<p>Here is an article from the front page of today's Philadephia Inquirer focusing on the deposits received so far at Philaldephia area colleges and current waitlist activity:</p>
<p>"Private colleges got closer to their fall enrollment targets this week, thanks to a finish-line spurt in student sign-ups, but in this tough economic climate, the schools had to put out more in financial aid to bring freshmen in.</p>
<p>Many colleges spent the admissions season worrying whether they could fill their ranks with the same number and quality of students as last year, given the financial problems families are facing. Some schools are heavily dependent on tuition to pay their bills. …</p>
<p>Still, some college officials continue to be concerned that more students than usual may drop out before September, an event known in the admissions world as “summer melt.”</p>
<p>As a precaution, some schools across the country have gone earlier or deeper into their wait lists, which could trigger more jostling for students and uncertainty for colleges trying to plan for their freshman classes.</p>
<p>But most officials are saying that their classes look to be as strong - or stronger - academically as in the past. They were mostly upbeat just days after the critical May 1 deadline, when many schools require students to submit a deposit. …</p>