The College Admissions Process Podcast 342. Wayne State University — Dr. Charles Cotton, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management
🎙️ Episode: Wayne State University — Dr. Charles Cotton, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management
In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, John Durante talks with Dr. Charles Cotton III about what makes Wayne State University unique: its urban location, research opportunities, student supports, career connections, and affordability. Wayne State is a top public research university and is classified as a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity). Wayne Today+1
3 key takeaways (what to focus on in your college research)
1) The city is the campus — Detroit = career advantage 🏙️➡️💼
Wayne State’s campus is embedded in Detroit — Dr. Cotton describes “porous walls” between campus and city where students live, learn, and play alongside Detroit. That translates into frequent in-person internship and partnership opportunities, strong local alumni connections, and a formal “college-to-career” emphasis that helps students convert classroom work into paid internships and real-world experience. Recent partnerships (for example, with Detroit City FC) make those opportunities concrete. Detroit City FC
Why this matters for your research: if you want hands-on experience or regional industry connections, prioritize schools whose location and partner network line up with the career paths you care about.
2) Research access starts early — look for UROP & undergraduate pipelines 🔬
Dr. Cotton stresses that research at Wayne State begins before day one for many students through their Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and related initiatives that connect admitted students with faculty, scholarships, and funded projects. These programs make it possible for undergraduates to join faculty research and find grant/scholarship support early. UROP+1
Why this matters for your research: if undergraduate research is important to you, ask reps how soon first-years can join research, what matching/support looks like, and whether there are paid research/mentored options.
3) Real supports + affordability — Student Success 2.0 & tuition pledges 📚💰
Wayne State has been investing in student success and centralized supports (Student Success 2.0 and the Student Success Hub in the undergraduate library) to make advising, success coaches, career services, and financial aid easier to find. They also offer major affordability programs (e.g., the Wayne State Guarantee and Heart of Detroit pledge) that cover tuition/fees for eligible students. Dr. Cotton highlights first-year seminars, living-learning communities, and centralized help as part of the transition experience. Wayne Today+1
Why this matters for your research: retention and success programs + clear tuition pledges change net cost and outcomes — ask for exact eligibility rules and how supports are delivered (in person, virtual, one-on-one coaching).
Quick facts you can trust from the interview (and what to ask on a visit) ✍️
- Wayne State is a Carnegie R1 research university and is ranked among the country’s top public research universities. Carnegie Classification+1
- The university runs the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) to connect undergraduates with faculty research and funding. UROP
- Wayne State has city partnerships that produce internship/experience pipelines (example: Detroit City FC partnership). Detroit City FC
- The school launched Student Success 2.0 and a Student Success Hub to centralize advising, career, and financial aid supports. Wayne Today
- Affordability programs include the Wayne State Guarantee (tuition pledge for eligible Michigan families) and the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge for Detroit residents/graduates. Wayne State University+1
Good questions for prospective students to ask Wayne State reps (straight from the interview):
- “When and how can first-year students get involved in UROP or faculty research?” 🔬
- “What does Student Success 2.0 / the Student Success Hub actually do for students day-to-day?” 📚
- “What internships or paid opportunities come through your city partnerships (and how do students apply)?” 💼
- “How does the Wayne State Guarantee or Heart of Detroit pledge work and who qualifies?” 💳
- Do you offer direct pipeline programs (e.g., Wayne Med-Direct) for students aiming for medicine?” 🩺 Wayne State University Provost's Office
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