Early decision applications hit new record high

The number of early decision applications to Penn reached an all-time high for the Class of 2009. The admissions office received 3,420 applications this fall, up from 3,343 from last year, according to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Lee Stetson.

Academically, the pool seems to be following previous years' trend of increasingly competitive standardized test scores.

This year's average SAT score increased from 1381 to 1383, and nearly all students rank in the top 2 to 3 percent of their class.

"This pool is very strong," Stetson said. "More and more students are using early decision."

Both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School saw a jump in the number of applications.

The College received 2,141 applications, 35 more than last year, while applications to Wharton increased from 801 last year to 860.

The Nursing School application numbers remained at 77 -- the same as last year.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science saw a decline of nearly 15 percent. Only 342 students applied this year, down from 401 last year.

With a general increase in application numbers, minority applications are also on the rise. The University received a record 128 applications from black applicants. Also among the minority student applicants are 149 Latinos and 857 Asians.

With applicants hailing from 46 states, Penn received record numbers of applications from Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Oregon, Illinois and Ohio.

International student applications more than tripled, skyrocketing from last year's 104 to this year's 391.

The biggest jump was in the number of students who used the online application. 1,576 used the Internet to apply, whereas last year only 1,143 did.

Students with parents who hail from Penn submitted 525 applications.

"We are still in [the] process of deciding on applicants," Stetson said.

Stetson expects to fill over 45 percent of the Class of 2009 with early decision applicants. Students will find out if they were admitted this Friday.

All in all, "we want students who want to be here," Stetson said.

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