Vol. 20 No. 4 December 2005

Results of CB's 20th Annual
National College Admissions Trends Survey
Top Trends Inside Admissions Offices
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, COLLEGE BOUND has asked admissions officers and enrollment specialists throughout the country and at a wide variety of schools about the admissions process of the previous season-the sizes of their freshman classes, how the admissions process is currently impacting their classes and what trends they see.

CB finds admissions officers each year to be candid in describing the results of their recruitment efforts and the trends they see. This year was no different. For example, as guidance counselors, parents and admissions officers debate the benefits, or not, of applying early, and earlier, to college, CB asked colleges if they are pulling more of their students from the early applicant pool. The answer is, "Yes."

Last year, CB asked admissions officers what they wished high schools would do to better prepare students for college. This year, we asked them what they want from parents. We asked about the test scores of their class, the size of their minority student representation and what countries are represented by the international students their accepted.

We also ask about what they are seeking in the 2006 applicants, what new programs or majors they are offering and about new merit scholarships for first-year students.

Below is a sampling of answers from the colleges participating in the 20th Annual Survey. The schools represent a wide variety of institutions, including those from the Big 10, Ivy League, small liberal art colleges, historically black colleges and colleges in rural and urban areas, North and South, coast to coast. The complete summary will appear in CB's annual book, Who Got In?, due out in the Spring.

APPLICATIONS CONTINUE TO RISE
Colgate U. saw a 22 percent increase in applications. Wagner noticed a 25 percent increase in applications, and a significant rise as well in Early Decision deposits. "We closed our class on May 2 with more than 90 freshmen over our budgeted goal," said Rosemary Anastasio, director of institutional research.

Indeed, 75 percent of colleges responding to CB's survey at press time had seen more applications this year than in 2004. Below are some of the schools and the number of applications they reported.

More Applications: Adelphi U. (5,197), Boston C. (23,823), Carnegie Mellon U. (15,777), Centre C. (1,989), Claremont McKenna C. (3,734), Colgate U. ( 8,008), Drake U. (3,668), Duke U. (18,089), Emory U. (12,012), Franciscan U. of Steubenville, Hampden-Sydney C. (1,376), Harvard C. (22,796), Hope C. (2,674), Lafayette C. (5,728), Messiah C. (2,730), Michigan State U. (21,844), Middlebury (5,254), North Central C. (1,936), Northwestern U. (16,223), Northwest Missouri State U. (3,674), Ohio Northern U. (3,206), The Ohio State U. (18,212), Oklahoma City U. (1,068), Philadelphia Biblical U. (681), Reed C. (2,646), Saint Michael's (2,924), Sweet Briar C. (623), U. of Toledo (8,987), Xavier U. (5,473), Wagner C. (2,858) and Wartburg (1,793).

Fewer Applications: Brandeis U. (7,343), Dickinson (4,784), Indiana State U. (5,341), Kettering U. (2,357), Marygrove C. (470), Prairie View A&M U. (4,290), U. of Illinois (18,987), U. of North Dakota (3,749) and Virginia Tech (17,637).

ARE STUDENTS APPLYING EARLY?
In November, Harvard announced that for the third year in a row, close to 4,000 students applied for admission to its nonbinding Early Action program for Fall 2006. In CB's survey this year, Harvard reported that for the 2005 entering freshmen, it received 4,214 Early applicants.

CB asked admissions officers, "Compared to 2004, how many Early Decision/Early Action applications did you receive in Fall 2004 for the 2005 freshman class?" And then, "What percent of the 2005 class was accepted ED/EA?"

Dickinson C., for example, saw an "increased interest in Early Decision and Early Action programs." But it also saw an increased concern about price.

North Central C. in Naperville, Illinois, saw an increase in applications and reported that "applicants started the process earlier."

Prairie View A&M U. said that "students are applying earlier." Xavier U. also saw "more students applying Early Action." Wagner C. saw "a significant rise as well in Early Decision deposits."

Of the schools with EA/ED programs, 51 percent reported receiving more early applications last year, 7 percent fewer and 7 percent the same as a year earlier. Thirty-seven percent of colleges surveyed to date do not have or do not report early figures.

Below are examples of schools receiving early applications and the percent of their class admitted from the early pool.

More Early Apps: Adelphi U. (1,086/41 percent), Boston C. (5,273/30 percent), Carnegie Mellon U. (684/12 percent), Centre C. (765/48 percent), Claremont McKenna C. (252/26 percent), Colgate U. (638/42 percent), Dickinson C. (1,659/62 percent), Duke U. (1,482/12 percent), Emory U. (1,026/38 percent), Fordham U. (2,800/NA), Hampden-Sydney C. (20 percent), Harvard C. (4,214/50 percent), Oklahoma City U. (NA), Reed C. (210/30 percent), Saint Michael's C. (1,373/56 percent), Sweet Briar C (71/39 percent) and Virginia Tech (2,037/21 percent).

Fewer Early Apps: Brandeis U. (331/23 percent), Lafayette C. (353/39 percent), Northwestern U. (1,079/47 percent), Wagner C. (151/5 percent) and Xavier U. (2,844/67 percent).

Same: Middlebury C. (759/43 percent).

TOTAL ADMITTED
In 2005, 56 percent of colleges surveyed reported accepting more applicants than in 2004. Thirty-two percent admitted fewer while just 7 percent admitted the same number as last year.

More Students Admitted: Adelphi U. (3,545), Brandeis U. (2,795), Carnegie Mellon U. (6,135), Centre C. (1,257), Drake U. (3006), Duke U. (3,996), Franciscan U. of Steubenville (NA), Hampden-Sydney (922), Hope C (2,071), Marygrove C. (251), Messiah C. (2,036), Middlebury C. (1,241), North Central C. (1,348), Northwestern U. (5,000), Northwestern Missouri State U. (2,855), Ohio Northern U. (2,324), The Ohio State U. (12,863), Oklahoma City U. (865), Philadelphia Biblical U. (505), Saint Michael's C. (2,119), Sweet Briar C. (495), Wagner C. (1,751) and Xavier (3,616).

Fewer Students Admitted in 2005: Colgate U. 2,168), Dickinson (2,359), Harvard C. (2,102), Indiana State U. (4,274), Kettering U. (1,663), Michigan State U. (16,686), Prairie View A&M (2,105), U. of Illinois (14,326), U. of North Dakota (2,725), U. of Toledo (7,125), Virginia Tech (12,411) and Wartburg (1,553).

Colleges admitting the same number of students in 2005 as in 2004: Emory U. (4,300 or 36 percent) and Reed C. (1,200).

WAIT LISTS? A LONGSHOT
In year's past, the size of college wait lists was big news. This year, wait lists are still around. Were more students placed on the wait lists this year? Were fewer admitted from the wait lists?

Placing 2,000 students on a wait list isn't unusual anymore. The use of wait lists has become a common practice to guard against the uncertainties of multiple applications. Yet at many schools, few students move off of those lists.

Sweet Briar didn't have any students on a wait list in 2004 and this year placed 21 students on its wait list. But it admitted only 2 wait listed students. Harvard placed the same number of students as last year, but admitted fewer (23 students.) Middlebury C. placed 579 students on its wait list, but admitted 36. Yet Fordham U. placed 2,117 students on its wait list in 2005, and admitted 431.

About 29 percent of colleges reported placing more students on their wait list in 2005. Fifteen percent reported fewer students and 29 percent said the same number.

But then, of the colleges with wait lists, 32 percent of the colleges admitted fewer wait list students than in 2004. Only 17 percent admitted more. About 27 percent admitted the same.

Here are examples of the size of the wait lists in 2005 and the number of students admitted from them.

Colleges with more students on their wait lists (and number admitted) included: Brandeis U. (964/74), Centre C. (112/10), Colgate U. (503/34), Dickinson (278/20), Franciscan U. of Steubenville (NA), Hampden-Sydney (76/23), Lafayette C. (1,640/67), Michigan State U. (945/50), Northwestern U. (1,000/12), Wagner (112/3) and Xavier U. (599/47).

Colleges with fewer students on their wait lists: Carnegie Mellon U. (2,704/106), Claremont McKenna C. (562/22), Hope C. (4/4), The Ohio State U. (411/0), U. of Illinois (503/0) and Virginia Tech (625/0).

Those with the same number of students on a wait list as in 2004 included: Boston C. (2,000/200), Emory U. (800/10), Harvard C. (NA/23), Reed C. (600/19) and Saint Michael's C. (265/2).

SIZE OF THE 2005 FIRST-YEAR CLASS
Fifty-six percent of the colleges in this year's survey reported the size of their 2005 first-year class was larger than in 2004. Thirty-two percent said the class was smaller and 10 percent said the size was the same. But, at the U. of Oklahoma, Cheryl Jorgenson noted that "While this year's first-time class was smaller, the average GPA was higher."

Other colleges with smaller classes: Adelphi (770), Brandeis U. (739), Claremont McKenna C. (271), Colgate (729), Indiana State U. (1,642), Kettering U. (495), Lafayette C. (598), Michigan State U. (7,485), Middlebury (555), U. of North Dakota (1,884), The Ohio State U. (5,860), U. of Oklahoma (3,245), Prairie View A&M U. (1,112) and Xavier U. (773).

Larger: Carnegie Mellon U. (1,422), Centre (317), Dickinson (648), Drake U. (809), Duke U. (1,728), Franciscan of Steubenville (402), Hampden-Sydney (322), Marygrove C. (167), Messiah C. (707), North Central C. (425), Northwestern U. (1,952), Northwest Missouri State (1,340), Ohio Northern U. (946), Oklahoma City U. (360), Philadelphia Biblical U. (317), Reed C. (354), Saint Michael's C. (598), Sweet Briar C. (182), U. of Florida (4,587), U. of Illinois (7,584), U. of Toledo (3,414), Virginia Tech (4,993), Wagner (579) and Wartburg C. (519).

Same as in 2004: Boston C. (2,250), Emory (1,258), Harvard (1,640) and Hope C. (760).

YIELDS
This year, the "number of deposits went down, but yield rate on those deposits was up significantly," said James Koerschen, executive director of enrollment services at Kettering U. The U. of Toledo saw "higher inquiry to applicant conversion rate with lower inquiries." At Fordham U., the yield was 24 percent.

About 41 percent of colleges reporting by press time said their yield was higher this year than last; 34 percent reported it was lower and 22 percent said it was about the same.

Higher Yields: Dickinson (27 percent), Franciscan U. of Steubenville (NA), Marygrove C. (67 percent), Michigan State U. (44 percent), Middlebury C. (45 percent), North Central C. (32 percent), Ohio Northern U. (39 percent), Philadelphia Biblical U. (73 percent), Reed C. (30 percent), Saint Michael's (28 percent), U. of Illinois (76 percent), U. of Toledo (48 percent), Virginia Tech (42 percent), Wagner C. (33 percent), Wartburg C. (36 percent) and Xavier U. (21 percent).

Lower Yields: Adelphi U. (22 percent), Boston C. (30 percent), Brandeis U. (27 percent), Carnegie Mellon U. (NA), Centre C. (25 percent), Hampden-Sydney C. (35 percent), Indiana State U. (38 percent), Kettering U. (33 percent), Messiah C. (35 percent), Northwest Missouri State (47 percent), The Ohio State U. (46 percent), Prairie View A&M (22 percent), Sweet Briar C. (37 percent), U. of North Dakota (69 percent), U. of Oklahoma (51 percent).

Same Yield: Claremont McKenna (35 percent), Colgate (34 percent), Drake U. (27 percent), Duke U. (43 percent), Emory U. (30 percent), Harvard C. (78 percent), Hope C. (37 percent), Lafayette (28 percent) and Northwestern U. (39 percent).

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What Colleges Wish Parents Would Do
LAST YEAR, CB asked admissions officers what they wished high schools would do to better prepare students for college. This year, CB asked, "What do you wish parents would do to better prepare students for college?" Here is a sampling of what some colleges said.

"Encourage more writing, community service participation and enrollment in a rigorous college prep program through 12th grade." Adelphi U.

"Research the institution, know the requirements and deadlines for admission, know the cost of the tuition and financial aid requirements and deadlines. Make sure the student is the 'right fit' for the institution academically and financially." Carnegie Mellon U.

"Be less intrusive." Claremont McKenna C.

"Parents should let their children 'own' the college admissions process and should coach but not direct their kids. They should also emphasize the idea that where you go to college, while important, is less important than what you do while at college. Finding the best fit for a student's learning style and style of interaction is the most important thing for students to discover...." Dickinson C.

"Have students really narrow their choices before applying to colleges. Too many students are applying to 5-8 or more schools." Drake U.

"Clearly define any boundaries for the student's college search. (Cost, geography and so on.) Too often, these boundaries are articulated after admissions." Emory U.

"Visit schools early. Encourage students to consider all types of institutions." Fordham U.
"Encourage reading and writing." Hampden-Sydney C.

"Place less emphasis on U.S. News and World Report's ratings and other guidebook editorials comments. Let the facts speak for themselves." Hope C.

"Prepare for financial responsibilities." Kettering U.

"Learn more about the financial aid process. Too many students are unaware of financial aid opportunities or how to apply for need-based aid. Therefore, they miss out on college options because of the inability to pay for their education." Lafayette C.

"Communicate with each other about costs." Marygrove C.

"That they would cultivate more of a love for learning in their students." Messiah C.

"Parents should encourage students to take a college preparatory curriculum and apply early in their senior year." Michigan State U.

"Let the student handle more of the process. They need to be independent." Middlebury C.

"Prepare financially for college." Northwest Mo. State U.

"Handling stress, study skills and time management." Ohio Northern U.

"Facilitate campus visits earlier and more often." The Ohio State University.

"Inform students and encourage them to seek out info." Oklahoma City U.

"Parents should encourage their students to take the college entrance test earlier." Prairie View A&M U.

"Think less about name and more about the match." Reed C.

"Students need to take ownership of the process and learn to do things for themselves." Saint Michael's C.

"Encourage them to consider all the options and to help them find a good college match for the student." Sweet Briar C.

"Self-reliance, taking responsibility for themselves." U. of Illinois.

"Emphasize the core curriculum." U. of North Dakota.

"Make/allow students to take control of the college process." U. of Toledo.

"Parents should be active participants in the college search process, but they should allow their children to lead the discussions with admissions representatives. Parents can tend to be a little overbearing and can sometimes overshadow the student and his/her application." Wagner C.

"Insist on college preparatory curriculum throughout all four years of high school." Wartburg C.

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Electronic Applications
In 1995, CB's survey spotted the dramatic change in the use of computer technology as it engrained itself in admissions, "becoming as integral to the process as the application essay, the FAFSA and the $200 deposit," we said then. By that time, 56 percent of the 190 colleges surveyed were allowing students to apply via electronic mail, computer disk or electronic application services. Still, 44 percent of colleges then didn't offer electronic or online applications.

Today, the tide has forever turned to the increasing use of electronic applications in all manner of colleges, particularly the small liberal arts colleges. Centre C., for example, saw "online applications" as a trend this year, according to Susan Johnston, associate director of admissions. Drake saw a "continued move toward online applications." Lafayette C. also saw more on-line applications. So did Reed C. Mandy Adamkosky, an admission counselor at Xavier U., also reported "more online applications."

Michigan State U. not only recorded an "increased use of the online application form," but this was coupled with the human touch of increased campus visits by prospective students.

Indeed, the majority of colleges (78 percent) recorded even more electronic applications over the previous year.

Here are colleges that received more electronic applications, and their numbers: Boston C. (12,000), Brandeis U. (70 percent), Carnegie Mellon U. (65 percent), Centre C. (1,418), Claremont McKenna (2,611), Colgate U. (4,938), Dickinson (2,649), Emory (50 percent), Franciscan U. of Steubenville (80), Hampden-Sydney C. (911), Harvard C. (about 13,000), Hope C. (1,275), Indiana State U. (1,740), Kettering U. (1,654), Lafayette C. (2,686), Marygrove C. (136), Michigan State U. (13,528 or 62 percent), Middlebury (46 percent), North Central C. (924), Northwestern U. (80 percent), Northwest Missouri State (80), Ohio Northern U. (about 40 percent), The Ohio State U. (NA), Oklahoma City U. (NA), Reed C. (1,654), Sweet Briar C. (315), U. of Toledo (60 percent), Virginia Tech (14,634 or 83 percent), Wagner (1,103), Wartburg C. (250) and Xavier U. (4,601).

Colleges reporting fewer electronic applications included: Adelphi U. (1,409), Prairie View A&M (3,581) and Saint Michael's C. (1,331).

And colleges that said they had the same number as in 2004 included: Drake (70 percent), Duke U. (11,328), Philadelphia Biblical U. (81), U. of Illinois and the U. of North Dakota.

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THE COUNSELOR'S CORNER
What do colleges want in 2006 applicants?
DO YOU HAVE a student who loves the outdoors? Is passionate about an interest? Engaged in service? Interested in undergraduate research in the natural sciences?

Many colleges reported they are looking for "the well-rounded student." Fordham U., for example, said it was seeking "strong academic students." A number of colleges are looking for students "with passion" or those who "want to be involved."

Below are examples of other more specific attributes that colleges report they seek in 2006 applicants.

"Strong writing skills." Adelphi U.

"Leadership, initiative, inquisitive, desire to learn and interact with others." Brandeis U.

"We are seeking well-rounded students who are interested in the arts as well as athletics and who are passionate about their field of study." Carnegie Mellon U.

"Eagerness to learn." Centre C.

"Leadership." Claremont McKenna C.

"Engaged in the classroom. Entrepreneurial spirit." Colgate U.

We "seek students who want to make a difference, who are curious about the world and open to different perspectives, who enjoy learning, and who want to be actively engaged in their education." Dickinson C.

SENSE OF PASSION, EXCEPTIONAL WRITING
"Exceptional writing and critical thinking skills." Drake U.

"Students who are intellectually engaged and unafraid to challenge themselves; those who are active in the arts and/or research." Duke U.

"Strong math, science and leadership skills." Kettering U.

"It is not the activity or commitment in which a student is involved that grabs our attention. Rather we are hoping to get a sense of the passion with which a student pursues his or her interests." Lafayette C.

"Leadership." Marygrove C.

"We seek students who have musical abilities, demonstrated leadership skills, commitments to racial/ethnic diversity and reconciliation, athletic prowess, award-winning writing and rhetorical skills." Messiah C.

"Music, theater, forensics (speech), studio art, science, global studies/business." North Central C.

"More students meeting admissions standards." Northwest Missouri State U.

"Well-rounded, service oriented, good leadership skills." Ohio North-ern University.

"Any characteristic that will contribute to educational diversity at Ohio State is valued." The Ohio State U.

"Service-oriented, leadership." Oklahoma City U.

"Writing and analytical ability. Independent thinking. Love of learning." Reed C.

STUDENTS WHO LOVE THE OUTDOORS
"Students who want to be engaged, involvedto the total campus experience. Those who love the outdoors." Saint Michael's C.

"Since almost every student applying to the University has an academic profile that indicates the potential to be a successful student on this campus, admission is on a competitive basis. The degree of competition varies by the choice of college and major. Enrollment levels in each college, and sometimes specific majors, are based on available resources. When demand for admission from well-qualified students is high, the outcome is highly-selective admission standards." U. of Illinois.

We are "always seeking candidates with a well-rounded high school record. Extracurricular activities, community service and challenging coursework are all factors in an admissions decision. We expect candidates to be strong writers and to showcase their writing skills in the personal statement (college essay.)" Wagner C.

"Leadership, service, community engagement, interest in undergraduate research especially in the natural sciences, mathematics and computer sciences." Wartburg C.

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NEWS YOU CAN USE
Skills Deficit Serious. The U.S. is in danger of losing its global economic edge, Beto Gonzalez, acting secretary for vocational and adult education, U.S. Dept. of Ed, recently told a gathering of community college leaders. Both China and India have launched full-scale educational efforts to win the next wave of high-tech jobs. Both countries are also training students more intensively in English to be more competitive.

According to the November 8 Community College Times, in a few years there will be a shortfall of 19 million U.S. workers to fill available jobs. Those jobs then could migrate overseas where workers not only work for less, but will have the skills to fill them.

"The sky is falling," warned Stephanie Powers, chief executive officer, the National Association of Workforce Boards. "If we think we have problems now, wait till they speak English."

K-12 systems must do even more to respond, she said. Community colleges and workforce boards need to step up as well.

More Go Test Optional. Earlier this year three respected liberal arts colleges, Lawrence U. in Wisconsin and St Lawrence U. and Sarah Lawrence of New York announced they will no longer require standardized test scores from admissions applicants. This fall, Drew U. in New Jersey, College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Chatham C. in Pennsylvania and Knox C. in Illinois also joined the growing number of schools that have made standardized tests optional in their admission applications.

"We live in a world increasingly obsessed by testing at all levels of education. And 'teaching to the test' has become more important than actually learning something," Knox president Roger Taylor, told the Fall 2005 FairTest Examiner. "We decided to take a leadership role in reducing the fixation on college admissions testing."

According to FairTest, 724 schools, a quarter of all accredited, bachelor-degree institutions, are now test-optional. For a complete list of these colleges, go to: www.fairtest.org.

U. C. System Drops National Merit Scholarship. The U. of California has decided to stop funding National Merit Scholarships at its six campuses which had participated in the program. The decision resulted from concerns over using the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as the tool to eliminate 99 percent of potential qualifiers, in part because the test screened out too many academically achieving minority and low-income students. Instead, U. of C. schools will redirect the funds that had gone to National Merit Scholarships to other forms of financial aid.

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Average test scores for 2005 class

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COLLEGE BOUND's Publisher/Editor: R. Craig Sautter, DePaul University; Chief Operating Officer: Sally Reed; Circulation: Irma Gonzalez-Hider; Illustration: Louis Coronel; Board of Advisors: David Breeden, Edina High School, Minnesota; Claire D. Friedlander, Bedford (N.Y.) Central School District; Howard Greene, author, The Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning Series; Frank C. Leana, Ph.D., educational counselor; M. Fredric Volkmann, Washington University in St. Louis; Mary Ann Willis, Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.).

In This Issue

Feature Articles
Top Trends Inside Admissions Offices

-What Colleges Wish Parents Would Do

-Electronic Applications

COUNSELOR'S CORNER
-What do colleges want in 2006 applicants?

NEWS YOU CAN USE
-Skills Deficit Serious
-More Go Test Optional
-U. C. System Drops National Merit Scholarship

-Average Scores for 2005 Class

Coming Next Month:
Part II of CB 's Annual Survey with updates on minority enrollments,new
scholarships,international students.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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