Despite a record number of enrollment applications, Ohio University officials say they're worried the economy may deter some students from actually attending the university.
Before Winter Quarter 2009, the number of enrollment applications was down 5 percent compared to that time the previous year. But as of Wednesday, OU has received 13,699 applications, an increase of 81 from that point last year.
We are getting more applications coming in at the end of the year
said Craig Cornell, vice provost for Enrollment Management. I think a lot of families were trying to get through the holidays to see where they would apply.
Last year, the university received 14,046 applications overall, a school record.
Both the number of international and the number of multicultural applicants have increased by 197 and 270 applications, respectively.
On the other hand, the number of out-of-state applications has decreased by about 150, said T. David Garcia, director of Admissions.
That is partly because students want to stay in-state and closer to home he said, adding that the number of Ohio applicants who live three or more hours away has also declined.
Despite the record number of applications, OU officials are still concerned about the number of students who will actually attend the university.
It's great that we've reached that number of applications but how many of the admitted students will come in the fall? said Ann Fidler, associate provost for strategic initiatives.
The economy is a huge wildcard
she added.
To ensure that the university meets its enrollment goal for this year, OU reinstated a waiting list last month.
The university's goal is to keep enrollment steady, said Becky Watts, chief of staff for President Roderick McDavis, adding that since this is the first year of declining high school graduation rates, maintaining enrollment numbers will be difficult.
OU last instituted a waiting list in 2002.
There are currently about 500 applicants on the waiting list, Cornell said.
The university will begin admitting applicants on the waiting list if it is having difficulty meeting enrollment goals.
Although selectivity is down, the quality of the applicant pool has increased, Cornell said.
The current average ACT score for applicants has increased from last year by 0.18 to 23.45, but the university's acceptance rate is up 2.8 percent to 80.8 percent from Fall Quarter 2008. A goal of Vision Ohio, the university's five-year academic improvement plan, is to decrease the acceptance by 0.5 percent each year.
The difference in ACT scores is significant, Cornell said, adding that a goal of Vision Ohio is to increase the average score by 0.1 each year.
The average applicant's GPA is 3.28, up from 3.26 last year.
cb119506@ohiou.edu
- Chris Kardish contributed
to this report.
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Caitlin Bowling
