Welcome to Preferred Admission!

Congratulations on your admission to the University of Michigan School of Public Health Preferred Admission program!

Preferred Admission gives you a guaranteed pathway to one of our undergraduate public health degree programs, provided you complete the required academic milestones. You will begin your U-M experience in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) or the Residential College (RC). During your first two years, you’ll have the opportunity to explore your interests, complete your public health prerequisites, and prepare for your transition to the School of Public Health.

Your first two years at the University of Michigan
Although you won’t officially join the School of Public Health until your junior year*, you’ll have opportunities to connect with our community from the beginning.

As a Preferred Admission student, you’ll be invited to:

  • Connect with your future classmates through cohort meetups and activities
  • Attend public health events and learn more about the field and our undergraduate program
  • Meet current students, faculty, and staff and begin building your public health network
  • Connect with a School of Public Health academic advisor who can help you plan your courses, stay on track with prerequisites, learn more about our undergraduate degree programs, and explore your academic and career goals.

Take advantage of these opportunities as you explore what public health means to you and how you might want to make an impact in the field.

*Students typically transition into the School of Public Health at the start of their junior year. However, if the academic milestones are completed earlier, it is possible to begin your time with Michigan Public Health as early as your sophomore year.

Planning your path to Michigan Public Health
To transition to the School of Public Health, you’ll need to:

  • Complete at least 48 credit
  • Complete the required prerequisite courses
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

During your sophomore year, you will complete a brief declaration form indicating which undergraduate degree you plan to pursue: the BA in Community and Global Public Health or the BS in Public Health Sciences.

At the end of your sophomore fall term, we’ll verify that you are on track to complete the Preferred Admission requirements. Once you’ve completed any remaining requirements, you’ll officially transition to Michigan Public Health for your junior and senior years.

Your plans may change, and that’s okay
As you take classes, meet people, and explore the many opportunities at the University of Michigan, your plans may change. Choosing Preferred Admissions now is not a binding commitment to the School of Public Health. If you discover that another academic or career path is a better fit, you are not required to transition to the School of Public Health in your junior year.

For now, we encourage you to explore, ask questions, connect with our community, and make the most of your start at Michigan.

We’re excited to welcome you to the Michigan Public Health community! We look forward to supporting you as you begin your journey to help https://sph.umich.edu/undergrad/why.html. 

Your Next Steps