University of Michigan

Essay prompts (2)

1. identity2026-27300 words

   Applies to: First-year applicants (required for all)

   At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans.

   This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: University of Michigan has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.

   source

2. why us2026-27550 words

   Applies to: First-year applicants (required for all)

   Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

   This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: University of Michigan has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.

   source

We haven't found a published AI policy for this school yet. When in doubt: feedback and brainstorming are widely accepted; AI-written essay content is not. Second Read only does the former.

How reviews use this page

When you request a review for a University of Michigan supplement, the feedback is grounded in exactly what you see here: the prompt itself, its word limit, and what the school publishes about its values and programs. That's the whole claim — calibrated to the prompt and the school's own published guidance, scored against a consistent rubric. Not insider knowledge, and never a rewrite: Second Read is a coach, not a ghostwriter. It flags weaknesses and tells you what to fix and why; it never writes a sentence of your essay.

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