Application numbers rise
for 2002
By Kelsey VanArsdall
Staff
Writer
The Office of Admissions has already seen a significant
increase from last year in the number of applications submitted by high
school seniors who hope to become freshmen in the 2002-2003 school year.
The office receives an average of 1,000 applications
a week, and Doug Christiansen, vice president of enrollment services,
said Purdue has already acquired more than 50 percent of the total projected
applications for next fall. This is a pleasant surprise for the Office
of Admissions considering the effect the recent world events have had
on the nation.
With the anthrax scares in postal offices around
the nation mail delivery has been slowed significantly. The Chronicle
of Higher Education, a national publication serving university administration,
reported that more than 7,000 SAT scores from an October testing date
have been delayed because postal facilities were shut down due to anthrax
scares.
So far this problem hasn't had a negative effect
on admissions mailings to Purdue.
"Although it's unfortunate for most of the nation,
the anthrax scares have not affected us," said Christiansen. "In fact,
it has gone in the other direction — we have seen an increase."
The question some are asking now is why this is
year bringing so many more applicants. Christiansen said many factors
could be the cause of such an increase.
"We are 10 percent ahead as of week 11, however
it may be too early to determine how the events of Sept. 11 have affected
this," said Christiansen.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal,
universities and colleges in small towns are more appealing to students
because they aren't in big metropolitan areas that could be targeted
by terrorists.
"This could be the cause, or at least a factor,"
said Christiansen. "But I think there are lots of other reasons for
increase."
Christiansen said other factors include high school
students heeding the advice of their teachers and applying early and
the fact that Purdue has started directly recruiting for students.
The strategic plan, which lays out the mission
and vision for Purdue for the next five years, has been critical in
the recruiting process; Christiansen said the plan is getting a great
response from hopeful incoming students and their parents.
"The plan clearly indicates what we are doing to
make Purdue better, and that's really appealing to students that are
interested," he said, He added, the plan helps match incoming students'
educational and career goals with what Purdue has to offer them.
The undergraduate admissions office is not the
only one seeing an increase in its applications.
As of early November, Purdue's graduate school
received more than 1,700 applications for 2002.
"At this point one year ago, we had received 1,056
applications. Thus, we are encouraged that applications are up nicely,
at least at this point," said Tom Atkinson, the assistant dean of the
graduate school.
Atkinson said this increase could be due to many
things, one being that nearly 90 percent of the applications for 2002
were received electronically.
"It's now much easier for prospective students
to apply than in the past when students requested paper applications
which were mailed to them and then mailed back to us," said Atkinson.
Atkinson said other reasons for the increase could
be the economic situation and the increased emphasis on graduate recruitment.
He said that although it is still early, the graduate school is projecting
an overall enrollment of more than 6,200 students for the fall of 2002.
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