'Creative and edgy' helped these waitlisted applicants stand out at U-M: Could it help others next year?
One of University of Michigan's most famous alumni was nearly turned away by the admissions office.
University of Michigan alumnus Arthur Miller was originally waitlisted before gaining entry into the 1938 graduating class. Here, he is interviewed during "A Conversation With Arthur Miller'' at the Mendelssohn Theater on April 1, 2004, in Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor News file photo
Miller was placed on the waitlist for entry into the 1938 graduating class. Soon after receiving notification, "Miller got on a train from New York, came here and talked to the admissions director" about why he should be accepted, current U-M Admissions Director Ted Spencer told AnnArbor.com
Eventually, he got in.
Miller began his academic career at U-M in 1934 as a journalism major, writing for the student newspaper The Michigan Daily, and then switched his major to English. Before his 2005 death, he became a successful author and playwright — one of U-M's most famous alumni, writing hits like "The Crucible" and "Death of a Salesman."
Spencer says it was Miller's boldness and creativity that launched him off the waitlist and into the student body.
It was that same boldness and creativity, Spencer said, that nudged admissions counselors to give California student Lawrence Yong a second look.
Ted Spencer, director of admissions at University of Michigan, said the school offered about 9,000 students a place on its waitlist this year.
File photo
Waitlisted, Yong reprised the Jackson 5 song "I Want You Back" into an ode to Michigan and posted the performance on Youtube. The video went viral and has received nearly 125,000 views.
But before now, admissions counselors were mum on how much weight they gave the video, saying only that they take "demonstrated interest" into account when plucking students off the waiting list.
In an interview, Spencer admitted the video caught the eye of nearly everyone working in admissions.
"It was creative, and it was edgy," Spencer said. "That may be the reason why we took a second look at it. ... No one had ever done that before."
Being the first, Spencer said, has its advantages.
"The whole nation saw it," Spencer said. "I asked (other students) what they had thought about the video and they said 'I wish I thought of that.' "
Yong was one of roughly 9,000 students offered a spot on U-M's waitlist. Of that pool, roughly 3,800 students accepted and about 100 students were offered entry into the class of 2016, according to preliminary numbers provided by Spencer.
"If I had not done the video there was no way that I’d be able to stand out," Yong told AnnArbor.com after receiving a June 6 acceptance letter. "There was a lot of uncertainty."
Lawrence Yong's admissions video went viral.
In 2011, the school offered 14,600 applicants a place on the waitlist and 4,500 students accepted. Of those, 42 applicants were offered entry.
"We drew the line a little bit lower this year," Spencer said.
As of this week, 6,400 accepted applicants have sent U-M a non-refundable security deposit. Spencer and his team expect about 400 to 500 students to drop off from now until September, putting U-M at its target level of roughly 5,900 freshmen. Last year, the school accepted too many students and had to cram students in non-traditional triple dorm rooms and graduate housing and expand class offerings.
Spencer said he does not anticipate offering anymore waitlisted students a place on this year's roster.
So next year, what stunt should wait-listed applicants attempt in an effort to beat the odds and get off the waiting list?
They might try following Yong's example, but not exactly. According to Spencer, "firsts" turn heads.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
heartbreakM
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 3:44 a.m.
One big gripe here--he says he has never been to campus to get a Michigan shirt, yet he sings about what a great campus we have. Hmmmm. That alone should have raise eyebrows :) I'm beginning to think that this whole game of college admissions and where to go is so random that it almost doesnt' matter where you go. Every campus is diverse. Every campus is expensive. How do students and/or parents even afford it?
david herzig
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 7:39 p.m.
Read it more carefully. The non-refundable deposit was from those accepted so as to hold their place in the class; not from those on the wait list.
UtrespassM
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
Is Lawrence Yong a in state or an out state applicant?
kludwig
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
Does anyone else think that taking non-refundable deposits from 6400 prospective students to be on the UM wait list, knowing that none of them are likely to be accepted, is unethical and very close to, if not, fraudulent? I think this is despicable, cynical and greedy.
kludwig
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
Feetofclay, I see your point. It may very well be the bad editing that provoked my response. Thanks for the clarification and I think you are correct and I am not. I've been involved in admissions discussions on Quora lately and so seem to be hyper sensitive at the moment. http://www.quora.com/Colleges-and-Universities/Should-admissions-at-highly-selective-Universities-be-based-on-a-lottery-among-all-qualified-candidates/answer/Ken-Ludwig
FeatOfClay
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
kludwig, I don't think the article does. I think the order in which they are discussing accepted students and waitlisted students contributes to the confusion. That said, however, the article indicates that 6,400 ACCEPTED applicants have sent deposits. Waitlisted students (who number less than 6,400) are not accepted applicants. They are applicants still awaiting a decision. Here is what NACAC has to say about it in their Statement of Principles of Good Practice (Interpretations of Mandatory Practices): "[Institutions shall] establish wait list procedures that ensure that no student on any wait list is asked for a deposit in order to remain on the wait list or for a commitment to enroll prior to receiving an official written offer of admission. " And their definition of the waitlist is clear on student status: "By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not initially offer or deny admission, but extends to the candidate the possibility of admission not later than August 1."
kludwig
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
Featofclay the article quite clearly refutes your statement about deposits "As of this week, 6,400 accepted applicants have sent U-M a non-refundable security deposit."
FeatOfClay
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
It might very well be unethical if that was what U-M was doing. There is NO DEPOSIT to be on the waitlist, not at U-M or at any other school which follows NACAC guidelines. Students are not expected (or required) to pay an enrollment deposit until they are formally admitted. When an applicant is offered a place on the waitlist, it is merely an opportunity to say "No thanks, I'm making my choice from schools which admitted me outright; I am no longer interested" or "keep me on and let me know if there ends up being room, because I might enroll if offered." No financial transactions are associated with this.
M
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 11:02 a.m.
When did "creative and edgy" become more important than, "Intelligent, skilled, and hard-working?"
easy123
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
I think you are missing the point. You do want creative and edgy, otherwise you get a bunch of drones. In fact, I would rather work with creative folks, than so called hard working. Intuition and innovation wins out, because you can have a hard work who is just spinning his wheels I would want creative someone who can get done with something a tenth of the time, more power to the him/her.
FeatOfClay
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
Those things are important. Luckily for U-M, a lot of people on the waitlist already fit that description.
simone66
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 11:17 a.m.
Because being "creative and edgy" ALONG with being intelligent is another helpful tool to stand out from all the other qualified applicants these days. I'm very happy for Lawrence Yong. Class of 1996!
Nick Danger
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 10:37 a.m.
He deserves a place for doing something authentic ,interesting and creative.It sure beats all the rich kids that hire college consultants to use their influence to get into the U.