Waitlisted at Michigan

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>My D has just found out she's been waitlisted at University of Michigan. The letter was very positive, mentioning that they do accept a few more students than they know will accept, but that the waitlist is very short, so she should feel very good about being asked to be on the waitlist. It also mentioned that the waitlist is unranked, so everyone will be given equal consideration if they need to go to the waitlist.</p>

<p>The letter also said that they will let us know by May 22 if there is an opening available. So, my question is: Does anyone have any experience with this? Has anyone actually signed up for housing and paid the enrollment fee at another university, only to be offered a position somewhere AFTER May 1? And how does that work? And what about housing? Since she has not been formally admitted to UM, I'm guessing that she can't sign up for housing. </p>

<p>Although this is positive news (sort of), it really leaves us in a bind. U of M would be in-state, which would be great. There are so many positives about her going there, including us being able to possibly see her perform from time to time, but everything we might have to go through if she is offered a position after the national deadline is just a tad daunting.</p>

<p>Anyone with any advice, or knows how others have handled this, would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you!!</p>

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<p>Hi there. UMich at INSTATE tuition is, in my opinion, the deal of a lifetime ;)</p>

<p>I haven’t had direct experience with the WL, but know a few people who have. I suggest that you, on one hand, go ahead and deposit on school b, and sign up for housing on school b, just to ensure coverage.</p>

<p>Then anxiously await hopefully good news May 22nd. The SOM waitlist is very different from the regular, and ridiculously long UMich “extended” waitlist. (So ignore any of the standard info you find about the regular UMich waitlist – it doesn’t apply in your case.)</p>

<p>SOM keeps a tight list, as I understand it, with quite decent odds of being accepted off of it, depending on the yield in a given year. Of the 3 people I knew waitlisted at UMich, two got off the list, and one didn’t freshman year (but later transferred in from another well-respected conservatory and is happily ensconced there today ;))</p>

<p>Housing at UMich is assigned by lottery, so whether you are depositing early or late really doesn’t make that much of a difference. Likewise, registration dates also have blocks reserved so that having an early or late orientation does not have the negative impact people think. So you’d be covered that way.</p>

<p>The only thing you need to be ready for is to rescind your OTHER committed acceptance right as you’re confirming UMich attendance so that you’re not “double depositing” which is not only frowned upon, but at some schools, academically actionable (can rescind.)</p>

<p>Congrats and good luck! Sorry your news is drawn out for you – just pretend you’re all going with option 2 until you hear differently, but if UMich would otherwise be a first choice and fiscal fav, no harm in switching up if given the opportunity.</p>

<p>Your news ALSO means its highly likely your D would be accepted as a transfer student in the future, just so you know. I mean, can’t say for certain, but it signifies strength of applicant.</p>

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<p>kmcmom13, thank you so much for the info! I really appreciate it. I was beginning to wonder if anyone would answer me. When you’re talking about the “regular” UMich waitlist, are you referring to people who’ve applied to UMich who are NOT music majors?</p>

<p>We were told at the auditions that the waitlist is short, so I am hopeful she will get off it. She would be absolutely thrilled about that! I did call today and ask if she would still be eligible for financial aid/scholarships, etc. if she got off the waitlist, and they said yes, she would, but she would only be eligible for a scholarship if someone who declined UMich also had a scholarship attached to their admission. So it’s nice to know that she still might possibly receive a scholarship too. </p>

<p>Anyway, I feel a little bit better about it now, and thanks for the info about transferring - I hadn’t thought about that before. Thanks again!</p>

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<p>In the same boat! Son (pianist) waitlisted at Michigan, but out of state so cost not really an issue. Trying to decide between Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, and Florida State as well. Any opinions?</p>

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<p>I can’t really help you there, but Florida State is in our pool of schools too! I would think they are all really great programs, so if cost is an issue, which school is the cheapest? And if one of them is significantly cheaper than UMich, then I would definitely go with that option and not even worry about being on the waitlist, but that’s just my opinion!</p>

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<p>WAstamper, I previously studied with one of Florida State’s piano professors. His name is Joel Hastings, and he is a really good teacher. I would definitely recommend him.</p>

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<p>Sax lady, yes, i meant that the “non-school-of-music”, aka regular LSA wait list usually has thousands on it and only a teeny percentage ever get off it. I didn’t want you to read about those long odds over on the mich thread and think that was your situation. Very different!</p>

<p>WA, I think your choice will depend on your son’s studio preferences and financial variables/packages. I think Carnegie Mellon if I recall is about the most expensive with Vandy being a close second. fSU’s OOS cost, on the other hand, is only slightly more than Michigan’s INSTATE cost, and less than half Michigan’s OOS cost and the tuition at either cmu or Vandy. </p>

<p>As a total aside, if there’s any chance your son is also interested in film production, FSU would be the clear winner in that it attracts outstanding film students to its renowned program. While this is not directly related, I’ve found that Michigan’s strength in theatre, for example, has suited my own son’s interests, and he’s now done sound design and composition for three plays extra-curricularly, plus a variety of film projects, including a group sponsored short for a festival. So the robust nature of the overall performing arts/film scene on campus has really added a lot of opportunity and a network of contacts in his case.</p>

<p>These kind of “side-benefit” intangibles are kind of hard to calculate/compare because they’re only “possibilities” in terms of whether opportunities actualize or not, and depend on the individual… I mean, Nashville would be hard to beat for music opportunity and Carnegie Mellon is outstanding in music theatre. I would personally be excited by any and all of these schools :wink: Good luck with the decision!</p>

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<p>Thank you Piano177 and kmcmom13 for your insight!</p>

<p>Yes, DS is interested in music theatre, so CMU remains a draw. We currently live in FLorida (but moving north after graduation), so FSU doesn’t excite him, but I think it has the best piano program from what I have gleaned from professional musicians that I am acquainted with. I think we would be willing to pay more for CMU, but not for Vandy.</p>