2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
Total application numbers steady
Naomi Jagoda
For the class of 2012, the University received the largest number of applications in the school's history, the Admissions office announced this week.
But the less-than-1-percent rise in the number of total applicants to Penn is significantly less than increases reported by peer institutions.
A total of 22,794 students applied to Penn in the 2007-2008 admissions cycle, representing a .7-percent increase over the class of 2011's previously record-breaking number of 22,646 applications.
The number of students who applied regular decision also rose by a small amount. This admissions cycle, 18,865 prospective students applied regular decision, compared to 18,645 in the previous cycle. Early-decision application numbers were down this year by 1.5 percent.
Application numbers remained about the same at all four undergraduate schools, interim Dean of Admissions Eric Kaplan said.
Penn's relatively steady total numbers were unusual among its peer institutions. Harvard University's application numbers saw an increase of 19 percent and Dartmouth University also saw a double-digit increase. At Princeton, Brown and Cornell application numbers rose by more than 5 percent.
Kaplan said he is not concerned about the relatively small increase in applications this year because Penn's application numbers grew by 10 percent for the 2006-2007 admissions cycle.
"It's impossible to sustain those increases every year," he said.
Steven Goodman, an education consultant based in Washington D.C., said he believes Kaplan's statement is valid.
"One can't constantly have dramatic increases," he said.
Goodman also said he believes Penn's consistently large applicant pool means that students are "inherently comfortable with the University as an institution."
However, Goodman said Penn has reason to be concerned if its growth rate remains consistently lower than other Ivies' rates because it will make Penn appear to be less selective.
But the less-than-1-percent rise in the number of total applicants to Penn is significantly less than increases reported by peer institutions.
A total of 22,794 students applied to Penn in the 2007-2008 admissions cycle, representing a .7-percent increase over the class of 2011's previously record-breaking number of 22,646 applications.
The number of students who applied regular decision also rose by a small amount. This admissions cycle, 18,865 prospective students applied regular decision, compared to 18,645 in the previous cycle. Early-decision application numbers were down this year by 1.5 percent.
Application numbers remained about the same at all four undergraduate schools, interim Dean of Admissions Eric Kaplan said.
Penn's relatively steady total numbers were unusual among its peer institutions. Harvard University's application numbers saw an increase of 19 percent and Dartmouth University also saw a double-digit increase. At Princeton, Brown and Cornell application numbers rose by more than 5 percent.
Kaplan said he is not concerned about the relatively small increase in applications this year because Penn's application numbers grew by 10 percent for the 2006-2007 admissions cycle.
"It's impossible to sustain those increases every year," he said.
Steven Goodman, an education consultant based in Washington D.C., said he believes Kaplan's statement is valid.
"One can't constantly have dramatic increases," he said.
Goodman also said he believes Penn's consistently large applicant pool means that students are "inherently comfortable with the University as an institution."
However, Goodman said Penn has reason to be concerned if its growth rate remains consistently lower than other Ivies' rates because it will make Penn appear to be less selective.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Observer
posted 2/15/08 @ 9:15 AM EST
I see that in this late report the Admissions people were finally able to squeeze out a small increase, avoiding the concern that a decline in applications - no matter how small - would inevitably engender. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 2/15/08 @ 10:16 AM EST
Penn's crappy web site plays a role in the applicant numbers game. Penn's web site looks clunky and inelegant. If we want to attract greater numbers of talented applicants, we have to look like we deserve their first glance, as well as their sustained attention. (Continued…)
Observer
posted 2/15/08 @ 4:23 PM EST
Here is how the number of applicants and admits is supposed to be reported to US News:
" First-time, first-year (freshman) students: Provide the number of degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled (full- or part-time) in fall 2007. (Continued…)
Another Observer
posted 2/15/08 @ 8:03 PM EST
Observer brings up some excellent questions that the DP should seek to have the Admissions Office answer. I.e., does the total application number provided by the Admissions Office include incomplete and/or withdrawn applications, and how do the Admissions Office reporting criteria square with the stated reporting requirements of US News?
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