Orientation & Placement

       
       
       
     
  

The University of Michigan Placement Tests which you will take during the Summer are designed to determine appropriate class placements. These exams are required. The exams are in Writing, Math, Chemistry and Foreign Languages.

* Special Note from CSP Math Instructors :

Mathematics courses are challenging and demanding, therefore, they require many hours of serious study. Success in these courses ultimately depends on the quality of your daily commitment, as well as your preparation before coming to the University of Michigan. Former students in these classes have found that a review of the Mathematics they learned in high school helps in the Mathematics Placement test. 

We strongly encourage you to review Algebra and Trigonometry so that you will be properly placed in the most appropriate Mathematics class.

Directed Self-Placement Essay and Questions

All students, except those in Engineering, the Residential College and LSA Honors, must complete the Directed Self-Placement (DSP) Essay and Questions to assist in choosing their first writing course at the University. The Sweetland Writing Center administers the DSP for all incoming students. 

The DSP is designed to simulate the types of academic writing most often assigned and valued at the University of Michigan.  You will be asked to:

  1. Read an article of about 10 pages,
  2. Write a 750-900 word essay in response to that article, and
  3. Answer 10 follow-up questions about your writing experience.

This task will help you judge your own readiness for and comfort with college writing. To get the most out of the DSP, take the Essay and Questions seriously. 
 
When you meet with your advisor during Orientation, you will look at yourself as a writer based on the DSP Essay and Questions, as well as your prior writing experience, and choose a writing course that will enable you to become more proficient and confident in academic writing. For more information on the available writing courses for first year students, please visit the Sweetland Writing Center’s website.
 
Once you have chosen your first writing course, your DSP Essay will be forwarded to your instructor to introduce you to him or her as a writer.
 
The DSP Essay and Questions must be completed at least 5 business days before your Orientation date. Students who do not complete the DSP by the assigned date may lose their place in their first writing course at the University of Michigan.

Instructions for completing the Sweetland Writing Center’s Directed Self-Placement Essay and Questions:

  1. Allow yourself several hours to complete the Directed Self-Placement Essay and Questions.
  1. To complete the Directed Self-Placement Essay and Questions, you will need a computer with an Internet connection and a web browser. The most effective browser/operating system combinations are listed below:
  • For Windows: Internet Explorer 6+, Opera 7.5+, Netscape 7.1+, or Firefox 1.5.0.2+.  Firefox is recommended.
  • For Macintosh OS X: Safari 1.2.1+, Netscape 7.1+, or Firefox 1.5.0.2+.  Firefox or Safari are recommended.  Mac OS 9 is not supported.
  • For Linux: Firefox 1.5+ or Konqueror 3.3+.  Firefox is recommended.
  1. Log in to http://ctools.umich.edu with your UM uniqname and password.
  2. Click on the words “New Student Essay and Questions.”
  3. Read the prompt.
  4. Download the article and read it thoroughly.
  5. Reread the prompt.
  6. Write the essay. Use the same process you usually would for writing school essays.
  7. Save the essay on your computer. Be sure to keep a copy of your essay for your records.

Please note: the file must be in one of the following formats: .doc; .docx; .pdf; or .rtf. If the essay is in any other format, it will not be considered submitted. Additionally, the file name must be your uniqname. For example, if your uniqname is janedoe, your DSP essay should be named “janedoe.docx”.

  1. Return to http://ctools.umich.edu and login using your umich uniqname and password.
  2. Click on “New Student Essay and Questions.”
  3. Upload your essay and click “Submit.”

Please note: you will receive an email confirmation if your essay was submitted correctly. The email will arrive in your umich email account within 24 hours of submission. If you do not receive an email, then the essay was not submitted properly. Please return to the CTools site and resubmit your essay).

  1. Follow the link to complete the Question portion of the Directed Self-Placement.
  2. Answer the ten questions and press “Submit.”

Please note: a confirmation screen will appear after you submit your questions successfully. If you do not see a confirmation screen, your questions were not submitted properly. Please contact the Sweetland Writing Center if this occurs.

If you need a special accommodation, please contact the Office of New Student Programs.

Please note:

  • You must complete the DSP Essay and Questions at least 5 business days before your Orientation. 
  • You can find more information about the DSP and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the Sweetland Writing Center website: http://lsa.umich.edu/swc.
     
  • All questions, comments or concerns regarding the DSP should be directed to the Sweetland Writing Center.  You may visit the Sweetland Writing Center Website at www.lsa.umich.edu/swc/, send an email to swcinfo@umich.edu, or call 734-764-0429.