Applications to U-M Ann Arbor reach historic high

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The University of Michigan received 29,794 applications from prospective freshmen for 2008, an 8.5 percent increase over last year and the highest number in University history. At the same time, applications from underrepresented minorities dropped slightly in what U-M officials predict is a temporary decline.
As of June 5, 12,533 students were offered admission to the University's Ann Arbor campus.
The preliminary admission number for the freshman class represents a decrease of approximately 9 percent from the same time last year and reflects University efforts to manage the size of the 2008 entering class.
In recent years, the number of entering freshmen exceeded U-M's ideal class size by several hundred. This year's incoming class will be at or near the preferred size of 5,710. This allows the university to maintain a relatively constant undergraduate student body population, an important component of quality instruction.
"The application pool was extremely strong again this year," said Theodore L. Spencer, associate vice provost and executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. "We're delighted that so many bright and talented students are interested in attending the University of Michigan."
Of the 12,533 students who received admission offers, 6,045 have paid enrollment deposits. Enrollment deposits do not necessarily correspond to the number of students who attend class in the fall because some students choose not to officially enroll. The figure is used to track trends. Last year at this time, 46 percent of admitted students had paid a deposit; this year the number is 48.2 percent. U-M's final enrollment figures for the class of 2012 will be available in October.
U-M continues its longstanding policy of meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all Michigan resident undergraduate students. "The University is a bargain for Michigan residents," said Pamela Fowler, executive financial aid director. "We offer one of the largest pools of financial aid resources available at any public institution in the country."
The 2007-2008 admissions cycle was the first full recruitment season since Michigan voters passed Proposal 2—an initiative prohibiting the consideration of race and gender in admissions decisions. When similar laws were passed in California and Washington, public universities experienced substantial drops in underrepresented minority student applications and admissions. [To read the entire news release, go to: http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6609 ]