Boston University admitted twice as many applicants through the early decision process this year than last year, despite receiving fewer applications.
Of the 410 early decision applications received by the Office of Admissions this year — 40 fewer than last year — BU admitted 186, double last year’s number, according to BU spokesman Colin Riley.
Over the last decade, BU has traditionally received between 400-500 early decision applications a year, usually admitting about 20 percent of those applicants, said Director of Admissions Kelly Walter. That number jumped to 45 percent this year.
Even before the Dec. 15 deadline for the University to notify early applicants of their status, Walter sad she anticipated admitting a larger number of students. She attributed the increase to a more qualified applicant pool than in past years and anticipation of a larger freshman class in 2002.
Walter also said the University tries to maintain an undergraduate population of approximately 14,000 students, and the expected increase of the size of the class of 2006 is partly aimed at making up for smaller classes in recent years.
“The overall quality is higher,” Walter said of this year’s applicant pool, citing a 20-point jump in the average SAT score last year. “Our goal is to admit a strong class to improve the credentials of entering freshmen.”
The average SAT score for this year’s early decision applicant pool was 1220, with the average SAT score of the accepted applicants actually decreasing. The early decision Class of 2005 had a combined SAT of 1309, while the class of 2006 dropped 38 points to 1271.
Riley said the drop is the inevitable result of accepting a larger number of students but stressed the class as a whole is just as qualified.
Furthermore, the combined GPA of this year’s class was also below last year’s, according to statistics provided by admissions. The early decision Class of 2005 had an average GPA of 3.5, while this year’s crop averaged 3.45. In addition, students in the class of 2005 graduated in the top 9 percent of their respective class, on average; 88.2 percent of students in this year’s class placed in the top 12 percent.
The increase in size of the early decision class occurred despite the fact that BU does not actively encourage most students to apply early, Walter said.
“Early decision makes the assumption that students are not going to change from Nov. 1 to May 1 of their senior year,” said Walter. “Philosophically, we’re a little uncomfortable pushing students to make a decision they’re not ready to make.”
BU does not push early decision because the applicants have yet to finish one semester of their senior year, Riley said. He characterized early decision as being aimed at “very career-oriented students who know what they want.”
However, BU does not completely discourage students from applying early.
“We just advise people that it’s in their interests to apply a number of places,” Riley said.
Early decision is a binding process that allows students to apply by Nov. 1, two months before the Jan. 1 deadline for general admission to the University. If accepted, the students have until Jan. 15 to withdraw all applications from other schools and commit to attending BU.
BU commits to notifying early applicants of their status by Dec. 15.
The overall process for early decision is virtually identical to that of regular admission, said Dan Warner, associate director of selection.
“Largely the same things that are important to us in the regular decision process are important to us in the early decision,” Warner said.
Warner said the department uses SATs, transcripts, essays and recommendations in much the same way as general admission, as well as background information provided by the essays and recommendations, the things that supplement transcripts and standardized test scores.
The early decision and general admission processes are similar, but not identical, Walter said.
“Early decision tends to be very competitive at BU, often more competitive than regular admission,” she said.
According to Walter, the competition occurs largely because the decisions are made without the benefit of senior grades, although the makeup and rigor of an applicant’s senior schedule is considered.
If students apply for early decision, they can either be accepted to the college of their choice, deferred to the regular admissions process for later reevaluation or denied admission outright.
Walter said students who apply for early decision are not at a disadvantage for getting financial aid, although she recognized occaisions when students offered early admission decline based on insufficient financial aid.
Geographically, this year’s applicant pool is not significantly different than last year’s, a class that ultimately boasted of applicants from all 50 states and from 68 countries. Twenty-five of this year’s early decision applications came from abroad.
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