Early application numbers show gains over 2004

Updated 10:00 AM January 24, 2005

Early application numbers show gains over 2004

By Julie Peterson
Office of the Vice President for Communications

As the undergraduate admissions deadline nears, both overall applications and those from minority students have increased more than 10 percent compared to the same date last year, according to preliminary figures released Jan. 20.

A total of 18,561 applications for freshman admission in Fall 2005 had been received as of Jan. 17, an increase of 13 percent from the previous year. Of those applications, 1,420 were from underrepresented minority students, an increase of 10.5 percent from the same date last year.

Although specific figures were not available for African American, Hispanic and Native American students, Admissions staff members say they are seeing consistent increases in applications across every racial group. Final figures will not be available for several months.

"Our Admissions staff has worked extremely hard this year to encourage high-achieving students to apply," says Theodore L. Spencer, director of undergraduate admissions. "We've increased the number of workshops and outreach programs in high schools and other locations around Michigan and nationally.

"We also are benefiting from the very visible support by our president, Mary Sue Coleman, who has traveled the state with a strong message of welcome and encouragement. Although we have a lot of work ahead of us, I'm pleased that we're beginning to see these efforts pay off."

Coleman was the keynote speaker at a recruiting event in Novi in December focused on minority students from Southeast Michigan. She also was a guest speaker during December and January at three African American churches: Galilee Baptist Church in Kalamazoo (Dec. 21), Brown-Hutcherson Ministries in Grand Rapids (Jan. 6), and Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit (Jan. 16).

Speaking to prospective students and their families gathered at Hartford last week, Coleman said, "We know that the future of the State of Michigan and of our entire nation depends upon our young people—all of our young people. And that future will be realized at its fullest as our children learn to love education and to vigorously pursue that love.

"Financial circumstances are frequently a roadblock to college," she added. "I want to assure you that the University of Michigan firmly believes that financial challenges must never close the door on our children's future. To this end, we help families locate the resources required to meet the demonstrated financial need of every single admitted undergraduate student from the state of Michigan."

In addition to increases in minority applications, the University also has experienced an increase in first-year applications from international students, up 13.7 percent over 2004. Sixty-eight percent of all freshman applicants so far have applied online this year, compared to 57 percent last year.

Additional application workshops are scheduled at the U-M Undergraduate Admissions Office in Detroit, 3031 W. Grand Blvd., New Center One Building, Suite 530, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29, and 5-7 p.m. Jan. 25 and 27. At the workshops, Admissions staff will answer questions, accept applications and check them for completeness. The University's admissions application deadline is Feb. 1.

Early application numbers show gains over 2004

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