High schooler who wrote op-ed about college rejection pays enrollment deposit to the University of Michigan
Earlier this year a snarky op-ed about the expectations of elite universities sparked a national conversation about the college application process.
Suzy Lee Weiss has paid an enrollment deposit at the University of Michigan.
According to U-M admissions director Ted Spencer, Weiss plans to enroll in the Ann Arbor school in fall 2014. She graduates from high school this summer and plans to take a year off from school and travel abroad.
"I thought she was one of the more delightful files that I've ever read. She poked fun of herself as well as making some wonderful statements about who she is," Spencer said of her application. "The kinds of comments that her counselors and teachers made were just wonderful."
In her March 29 Journal piece entitled 'To (All) the Colleges That Rejected Me,' Weiss said she had dreamed of going to Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, but the Pittsburgh high school senior was rejected despite a reported 4.5 GPA.
"Colleges tell you, 'Just be yourself.' That is great advice, as long as yourself has nine extracurriculars, six leadership positions, three varsity sports, killer SAT scores and two moms. Then by all means, be yourself!" She wrote. "If you work at a local pizza shop and are the slowest person on the cross-country team, consider taking your business elsewhere."
For more than a week after it was published, the op-ed was the most-read article on the Journal's website. On the Today Show in early April, Weiss said her op-ed was satire, using jokes to illustrate the seeming absurdity of the college application process.
"Everyone my age, whether they wanted to get into Penn State their whole lives or Harvard, is agreeing with me that it's just a rat race nowadays and it's such a business model as opposed to who's most qualified should get in," she said. "It's a crapshoot and I understand that."
While she was rejected from the Ivy League colleges she dreamt of during her youth, she did get into several Big Ten schools— including U-M. When asked by a Today Show host where Weiss was going to college, she coughed 'Go Blue.'
Weiss is one of 6,450 of the 15,430 applicants U-M admitted to pay his or her enrollment deposit. The school had a 33 percent acceptance rate this year, its lowest in recent history.
Spencer called Weiss' op-ed humorous.
"She took a risk in writing that article," he said. "A lot of times we ask kids to take a risk but we also tell them when you take a risk it may not be received by the people who are reading it the same way that you intended."
Some students who pay their nonrefundable enrollment deposit end up not going to the school. For example, of the 6,450 students who paid their enrollment deposit for entry into the fall 2013 class, Spencer expects a few hundred to attend schools elsewhere.
"I think she'll be a great addition to the University of Michigan," Spencer said of Weiss.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.
Northside: You obviously live in the Midwest. In NYC, a $700,000 apartment would be a studio, only 1 very small room with a small bathroom and kitchen. Building a house on 4 acres outside of Pittsburgh for $700,000 is a bargain. In Westchester County, NY, or Chevy Chase, MD, 700,000 would not even buy a small fixer without much of a lot. On the other hand, In Saginaw or Flint, there are beautiful homes for $150,000. The house that her family built for that price shows how smart they are with building. I am not saying anything bad per Michigan, just that generally, houses are not as much. However, in Ann Arbor, you could buy houses from $250,000 to a couple of million. Do you begrudge the higher end people there, as well?
annarbor28
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 11:59 p.m.
John: If you had been accepted to U-M, then I am sure that the U would have given you some grant money, since you are obviously disadvantaged from your comments, or you could have taken out loans like many students. Why begrudge this young woman with obvious writing abilility and a sense of humor a top-notch education? Aren't you personalizing 1 op-ed too much?
John
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 11:38 p.m.
I will say that she seems self-aware enough to know that her article was at least partially whiny/entitled and basically said, "yes, I know, just let me be that for a bit", but her potshots at "the diversities", which some hand-wavingly dismiss with "just satire, lol! don't be so PC!" are shown to be more her actual serious feelings in the Today Show interview, and not just a sarcastic aside. She talks about Uni admissions focusing too much on "things students have no control over", but only mentions race and gender, and not the far more relevant ones of being a child of an alumnus or having been born into a family wealthy enough to even be able to think Harvard or any other Ivy League school is a realistic option financially. This is why this is a discussion worth having. Not because of Ms. Weiss personally, but because of the topic she brought up in a nationally-circulated paper and a nationally-syndicated TV show. It's not as if it was some throw-away post on her Tumblr account that went viral and all of a sudden she got thrust into some spotlight not of her choosing. Again, I don't wish her or her family any ill will, and hope she finds UM and A2 to be a good fit for her, but I'm also not really able to be too sympathetic for her "being lied to" and having to take a bronze-medal spot at a school that I was told to not even apply to because there was no way my family could pay for it even if I got in. She worked hard as a student, but I'm guessing she is starting to figure out that there are plenty of people who work hard and make all the right plays and still don't get everything they want exactly the way they want it. Meaning, she's growing up.
Fred Pettit
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
"Whine" was brought up before. I'm reading an awful lot of "whining" about nothing. Would you like some cheese with that whine?
annarbor28
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 6:54 p.m.
It was satire. She is making the best of everything. get over it. Laugh at yourself like this young woman was doing. Hahaha!
a2citizen
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
Yes. Just shut up and go to your room! Barefeet, pregnancy and kitchens is what makes this country great.
northside
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
@ "annarbor28" - Believe it or not, people who live in the Midwest are smart enough to know the real estate values vary throughout the country. One other thing most Midwesterners are smart enough to know? That a student from a privileged background shouldn't complain about others have unfair advantages in the college admissions process. I don't begrudge people who have done well, I just don't think their children should complain about life treating them unfairly.
ThinkingOne
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:30 a.m.
John If you had stopped after your first 2 paragraphs, then you would be correct in what your previous reply to me stated. You were responding about the relative values of property. However, you are deceiving yourself if you think that last paragraph isn't making a big thing out of it. It was a humorous satirical piece. The grand summary of it is 'I am frustrated by this process'. To this: 'I don't begrudge anyone their fortunes if it came by honest means, but to act like you've got it hard when you clearly don't...sorry, I feel no sympathy for her.' You are either implying that she got her wealth by dishonest means (pretty good for a 17 year old) OR you believe she is crying for sympathy. The first option is absurd and the second option implies that you just don't get sarcasm. In either case, you are making a bigger thing out of it than it is. Even if you think you are not making a 'big' thing out of it, it is still in your eyes bigger than it is. Just to add, I agree that there are times that people write things that are really pretty terrible, and use sarcasm as a cover for it. I just don't think this one is even close.
John
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:56 a.m.
"I don't think she or anyone else was asking for your sympathy." Really? Because that Today Show interview kind of sounds like it, with all the talk about kids her age sympathizing with her and all. "This is NOT a big thing. Get over it." I never implied it was a "big thing" for me to need to "get over". I was merely responding to another comment. I'm perfectly capable of sharing thoughts on something without it being a huge issue in my life that will keep me up all hours.
ThinkingOne
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:29 a.m.
John I don't think she or anyone else was asking for your sympathy. I think it was laughter. If you don't find it funny, then move on. This is NOT a big thing. Get over it.
John
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:55 p.m.
"Mr. Jacobsen's designs are usually striking, but his house stands out even more in this section of Squirrel Hill, the neighborhood surrounding Carnegie Mellon University where small Tudor-like 1940s red-brick homes with small back yards sit neck-to-neck. A three-bedroom, 1,718-square-foot house nearby on 0.14 acre is for sale for $269,000." The info in the article makes it quite clear this is not the ordinary cost of a house in that area. "Do you begrudge the higher end people there, as well?" If they all of a sudden tried to act like they weren't as privileged as they obviously are? Yes. I don't begrudge anyone their fortunes if it came by honest means, but to act like you've got it hard when you clearly don't...sorry, I feel no sympathy for her.
northside
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:30 p.m.
Everyone who is sympathetic to the "disadvantages" this student faced might want to read this article from the Wall Street Journal's "Luxury Real Estate" section: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577038301146022524.html "Finished last December for about $700,000, the four-bedroom house on four acres ..."
Fred Pettit
Mon, Jun 3, 2013 : 3:50 p.m.
Other than reading about it here I had not heard of it on any of the national news shows I watch, listen too or read about. If you have to Google it, I'd hardly call it a "National Debate". Big surprise that the Huffington Post featured it and that liberals are getting their panties all tied up in a bunch over it. Diversity good, wealth bad.
northside
Mon, Jun 3, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
Fred, in 2013 there's a remarkably easy way to determine the extent of that national debate. There's a website called Google, http://www.google.com/ Enter Suzy Lee Weiss into the search box (the blank box that appears near the top of the page you'll see) and see how many results you get.
Fred Pettit
Mon, Jun 3, 2013 : 5:45 a.m.
Perhaps "national debate" needs to be defined. How many liberals does it take to make a "national debate?" One, two, a dozen or possibly as many as 18? The argument of a "national debate" is laughable.
northside
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
@ citizen: Her piece sparked a national debate for two reasons. One is that it made a very good point about the hyper-competitive nature of college admissions today. The other is that it made a very bad point about someone being disadvantaged because they are white and heterosexual. Worse, she did so in a very demeaning way to, as she awkwardly put it, "the diversities." As for your last two paragraphs and all of that stuff about the 60s: what are you talking about?!?
a2citizen
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 5:12 a.m.
@northside Think about it. The "national debate"? Are you saying there is a "national debate" about the musings of a 17 year old girl? How simple has this nation become? I really think your problem is that a young (white) woman IS giving her opinion. Eloquently. In the Wall Street Journal. But maybe that's your problem...you have never been published in the WSJ. It's either that, or "house envy". Remember those you protested against in the 60's? To quote that great philosopher Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." The 60's was 50 years ago. Let it go. Practice what you protested for, or against, and all will be well.
ThinkingOne
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
I think you need to just move on. There are many serious issues you could attend to. A teenager's humorous take on applying for college does not seem to be a serious thing.
Fred Pettit
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:45 p.m.
Does anyone really care about a "national debate", which I have not even heard of until brought up here in a comment, which is based on being "Politically Correct"? An objection here seems to be that the author is white and is perceived as coming from a wealthy family. So what?
northside
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:56 p.m.
@ a2: Everything I've written, including the comment about the wealth of her family, has already been brought up in the national debate about her op-ed. I'm not saying anything new or "stalking" anyone. Or any "chicks," as you put it.
a2citizen
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.
Are you really so hung up on this chick to the point of stalking her? Get a grip.
Fred Pettit
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:40 p.m.
I don't think people here are "sympathetic to the disadvantages this student faced" as much as they object to the argument you are trying so desperately to make. There's no there, there!
a2citizen
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:02 p.m.
Wow!!! I didn't think a high school senior that had not committed a crime could cause so much angst. Then I realized, as she stated and others here have noted, Miss Weiss is female, straight and white. Is she really the one with issues?
G-Man
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
UM needs more Snarks....
aaparent
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:18 a.m.
@Trespass - great question and I think that it would be Ms. Weiss who would need to give the UM permission to speak to A2.com and release this info @ Kellie & A2.com -- Can you find out if UM admissions office or PR people wanted to release this info or did A2.com call admissions and then they called Ms. Weiss. Who initiated this story idea? If the UM initiated the story, they must want to give good press to UM for being a choice school for kids like Suzy Lee Weiss and I wonder if that is part of their marketing strategy to draw more out of state kids. The change to the common app a few years ago was another step in that direction. If this is right, it must link to the Community High Parents comments about how qualified in state kids get rejected so the UM can admit out of state students at a higher tuition charge?
ThinkingOne
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
There is nothing in this story - save the admission by U of M that she has paid an enrollment deposit - that wasn't in a similar story months ago. Seeing as that is the only new thing, I presume that once that deposit it paid, then certain things about you can be divulged. For example, if an employer contacted the U of M about a former student, they could validate whether or not the student attended and during what time period without any written release. Degrees, grades, major etc not so. Just like former employers can verify certain information about you without any permission from you.
trespass
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:49 a.m.
The University frequently turns down FOIA requests for student records, citing FERPA. Isn't it a FERPA violation to release this information? Did she give her permission? Did AA.com check with her to make sure she gave her permission?
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 5:19 a.m.
Here's her interview on the Today Show. Very poised for a 17 year old, and certainly worthy of U-Michigan! http://www.today.com/video/today/51426965#51426965
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 4:52 a.m.
"When asked by a Today Show host where Weiss was going to college, she coughed 'Go Blue." She "coughed" Go Blue!?? I suppose that's funny to East Coast Elitists. It won't go over as well in Michigan Stadium. At least (nominal) President Obama had the crowd-manipulating sense to put more umph into his "Go Blue!" I'm prejudiced though: our daughter and many of her Community High grads wanted NOTHING ELSE but to attend the University of Michigan. Her mother, a U of M grad herself, pitched in with advice on getting in. It worked: she got in! And without a 4.5 gpa. But several of those equally desirous friends did not - and some were actually brought to tears over it. Our daughter was deeply saddened by that news and resolved to make the best of her time at U of M. Her "response" was to take on two majors in the sciences. I haven't found an actual study to support this, but it seems to me I see U of M mentioned on television and in print at the national and international level all the time. I've developed the habit of forwarding many of these mentions to our daughter. Just last week, I was watching a program (National Geographic Channel) about the advanced studies being done on a 30,000 year old baby Mammoth - and suddenly I saw Burton Tower in the background as U of M scientists were shown bringing in equipment (to study the Mammoth) to the U of M Museum of Natural History. We have a team working with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, in Switzerland - on and on. IF she's lucky, Miss Weiss may get to be one of those U of M people shown working on international level projects once she graduates from Michigan. She won't be able to "cough her way" into that position, though. :-)
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 5:16 a.m.
Why don't you watch the interview? She handled herself with a lot of poise and at the end, was making a joke about not being sure yet, but was implying she was going to go to UM. Here's the video. Her poise and writing skills are admirable for a 17 year old: http://www.today.com/video/today/51426965#51426965
CLX
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:04 a.m.
I suggest that folks actually read the editorial. She's more than snarky, and it's not particularly well written. Just another entitled teen boo-hooing about diversity and suggesting that other kids create their credentials (because, you know, it's always funny to mock kids who perform charity). Maybe she was not admitted because folks picked up on how immature she is.
mavfunn
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
Agreed about reading the editorial and any negative opinions of it. It's hardly satire or all that clever. What it does exude is a sense of naive entitlement from a whining spoiled brat blaming others despite how advantaged and privileged she really is. It lacks perspective and considered humor, but it does incorporate immaturity.
Fred Pettit
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
Ever notice how some people see racism everywhere. It's highly suspect when you are constantly looking for it and raising the issue.
northside
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
@ CLX: Among the people who ought to read the article is the writer of this annarbor.com article. She seems completely unaware of the race-related controversy surrounding it.
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 3:16 a.m.
She actually did a lot of charity work. The op-ed was satire.
nickcarraweigh
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:48 a.m.
Probably not worth the long distance charges to give her a call and get a comment. If the budget's tight, you guys should try Skype. And what kind of high school allows a student to pile up a 4.50 GPA?
ChrisW
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.
When I was in school straight A's was a 4.0 regardless of the difficulty of the classes. People said it wasn't fair because some students took easier classes and the system discouraged students from taking AP courses. Now they give extra points for difficult classes, which probably isn't a bad thing.
northside
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
Kellie, are you completely unaware of the intense controversy concerning this student's op-ed? Your article just refers to it as being "snarky" and quotes positive things from UM's Admissions Director.
John of Saline
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
By the way, being female could have worked against her. In liberal-arts programs, there's a well-known skew of more female students than male, to the point that some colleges make a conscious decision to favor males to avoid 60-40 or worse gender ratios.
John of Saline
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 3 p.m.
Again, you're doing two things: 1. Adding hostility that was not in the original piece. 2. Demanding that the writer provide data she could never have (the circumstances of her, exact admissions choice). All she has are the statistics and policies of admission at these places. And their policies are quite clear: "diversity" (which is defined mostly by skin color, sex, ethnicity, etc.) is VERY important to them.
northside
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
@ John: At places like Harvard, Penn, and Michigan, there are far more qualified applicants than there are open spots. Michigan turns down thousands of qualified students each year. Some are white, others are minorities. Some of heterosexual, some gay/lesbian. If you're gonna write a scathing op-ed blaming "the diversities" for your rejection, you might want to have some actual evidence to back that up, not just a 'possibility.' It would also help to not use demeaning language towards groups like Native Americans ("if only I'd of worn a headdress to school"), who haven't exactly had it easy in the U.S. Back to the point of my original comment: the author of this annarbor.com article was negligent in not doing basic research (aka, a Google search) about this student's op-ed. Five minutes could have given her some background on why the op-ed was very controversial, not simply "snarky."
John of Saline
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
I did read it. It's possible she's right, given how college admissions officers (pressured by their administrations) go about choosing who to admit. Remember, Michigan had to be taken to court to get them to stop giving huge advantages to some applicants over others based on skin color alone. (The eastern schools, being private, can continue doing such things.)
northside
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
@ Saline: Have you read her op-ed? Here's what she wrote: " ... had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would've happily come out of it. "Diversity!" I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker. If it were up to me, I would've been any of the diversities: Navajo, Pacific Islander, anything." She's saying that she didn't get to her preferred schools, Harvard and Penn, because she is white and heterosexual.
John of Saline
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 6:10 a.m.
Northside, she did not "take shots" at anyone. She just pointed out the realities of college admissions. You are putting a negative spin on her words that simply is not there.
northside
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
@ dot: She wrote a column in a major national newspaper that took shots at everyone from Native Americans to Asians to gays/lesbians to students with "two moms." Surely, she's able to handle some criticism of that column? @ Fred: We're talking about a student from a very privileged background blaming minorities for her not getting into Harvard and being stuck with a school like Michigan. If not finding that funny makes me politically correct, then I accept the charge.
Fred Pettit
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:53 p.m.
Some here would want all of us to be "Politically Correct" all of the time. Some people here also have no sense of humor.
dotdash
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.
I agree with kris: what is your beef? This is a 17 year old kid describing how she sees the world. (which is, incidentally, the way a lot of kids see the college application process). The link to your "luxury real estate" article was down, but -- don't you think that is going a bit far? Why don't you pick on someone your own size?
northside
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
@ blue and kris: Much of the op-ed claims that she didn't get in to Harvard or Penn because she was not, as she put it, "any of the diversities:" "For starters, had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would've happily come out of it. "Diversity!" I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker. If it were up to me, I would've been any of the diversities: Navajo, Pacific Islander, anything." She also made reference to being disadvantaged by not having "two moms." Last time I checked, the student populations at Harvard and Penn aren't dominated by Native Americans, gays and lesbians, or students with "two moms." She's just scapegoating minorities instead of accepting that better qualified students got it.
kris
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:01 a.m.
What's your beef northside? I have to agree with blue85 here...what's the controversy? It's an op-ed piece, afterall,...she's poking fun at herself while expressing disappointment. I thought the piece was funny...and also true! And I have sat in many auditoriums with my own kids, listening to college admission folks tell kids to "just be yourself!"
blue85
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:04 a.m.
The "controversy" is actually pretty trivial and surrounds a pretty trivial subject. Her article was cute and sincere...hardly the stuff of controversy in any meaningful sense.
jerrydog
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:31 p.m.
which actually leads me to wonder, which kid that lives in Michigan is U of M turning away? Surely there is 4.0 kid getting turned down for???? If I didn't pay taxes into U of M, whatever, knock yourself out. But since I do should not we take care of home first, in this case the state of Michigan?
blue85
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
UM's in-state yield is around 70%...in other words, 30% of the kids that they admit from in-state turn UM down. It is also somewhat shocking to read that of the roughly 46,000 applications, a paltry 10,000 or so come from in-state. Clearly, with demographics running against UM, and students not having the confidence to buy into one of the great bargains in higher education, it makes sense for out of state students to be accepted. For my part, I can't fathom why more in-state students don't apply: at the in-state cost you are not only afforded the chance to attend a globally ranked institution, but you have a chance to build a "hook" into graduate programs which are, nearly, unparalleled.
JW
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.
jerrydog you mean Michigan cannot take any out of staters whose tuition helps keep instate tuition lower?
jerrydog
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:27 p.m.
Well if current and recent politics show anything, it is that the clowns coming out of Harvard are really nothing you want to be associated with. This is also a good example of why American universities should be making American kids the priority and no worry so much about specific spots for non-citizens. In any case, like most mid-west higher education institutions they are rock solid. Additionallly you might have a few more bucks in your pocket at the end of the day as well.
Morris Thorpe
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
Why did aa.com delete the comment from a user (not me, though I agree) who said the essay sounded like sour grapes? He or she was civil and made good points. The essay, which was the student published, is meant to elicit a reaction. Are negative ones not allowed? Bad decision by the moderators here.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 4:14 a.m.
Mr. Thorpe: you're far from the only reader who's questioned this news company's "deletion policies" - believe me. I had high hopes for AnnArbor.com at the beginning, but "business is business" and this news outlet and all of its feature are OWNED by someone looking to make money off of ad revenues, manned by "journalists" who know little of all the subjects they write on - but "write on" anyway. :-) Yer not gonna get anything like the logic we're all expecting on this point. It's their dime: lets see how far it gets them.
ChrisW
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:56 a.m.
I agree with you, Morris. I disagreed with the comment, but it was a fair opinion.
Nicholas Urfe
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:48 a.m.
@Morris: Maybe you should ask her to write an op-ed about a2.com comment deletion.
blue85
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:59 p.m.
Sure, at that age it is probably 5% sour grapes, but she is also obviously a kid who is "centered" and poised and clearly if she was originally disappointed, she has obviously rebounded. I'd prefer to focus on the 95%: her humor, her writing skills, her good humored self-promotion. Looking at the 5% is a glass way less than half full.
northside
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:27 p.m.
Thanks for raising that question, Morris. I'm also baffled as to why my comment was removed!
andys
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:10 p.m.
Hey, she wrote an opinion piece and got it published in a national newspaper, garnering national recognition. Not too shabby for one so young. Welcome to U of M!
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 3:13 a.m.
So she comes from a talented family. great. She also was an intern at the Wall Street Journal. Her op-ed garnered over 1000 comments. Great writer. Also handled herself very well on the Today Show.
CV
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:17 a.m.
Her older sister used to work for The Wall Street Journal, which surely boosted her chances of getting published. She didn't just do it on her own.
oldlocal
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
Saw it; loved it. Ivy's loss is Midwest's gain.
northside
Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
Um, you do realize she doesn't really want to come here?
doctrsnoop
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
I had not heard of her before but I went and read her essay. I thought it was fantastic! I used to be like that too, high GPA, all academic, but with little glamour on the side. I too thought I wanted to go to Harvard and was heart-broken when I was shot down. But looking back on it now I realize that I was very wrong for Harvard, and ended up at the Harvard of the West, as it was known. Umm, no. The essay is very honest, yeah, sure a little snarky, but honest. It sure the heck is better than the kind of stuff I used to write, ridiculous pretentious pieces.
BHarding
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 7:25 p.m.
Well, she made a silly mistake, probably tongue-in-cheek, that will haunt her. Hope she learns and gets on happily.
annarbor28
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 3:11 a.m.
She was already accepted to UM when she wrote the op-ed.
blue85
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:57 p.m.
Calling it a silly mistake is a complete mischaracterization: her op-ed was obviously highly intentional in tone and thrust. It also garnered her admission to a elite school. I think you should consider re-reading it.
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:48 p.m.
I voted thumbs-up, BUT I don't think she made a "silly mistake". If U of M read her op-ed, it may well have helped her.
dancinginmysoul
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
what are you talking about?
Ponycar
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 8:01 p.m.
I wouldn't say that being accepted to UM is much of a "haunt".