College Preparation

What kind of academic preparation should you engage in to be admitted to U-M? Beyond specific academic requirements, focusing on what you can do in your curriculum to be successful is an excellent starting point.

9th-12th grade subject patterns for students who plan to enter U-M

Ideally, you will have completed five units (full-year courses) during each of the four years. Also, you should elect Advanced Placement, international baccalaureate, honors, enriched, and accelerated high school courses when appropriate and possible.

¹ Students are urged to complete at least two rigorous writing courses.

² Students are encouraged to complete at least two laboratory science classes.

³ Students are advised to elect “other” courses from the five subject groups listed. 

⁴ First-year applicants to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are highly recommended to have completed the following: four years English, three years mathematics, two years biological and physical sciences, three years history and/or social sciences, two years of the same foreign language.

⁵ First-year applicants to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are strongly encouraged to take four years of language study, but only two years of the same language are required for admission (American Sign Language is included).

⁶ Students entering the College of Engineering are highly recommended to have completed four units of mathematics, two units of social science, four units of English, and four units of science–with at least one unit each of chemistry and physics.

⁷ Students entering the School of Nursing are highly recommended to have completed three units of mathematics, including second-year algebra; four units of English; two units of social science; and four units of science including two units of laboratory science–one of which is chemistry.