University applications on the rise

Morgan Modjeski, Staff

Universities across the United States are experiencing record numbers of applications. According to the New York Times, Harvard University has seen a 19 per cent increase for the upcoming fall 2008 semester and the University of Chicago experienced an increase of 18 per cent.

Other American universities, such as Northwestern University and Dartmouth, have also seen similar increases, according to the Times.

John Maguire, formerly an admissions dean at the University of Boston and now a university consultant, told the Times, “There is just a huge increase in the number of applications because everybody’s applying to more schools — people are throwing an app [sic] in at Harvard with full expectation that they won’t get in.”

Some Canadian universities, such as the University of Victoria (U of V) and Carleton University, have also seen increases in applications received for the ’08 fall term.

The U of V has seen a one per cent increase in the number of undergraduate applications received. At this point, the total number of applications received for the ’08 fall term is 12,000-13,000. This number is predicted to rise as the application process continues, said Tony Eder, director of institutional planning and analysis at U of V.

“We’re about one per cent higher, but you have to understand we are only halfway through our application cycle,” said Eder.

Eder said that these numbers are some of the highest that U of V has ever seen. He went on to say the university predicts more increases in the future and that “The plan for the university is to grow at about two per cent per year on the graduate side.”

He also said the reason the U of V is receiving more applications is because of advertising.

“We have gone on a fairly aggressive advertising campaign in British Columbia — but also in Alberta and Ontario. . . . We have also seen the positive impact of a first-place showing in Maclean’s.”

Carleton University has also experienced a strong increase in undergraduate applications for the 2008 fall term.

“For Carleton, this coming fall, so far, when we look at the Ontario high school applicants, there is an increase in the number of first-choice applicants of seven per cent,” said Ian Calvert, director of institutional research and planning.

Calvert said that there are many factors contributing to the increase in applications submitted to Carleton University and Ontario universities on the whole. When asked about Maguire’s reasoning behind the increase in applications, he said it is not the case at Carleton.

“There are about three per cent more 18-year-olds in Ontario than there were last year. These are people coming out of high school and looking for spots [in university],” said Calvert.

He went on to say, “There has also been a steady climb in participation rate; it’s more likely that somebody graduating from high school will seek a spot in university.”

Participation rate is the percentage of high-shool graduates that go on to attend university.

Applications to Ontario universities are due in early January, said Calvert.

The deadline for admissions to the University of Manitoba is May 1, 2008.

According to the Office of Institutional Analysis (OIA), the U of M’s application stage has barely begun and there is no way of determining the amount of applications that will be received for the fall 2008 semester.

“Do we know how applications are going at this date? The answer would be ‘No,’ ” said Thelma Lussier, director of the OIA.

New University 1 enrolment increased by 107 students, or three per cent, in fall 2007, according to the OIA’s documents.