Apps. up for year, but down since '88

While applications to the University increased this year by 23 percent over last year, the number of students applying for admission five years ago was still 8.3 percent higher. Admissions Dean Willis Stetson said this month the amount of decrease is not consistent for all four undergraduate schools, adding that the Nursing and Engineering schools both received more applications this year than in 1988. Stetson attributed the five-year overall decrease to population figures, and said he was pleased to see the dramatic increase in applicants this year. The University received 13,105 applications in 1988, which is 1,092 more than this year's 12,013 to date. The number is 2,224 more applicants than last year. The Nursing School reached its all-time high of 244 applications this year, a 73 percent increase since 1988. While there was a general upward trend, the largest jump came this year when 78 more students, 47 percent, submitted applications. According to Stetson, this increase can be attributed to the growing popularity of health care careers. "Students are increasingly interested in health delivery," he said. "There is a new awareness of the significant impact in healthcare." The insecure job market does not seem to have harmed the health care profession, according to Marian Sherman, assistant dean of undergraduate admissions. "[The increase can be attributed to] the quality of the education, the recession-proof degree, and the job market, [which] is excellent in the healthcare professions while it is poor in most other professions," she said. "According to a survey done by The New York Times there is a 19.3 percent increase in [people going into] the health care profession." The Wharton School saw the most drastic decrease in applications over the five-year period. From 1988 to the present, applications decreased 21.4 percent from 2566 to 2018. However, this year Wharton received 1001 more applications than last year, a 5.3 percent increase. At the University Trustees Budget and Finance Committee meeting last week, the Trustees recognized that students are less interested in business than they were in the 1980s. This statement parallels national trends. According to a survey done by the American Council on Education, 15.6 percent fewer students polled said they wanted to pursue a business career. Elizabeth Bennett, associate director of Wharton's undergraduate division, said the decrease is par for the course since there are fewer college-aged people. She said the ACE poll is not indicative of Wharton's future since the school's curriculum also includes a liberal arts education. "Wharton is the only [business school] with an integrated business and liberal arts curriculum throughout the four years," she said. "There's no gauge for comparison." The number of applications to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences increased by 22.7 percent this year, to 2106. Five years ago, the school received 1913 applications, which is 10.1 percent below the number received this year. Gregory Farrington, dean of SEAS, said he attributes the increase to upgraded recruiting efforts and to a new focus towards people applying to the University, rather than towards helping those accepted decide to matriculate. "We re-did most of the literature used in undergraduate admissions," he said. "We give real credit to recruiters who talked to current students to hear anecdotes about why they like [SEAS]." Applications to the School of Arts and Sciences increased by 27.6 percent this year to 7644, which is 1659 more than last year. This increase still does not compensate for the 9.9 percent decrease from 1988, when 8485 applicants applied. Norman Adler, associate dean for the College, said he attributed the great increase to the changes made in the admissions office -- simplifying the application and personalizing the process. Adler also said freshman programs unique to the University have gained attention and have had an effect. "The Bacchae has made a huge, huge effect [and has received] national attention," he said. "The Bacchae, faculty-peer advising, and universal freshman seminars taught by standing faculty [have all played a part in the increase]."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.