The application pool for Boston University’s class of 2007 is the largest and strongest in BU history and admissions will be ‘very, very competitive,’ according to Director of Admissions Kelly Walter.
BU received 29,213 domestic and international applications which is a 9 percent increase from last year, Walter said. The average SAT score for this year’s applicants was 1255, 11 points higher than last year’s average. Applicants also had an average GPA of 3.47 and are in the top 16 percent of their class.
Acceptance letters will go out between March 20 and April 1. The Office of Admissions expects to know the number of students for the incoming freshman class by mid-May.
BU has set a target number for the freshman class at 3,935 which is 400 to 500 fewer students than the number accepted for the 2002-2003 academic year, Walter said.
‘It’s going to be a smaller class,’ Walter said. ‘Because of the application volume, it’s going to be a very competitive year.’
A higher yield rate accounted for this year’s unusually large freshman class. Last year, the Office of Admissions set a target of 4,100 students for the incoming class and ended up with a class size of 4,564.
“我们are trying to bring the freshman class size down to a more typical level,’ Walter said. ‘Three thousand, nine hundred is more typical.’
Walter attributes the increased application volume to the development of new outreach tools such as a new video, website and View Book designed to reach prospective students.
“我们developed new publications and a new website that had a strong academic message,’ Walter said. ‘We believe these outreach tools had a very strong effect.’
Walter also attributes the applications success to BU’s academic reputation, location in Boston and internships and study abroad opportunities offered to students.
‘I think BU has become a school of choice for a number of students,’ Walter said. ‘It is desirable for the best and brightest in the country.’
Determining how many and which applicants to accept is a very difficult process, Walter said.
‘It’s like looking into a crystal ball,’ Walter said. ‘There is no real pattern to follow.’
Walter’s staff of 30 reads 30,000 applications in approximately two-and-a-half months, she said. Each staff member personally reads around 2,000 applications.
Deciding on the number of applicants to accept depends on a number of factors such as the state of the economy and the history of past yield rates, Walter said.
“我们look at the internal factors and the world at large,’ Walter said. ‘Our primary basis is looking back at history over the past couple of years.’
The Office of Admissions underestimated the number of students they expected to attend for the 2002-2003 year, Walter said. Post-Sept. 11, the Office of Admissions expected students to stay closer to home both because of the terrorist threat and poor economy.
“我们made assumptions about students going to college,’ Walter said.
This year the economy is still ‘souring,’ Walter said. The Office of Admissions accounts this circumstance realizing that some parents may be unemployed or financially burdened. Therefore, BU’s high tuition and room and board may affect the number of applicants who decide to attend.
The Office of Admissions has also taken into account the pending war in Iraq with the realization that some applicants may not attend based on their decision to fight in the war.
Transfer student numbers will not be known until the Apr. 1 application deadline.
