Admissions sees 2.7% decrease in applications

Applications to the University fell 2.7 percent this year from last year's high of 15,771, with 15,353 prospective students seeking admission to the Class of 2001. But Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said he is "encouraged" by the relatively minor decrease in applicants. Based on the experience of other institutions, Stetson explained that he had anticipated a decrease of 10 to 15 percent after the University experienced major crime problems last semester. Apprehensions were confirmed when this year's early applications declined by 10 percent. But Stetson noted that the regular decision pool of 13,525 applicants is only 1.4 percent smaller than last year's 13,771 regular decision applications. "This speaks well for the response of the president and the University after the crime incidents," he said. "From what we're hearing, Penn continues to be a school of choice," he added. "People have a feeling that Penn is proactive." While applications from the traditionally well-represented tri-state area fell slightly, Stetson said more people are applying to the University from other parts of the country than ever before. Applications from Pennsylvania dropped most substantially, falling 15 percent from 1,978 last year to 1,675 this year. New Jersey applications decreased 11 percent from 2,222 last year to 1,984 this year, and the 2,545 applications from New York are a 10 percent decrease from last year's 2,824. Stetson speculated that the decline in tri-state applications may be due to the fact that this area was the most exposed to publicity surrounding this fall's security problems. He expressed optimism that if the campus security situation continues to improve, "we have every reason to believe that applications will rebound." A record high of 1,564 Californians applied to the University, up six percent from 1,473 last year, and applications from Texas, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado and North Dakota all increased substantially. Stetson said he was particularly pleased about the increase in international applications, which rose to above 2000 for the first time in history. The 2,079 applications represent a 0five percent increase over the 1,981 received last year. Academically, Stetson said this year's pool is stronger than last year's. Average Scholastic Aptitude Test scores increased from 644 to 645 on the verbal section and 674 to 678 on the math section, and average SAT II subject test scores went from 648 to 658. Females continued to compose 46 percent of the applications, although the number of female applicants decreased slightly, to 7,089 from last year's 7,250. Stetson said this indicates that campus crime problems did not deter females from applying to the University. Minority applications increased three percent from 6,376 to 6,557, including 990 African Americans, 4,721 Asians, 797 Hispanics and 45 Native Americans. The College of Arts and Sciences received 10,072 applications, a four percent decrease from last year's 10,517. And 2,554 students applied to the Wharton School of Business, down eight percent from 2,767 last year. But Stetson noted that there were 3,652 applications to Wharton if applicants to the school's three dual degree programs are counted. Applications to the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Nursing were both up five percent. SEAS received 2,552 applications, up from 2,412 last year, while applications to the School of Nursing increased from 166 to 175. There were 570 applications to the International Studies in Business dual degree program between Wharton and the College, up from 410 last year. Applications to the Management and Technology dual degree program between Wharton and SEAS fell from 510 to 499, and there were 29 applications to the new Nursing and Health Care Management dual degree program between Wharton and the School of Nursing. Stetson said the high quality of applicant profies bodes well for the selection process, which begins this week.