First-year students enter college after earning their high school diploma but before enrolling in any college study after graduation. They may have earned college credit while dual-enrolled in high school and a college or university. Students submit a high school transcript, a school report, one teacher evaluation (academic teacher), an SAT or ACT score, and official college transcripts for high school students dual-enrolled in a college or university. All materials must be received by the application deadline. Some U-M schools and colleges have additional application requirements.

A successful transfer student is currently in good academic and social standing, and has a distinguished record of college work, earning a cumulative GPA of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better. They have earned sophomore (30+ credits) or junior (55-60 credits) standing with transferable credit earned at a community college or another two-or four-year college or university.