<p>University sees 10.5 percent increase in applicants; extends offers of admission to 2,530 in-state applicants, 2,565 out-of-state applicants</p>
<p>Last Friday more than 92 percent of the University's 18,068 applicants clicked a button online to see if they were offered a spot in the University's class of 2011 *-- 5,095 were greeted by the coveted message of "Congratulations." </p>
<p>With a 10.5 percent increase in applicants over last year, the University saw the largest applicant pool in its history this year, Dean of Admissions John Blackburn said. </p>
<p>He said it is difficult to know the true reasons behind the increase, but it is possible that the press the University received in past months concerning the abolishment of its early decision policy could be a factor in the influx. </p>
<p>"We were in a lot of newspapers about this [decision], which increased visibility," Blackburn said. </p>
<p>He added that he saw interest in this decision from European and Asian newspapers, which could be a factor in the 23 percent increase of international applicants. </p>
<p>Other notable trends were increases in the number of minority applicants. Black applicants increased by 13 percent, Asian-Americans increased by 20 percent and Hispanic and Latino applicants increased by 16 percent, according to Blackburn. </p>
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