2008 Woodie Awards
New freshmen class biggest in Seattle U history
But university is getting more selective
Mike Baldwin
Issue: 7/14/08 Section: News
In past years, prospective freshmen had until mid-to-late summer to make a decision on whether to accept an admissions offer from Seattle U.
This year, those who waited are on the outside looking in.
The university closed its admissions process on May 2 this year, the earliest it has ever done so. In the past, the university has not received enough deposits for spots in the following year's class until well after the end of the current school year.
"This is the earliest we have closed admissions in university history," said Michael McKeon, dean of student admissions. "Last year, we accepted applications until mid-summer."
Seattle U received more than 5,000 applications from prospective students for admittance in fall 2008, the largest number of freshmen applications the university has ever seen. While the university does not release official student numbers until the 10th day of the quarter in order to ensure their accuracy, chances are the class of 2012 will break records.
"We are confident this will be the largest freshman class in Seattle University's history," said McKeon.
And that number may still continue to grow. Virtually all universities accept more students than they plan to enroll, in order to account for students who pick other universities. While Seattle U has closed the admissions process, there are still students who have been accepted who have yet to submit deposits.
As interest in attending Seattle U has grown, the acceptance rate of freshman applicants declined. This year, Seattle U accepted 65.5 percent of freshman applicants.
While that number is fairly consistent with last year's 64 percent acceptance rate, McKeon said it was "significantly higher" just a few years ago. According to information attained through the Institutional Research database, the undergraduate acceptance rate was almost 78 percent in 2003.
"Our acceptance rate, overall, has dropped significantly in recent years, despite increasing enrollment targets," McKeon said.
This year, those who waited are on the outside looking in.
The university closed its admissions process on May 2 this year, the earliest it has ever done so. In the past, the university has not received enough deposits for spots in the following year's class until well after the end of the current school year.
"This is the earliest we have closed admissions in university history," said Michael McKeon, dean of student admissions. "Last year, we accepted applications until mid-summer."
Seattle U received more than 5,000 applications from prospective students for admittance in fall 2008, the largest number of freshmen applications the university has ever seen. While the university does not release official student numbers until the 10th day of the quarter in order to ensure their accuracy, chances are the class of 2012 will break records.
"We are confident this will be the largest freshman class in Seattle University's history," said McKeon.
And that number may still continue to grow. Virtually all universities accept more students than they plan to enroll, in order to account for students who pick other universities. While Seattle U has closed the admissions process, there are still students who have been accepted who have yet to submit deposits.
As interest in attending Seattle U has grown, the acceptance rate of freshman applicants declined. This year, Seattle U accepted 65.5 percent of freshman applicants.
While that number is fairly consistent with last year's 64 percent acceptance rate, McKeon said it was "significantly higher" just a few years ago. According to information attained through the Institutional Research database, the undergraduate acceptance rate was almost 78 percent in 2003.
"Our acceptance rate, overall, has dropped significantly in recent years, despite increasing enrollment targets," McKeon said.
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