Navigating the MSI admissions process

Let’s admit it - applying to grad school can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Deciding on what schools to apply to, deciphering what each school requires and wrangling letters of recommendation takes a lot of time and effort.

This guide will aim to break the process in helpful bites and point you in the right direction.

Investigate
UMSI has created lots of resources to help paint a picture of life during and after your time at UMSI. Our website has so much information on the courses and specializations, faculty and their research areas and all the great student groups.

Why should I get a MSI?
What kind of courses can I take?
Outside of class, what will I do?
What service engagement opportunities are there?
What kind of career will I have? (see the 2015 Employment Report here)
What are some funding options?
What is Ann Arbor like?

Apply
So you can see yourself thriving at UMSI and enjoying living in Ann Arbor. Now it is time to pull together a complete application that tells your story.

Deadlines
Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions

Connect with us
Still have questions about the program or the application process? We want to hear from you! Sign up for our mailing list to get updates like this one or contact directly at umsi.admissions@umich.edu.

Remember that you are not alone in applying to this program. We have set up a Facebook group for students just like you to get to know each other and ask questions.

Adopted from original post: http://msi-admissions-umsi.blogspot.com/2014/11/navigating-umsi-admission-process.html

Previous entries:
http://msi-admissions-umsi.blogspot.com/2013/10/resources-for-navigating-application.html
http://msi-admissions-umsi.blogspot.com/2012/11/navigating-umsi-admissions.html

2015 UMSI Employment Report

UMSI’s 2015 Employment Report is now available!  You can view the full report here, but I wanted to share some highlights:

• 98% of grads reported professional jobs or continuing education in their field of choice
• Average MSI salaries were up 8% this year
• Job search length: 3-4 months
• 91% of survey respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with their job outcomes in terms of their ideal career fit​
• 92% of survey respondents reported internships as one of the most valuable UMSI experiences impacting their job outcomes and career success

We hope you’ll take some time to look at the report to learn more about companies and organizations for which our graduates now work, where our graduates are working around the country and world, detailed salary information, and more!

 

Funding an MSI degree

Funding and Scholarship Resources

While the start of the school year may feel like a long way off, you may already be thinking about how to fund your graduate school education -- and you should be! All students who apply are considered for UMSI merit based scholarships, and those who apply by January 15 receive first consideration for these scholarships.

There are also several external scholarships that you can apply for before admission. Many of these scholarships have deadlines in November and December, so please check out our external scholarship spreadsheet for specific deadlines and requirements. In addition, UMSI is often able to match funding awards from external scholarships. Graduate school can be affordable, so please take a look at all of the funding resources detailed below.

UMSI Scholarships

UMSI merit scholarships range from partial to full tuition coverage, with possible additional benefits, (regardless of residency status) for four semester of full-time MSI coursework. UMSI also offers UMSI Achievement Fellowships and Professional Practice Fellowships. We go through 3-4 rounds of UMSI Scholarship offers throughout the term. We hope to complete the first round in late February/early March. The second round and possible third round will be later in the spring.

The first round of UMSI Scholarships are entirely merit-based. Subsequent rounds will always have merit as the primary factor for consideration, but we will also look at your motivation to attend UMSI. These factors can be demonstrated by professional, consistent communication with us. You are welcome to submit an additional letter/email for the admissions committee's consideration. I've seen previous admissions committees look at your excitement about UMSI, your efforts in applying for external fellowships, anything particular about the nature of your need, the connections you make at MSI Visiting Days, the professionalism of your interactions, and other things for the subsequent rounds of UMSI Scholarship.

Merit is still the primary factor, and by merit we mean the strength of your statement of purpose and personal statement, your letters of recommendation, your internship/research/work experience, your academic record including your GRE, demonstration of leadership, service, comfort with ambiguity, etc. It is NOT just your GRE/GPA.

UMSI matching funds for external tuition awards

UMSI master's students who receive scholarships administered by external sources, such as associations, foundations, and corporations, are eligible to request matching funds from the School of Information.

UMSI students who receive an external scholarship prior to their first term of enrollment or through their first year (12 months) of enrollment are eligible for up to $10,000 in matching funds, depending on the award amount, the level of funding already awarded by UMSI, the remaining unmet need for cost of attendance, and the availability of funds remaining in the annual matching funds budget. Admitted students who receive an external award should submit the original award statement (keeping a copy for personal records) with a request for matching funds to umsi.admissions@umich.edu.

Funding Links  
UMSI merit scholarships: 
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/scholarships

Professional Practice Fellowship Program:
https://www.si.umich.edu/programs/master-science-information/funding-your-degree/professional-practice-fellows-program

• This is a highly selective program providing an opportunity for top UMSI students to gain hands-on experience and training in professional practice, leadership, and academic exploration. Students who are selected are offered: a full tuition scholarship for four terms, a Professional Practice Assistantship to take place during the academic year for 4 terms (assistantships will require 15-20 hours of work per week, and will be paid positions), connection to a UMSI faculty and/or alumni mentor, health benefits, a conference travel stipend, a stipend for a new laptop, leadership and professional development support.
  

Diversity scholarships:
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/diversity-scholarships
https://www.si.umich.edu/programs/master-science-information/funding-your-degree/umsi-achievement-fellowship

• UMSI Achievement Fellowship: These fellowships are structured to assist eligible students with two semesters of support consisting of tuition, required fees, health and dental insurance, and a stipend of $9,675 (adjusted annually each September) per semester followed by two additional semesters of full tuition support.

External scholarships: 
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/external-scholarships

Assistantships and U-M funding:
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/assistantships
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/resources-u-m-and-federal-programs
http://si.umich.edu/academics/funding/student-employment
https://www.si.umich.edu/academics/funding/bonk-assistantship


Scholarship Announcements

This spreadsheet of external scholarships will be continually updated throughout the winter and early spring. Please check back for more opportunities, and we will continue to alert prospective students of these as we learn of them.