FAQs

You’ve got questions, we’ve probably already got answers.

Admission Woes

1. When will I hear about my application decision?

It typically takes six to eight weeks to get a response from us after the review of applications start. We begin to review applications after our application deadlines. For the PhD this would mean review will start after the December 1st deadline. For the Master’s programs this means after the January 15th deadline.

2. What does it mean if I am conditionally admitted?

It means we are waiting to receive your official transcript. After which we will change your status to “regular”.

Degree Details

3. Are there any prerequisite classes? [AKA I don’t know any programming!!!]

No there aren’t. Students from all undergraduate majors and with a wide range of academic coursework are admitted.

However should you select the more analytical specialty of Information Analysis &

Retrieval, if you do not have programming experience, we recommend that you study enough programming during the summer to waive out of at least the first level programming course. Preparatory study material will be sent during the summer for admitted students.

4. Does UMSI accept transfer credit?

After you’ve completed 8 credit hours in good standing here at UMSI, you will have the ability to transfer up to 6 graduate-level credits in which you obtained a B letter grade or higher. However, these course must no have been used towards any other diploma or certificate.

5. What are some classes offered at UMSI? And what are they like?

Check out the course catalog.

While lectures may be 100+ students, discussion sections are generally capped at 20 students. This allows for more instructor/student interaction. Also there are a LOT of group projects in UMSI. It’s a way to collaborate with people from different ideologies and experiences. At first I dreaded it, as my prior experiences with group projects hadn’t been the best, but my team dynamics at UMSI have been fluid and very productive.

Mo’ Money

6. What sort of funding or scholarships does your school offer? [AKA How can I make this amazing degree affordable?]

All UMSI departmental funding is in the form of merit tuition 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.

Additionally many students obtain Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions or relevant part-time jobs during the year to help cover the cost of tuition and living expenses. Part-time jobs are rather easy to secure as there are many opportunities emailed through the UMSI listserv.

City Scoop

7. What’s Ann Arbor like?

Ann Arbor is a quaint town, with lots to do despite it's size. Many cultures are represented here and you can find food (restaurants, grocers) from all over the world. It's pretty safe here, so walking about at night is generally not an issue. Public transportation is phenomenal moving around Ann Arbor and the neighboring town of Ypsilanti; there's even a bus that will take you straight to the Detroit Airport and an Amtrak station. The nature is gorgeous, with lots of nearby parks such as The Arboretum.

Funding Your Degree

Whether you have submitted an application or are planning to, it’s time to start- or continue- thinking about how to fund your UMSI degree. As per last post, submitting your application by January 15th was the best way to position yourself for first-round consideration for a slew of scholarships such as the UMSI merit scholarship, the UMSI diversity scholarship, the Joyce Bonk assistantship, and the Professional Practice Fellows Program.

One of the great things about the School of Information is that they are committed to making the MSI degree affordable to as many students as possible. Be sure to listen to the stories of some previous scholarship recipients:

As you wait to hear back about UMSI funding, be strategic about considering some additional resources:

1. Apply for the FAFSA. You may end up qualifying for great government loans.
2. Consider external scholarship sources. Some useful websites to find scholarships are: Peterson’s, Fastweb, and Unigo.
1. Note: If you end up landing one of these scholarships (within your first year of study), you are eligible for up to $10,000 in matching funds from the School of Information. Talk about a win/win!
3. Look into Graduate Student Assistantships which cover tuition and provide a stipend and benefits.

If it turns out that you don’t receive a UMSI merit scholarship, don’t fret! Scholarships are awarded in multiple rounds. For subsequent rounds admissions staff will consider your motivation to attend UMSI, as well as your financial need. So maintain clear communication with admissions!

For more detailed information on funding opportunities at UMSI, please check out this talk:

Prioritize Your Application

The first UMSI application deadline is in less than a week (on January 15th) and I encourage you to submit your application by then. If you’ve followed the steps in the post Tips for a Successful Application, then you should have a strong application all set.

Submitting your application by the priority deadline grants you first consideration for the following scholarships:

1. UMSI merit scholarships which range from partial to full tuition amounts, with the possibility of additional benefits such as stipends. These scholarships are awarded regardless of the applicant’s residency status for the duration of four semesters of full-time work.
1. And also the UMSI diversity scholarships, which are quite similar.

2. Joyce Bonk Assistantship which provides full-tuition support, health-care, and a stipend. The assistantship requires a 20-hour/week work commitment in the Clements Library. This work entails digitization of collection materials. See the full description here.
3. Professional Practice Fellows Program which provides full-tuition support, health-care, a laptop, and a travel stipend. The program includes a paid 15-20-hour/week work commitment with an industry partner.

All you need to do to be considered for these sweet, sweet scholarships is submit your application in by January 15th. That’s it! Do it!

And no, these scholarships are not too good to be true.

Funding note: Applications received after the January 15 priority deadline date will still be considered for scholarships. However, to receive first consideration for these funds, you must apply by the early deadline.

Keep an eye out for next week’s blog post, which will discuss more ways to fund your graduate degree.

Funding and Scholarship Resources and Information

It may only be October, but you may be thinking about how to fund your graduate school education.  All students who apply are considered for our 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
Our UMSI Scholarships are merit-based, and typically cover half of tuition for full time students (regardless of your residency status).  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 will be in mid to late April, with the third round in mid to late May.

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

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.  

Please note the University Library Associate scholarships require a separate application, due January 15, 2014.