The most prestigious college admissions discussion board in the world.
|
 |
 
|
'Midwest college applications soar' (Sun-Times)
| *NYCFan* | 01/15/08 |
| brians | 01/18/08 |
| *NYCFan* | 01/18/08 |
Poast new message in this thread
Date: January 15th, 2008 9:30 AM
Midwest college applications soar
'IT'S STRIKING' | Officials credit word of mouth, larger high school classes, use of common form
January 15, 2008 BY KARA SPAK Staff Reporter/kspak@suntimes.com
Alberto Morales has a near-perfect GPA and a stellar list of activities.
But the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School senior said he's not breathing easy about getting in to Northwestern University -- or any of the other six schools to which he sent applications.
"I'm nervous," he said. "Especially after finding out schools are experiencing an all-time high record number of applications."
Applications are up 12 percent at 18 Midwestern private colleges tracked by Jon Boeckenstedt, DePaul University's associate vice president for enrollment. 'There's a lot of fear'
Boeckenstedt attributes the increase to larger high school senior classes and a belief students are applying to more schools.
"I think there's a lot of fear among students that they are not going to get in," he said. DePaul is anticipating 13,300 applications this year for a freshman class of 2,400. Last year, 12,468 students applied for one of the school's coveted spots.
University of Chicago admissions officers are sorting through 12,267 applications -- 18 percent more than last year -- for a freshman class of 1,270.
"It's striking," said Ted O'Neill, dean of admissions. "I think basically just more people know about the University of Chicago, partly through our own efforts and partly through word of mouth." 'They may just be fishing'
The University of Notre Dame saw applications surge 28 percent the last three years and is expecting even more applications next year when the school switches to the common application, a form that takes much of the work out of applying to schools, said Dan Saracino, Notre Dame's assistant provost for enrollment.
"It's nice to be up in applications, but you're not sure how serious students are," he said. "It makes it so easy to apply, they may just be fishing."
At Northwestern, more than 25,000 high school seniors applied for the university's incoming freshman class, a more than 12 percent increase over last year and a 54 percent jump over the last three years.
The 5,800 seniors accepted to the Class of 2012 will receive their letters by March 20, said Mike Mills, associate provost for undergraduate enrollment. The class size is expected to be 2,025 students.
Mills credited the jump to "good things happening on the Northwestern University campus" including graduates and faculty receiving prestigious academic awards.
Others working in high-profile Midwestern college admissions said application numbers are up everywhere, in part because more colleges are using the common application.
This is the second year Northwestern used the common application.
Morales, the Cristo Rey senior, said he was impressed with Northwestern's "vibe" after a visit last fall with his parents.
"I found everyone very intelligent, and I liked the community service program there," he said.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/741168,CST-NWS-apply15.article |
Date: January 18th, 2008 12:43 PM |
 |
Date: January 18th, 2008 1:41 PM |