U. more selective in early apps.

The University admitted only 37 percent of this year's early-decision applicants, a substantial decrease from last year's 44 percent early-acceptance rate. The Admissions office received 2,125 early applications this year, a 16 percent increase from last year's figure of 1,829, Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said. Penn experienced the second highest increase in early applications within the Ivy League this year, behind Columbia University. Stetson explained that Penn accepted a lower number of early applicants from a larger pool than last year, indicating a more competitive admissions process. The strength of this year's early applicant pool was evident from increased standardized testing scores, he said. The average combined Scholastic Assessment Test I score of admitted students went up nearly 20 points from 1364 last year to 1383 this year. SAT II scores for individual subject tests also increased, rising from 675 to 685. The average class rank of admitted students also rose this year, with most students ranking in the top 3 percent of their high school classes. Last year, most admitted student ranked in the top 4 percent of their high school classes. The Admissions Committee sent out 780 acceptance letters in mid-December, filling nearly one-third of the Class of 2002. The College of Arts and Sciences accepted 461 of its 1,239 applicants, while the Wharton School took 189 students out of a pool of 606. The School of Engineering and Applied Science selected 113 from a total of 253 applicants. The Engineering School, which accepted 87 early applicants last year, was the only school to increase its number of admitted students. And the School of Nursing admitted 17 students from a pool of 27. The University also admitted several early applicants to a variety of dual degree programs. Three students were selected for the International Study and Business Program between Wharton and the College, and 24 were chosen for the Management and Technology dual degree between Engineering and Wharton. Also, two students were admitted early to the Nursing and Health Care Management, a second-year program between Nursing and Wharton. Women make up 49.7 percent of this year's early admittants, a slight increase from last year's figure of 48 percent. But minority early applicants fell to 214 this year, a slight decrease from last year's 225. Stetson stressed, however, that the early-admissions numbers do not reflect the entire Class of 2002, which should have a similar racial and ethnic make-up to last year's class. This year, 21 Hispanic students, 27 African Americans and 166 Asian Americans were admitted early. The early-decision Class of 2002 reflected all-time-high numbers of students from California, Tennessee, Illinois and Delaware. Admitted students represent six continents, 22 countries and 42 states this year, Stetson said. He attributed this year's increased number of applications to a combination of factors including Penn's number seven placement in this year's U.S. News & World Report college rankings, a proactive response by the University to security issues and increased fall recruitment. Stetson called the numbers a "good beginning," adding that "early counts indicate that we could receive around 1,000 more applications than last year."