Freshman Applications Soar to All-time High

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
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Freshman Applications Soar to All-Time High
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Applications to enroll in next fall's freshman class at Northwestern University have soared to an all-time record.</p>

<p>A total of 21,839 high school students applied for the freshman class, expected to number about 2,025.</p>

<p>The record number represents an 18.5 percent increase over the previous record --18,385, set just a year ago for the class entering in the fall of 2006. The 2006 record of 18,385 applications had broken the previous record with a 13.3 percent increase over the 16,221 applications for the fall of 2005.</p>

<p>“An increase of more than 30 percent in only two years is phenomenal,” said Michael Mills, associate provost for undergraduate enrollment, “especially when prestigious institutions around the country are all seeking the brightest and most-qualified high school seniors in the country.”</p>

<p>Mills said some of the increased number of applications came from wider use of the Common Application. This year is the first year that Northwestern University is a member of The Common Application, a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions. It provides an admission application -- online and in print -- that students may submit to any of nearly 300 schools. Membership is limited to colleges and universities that evaluate students using a holistic selection process. </p>

<p>Some of the increase in applications also is attributable to prospective foreign students. Applications from international students for fall of 2007 hit 2,000, a 54 percent increase over the 1,300 applications for the fall of 2006. </p>

<p>Mills said Northwestern has increased its outreach to international students, expanding overseas trip by admission counselors. During the last year, Northwestern officials visited high schools in Southeast Asia and China.</p>

<p>This is the third year that prospective international students are eligible for financial aid in the form of need-based scholarships, according to Mills.</p>

<p>Mills also noted that recent trends are continuing in the number of students applying online and those seeking Early Decision on admission. Ninety percent of applications for fall of 2007 were made online, up 2 percent from a year ago. The number of Early Decision applications for next fall reached 1,303, an increase of 8 percent. </p>

<p>A total of 572 Early Decision applicants were admitted in December and will enroll in the fall. That is 8 percent more than the previous year.

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<p>This is from the following link: <a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/02/admission.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/02/admission.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>...Dang it.</p>

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<p>do u the increase of hispanics applicants?</p>

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<p>Why should that matter? Your race shouldn't affect your chances of admission; it's unethical.</p>

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<p>I agree <em>taryn</em>. I never really understood affirmative action >:O</p>

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<p>"Why should that matter? Your race shouldn't affect your chances of admission; it's unethical."</p>

<p>Statements like this show just how little people know about programs like affirmative action. I fail to see how it's in any way "unethical".</p>

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<p>This seems to have been misinterpreted.</p>

<p>Someone asked if there was an increase in Hispanic applicants, which I took to mean, "Are there more Hispanic applicants to NU this year, because if there are, won't that decrease my chances of being admitted because NU only admits a certain amount of Hispanic individuals each year?"</p>

<p>That - having race quotas, only admitting a predetermined number of minorities, even when many qualified ones apply - was what I interpreted as being unfair to minorities.</p>

<p>Sorry for the misunderstanding. I should have been a lot more clear.</p>

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<p>it ok n hopefully there are not more hispanic applicants, so we could have a better shot.</p>

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<p>one would think that the proportion should stay constant. ie yes, the number probably will increase, but the percentage should stay the same/similar</p>

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<p>Internationals went from ~1300 to ~2000--50% increase!</p>

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<p>there aren't any race quotas at all ... for example, african american enrollment actually went down this year. the university would be more than happy to have more qualified urms applying.</p>

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<p>Race does a factor in chance at admissions.</p>

<p>With regard to Hispanics (or other URMs) - a higher no. of applicants wouldn't necessarily affect their chances of admission, esp. if they have qualifications that within the top half of the applicant pool.</p>