February 26, 2003

Applications near record high

University receives 15,639 applications for 1,925 spots in 2004 freshman class

The University has received 15,639 applications for next fall’s freshman class, the second highest in history, an increase of 9.4 percent from the current year.

Prospective students and their families visit the Northwestern campus last week. Total applications received for next fall increased 9.4 percent and approached the all-time record of 16,674 set in 1997.

photo by Stephen Anzaldi

The all-time record is 16,674 applications received for the 1997-98 academic year.

The total for next fall surpasses the former second-highest year (1996-97) when 15,620 prospective freshmen applied, according to Rebecca Dixon, associate provost for undergraduate enrollment.

The number of early-decision applications for next fall increased over the current year. A total of 1,112 students applied for early decision, an increase of 12 percent.

A total of 554 early-decision applicants have been admitted and are expected to make up about 27 percent of next fall’s freshman class.

That would be an increase of 4 percentage points over the current year’s freshman class, according to Dixon.

The Office of Admissions this year focused special efforts on increasing the number of applications to the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. These efforts paid off.

A total of 2,547 students have applied for admission to the McCormick School, the highest number in the last six years. Applications to the Weinberg College totaled 9,445, the largest number in the past seven years.

Dixon said the target size for next fall’s freshman class is 1,925 students, the same goal as the last two years.