immediately see that your application is complete right after you submit, you may wait a few days before checking again. For specific questions about the application process, you may contact the admissions team at umsi.admissions@umich.edu, however, please understand that given the busyness of the application season, and the number of applications the team receives, the time it takes to make an admissions decision may vary. For any general questions about the program, cultural issues, or questions about Ann Arbor, please check out the UMSI Prospective Students Facebook group.

Best of luck, and have a great start to the New Year!

Sincerely,
Patrick