Mathematics GRE

Any one know how closely Michigan looks at the personal statement? Is it used the same way Berkeley uses it to find diverse candidates?

I am having the same question too.

I have finished all my application documents except for this one.

Umich is the only school that requires such a thing among the schools I am applying. So I am not gonna put too much effort into it.

I put about two sentences down. I know UMich is famous for it's legal problems with "diversity." Hence, I'm assuming that as a DWM that essay doesn't help or hurt me. Think it's a safe assumption?

I have a feeling that Michigan cares even less than Berkeley (for example, Michigan does not have an equivalent of Berkeley's "Mathematical Opportunity Committee").

Fun fact about Michigan: not all admitted applicants are offered the same amount of funding. The graduate director can and does distribute departmental funding for grad students any way he like; some admitted students will be offered $30K for a TA position and others only $16K. Another fun fact: he will make calls to find out how interested you actually are in Michigan. If Michigan is high up your list, make sure that your professors know that.

Wow. Seriously? I mean I could see the uneven allocation of funds REALLY bothering people.

What is exactly the famous Umich "diversity" legal issue?

They were sued in the two Bollinger cases which the US Supreme Court ruled on last year.

Any opinions on how seriously they look at the Personal Statement?

They are the only school that I know of that ask for both, a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose.

Gasquet wrote:Any opinions on how seriously they look at the Personal Statement?

They are the only school that I know of that ask for both, a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose.

hmm, anybody applying to UMichigan this year?

Not me. I don't need to have 3 rejection letters from AIM.