February 4, 2005: Volume 63, Number 5

Apps at all-time high; admissions focused on yield, juniors

With applications at a record high – a five percent spike over last year to more than 4,300 – admissions staffers are embarking on their next projects: enlisting faculty help in yielding a quality class and reaching out to high school juniors.

"We believe these robust numbers are the product of excellent recruiting," said Dan Lundquist, vice president for admissions. "But we are also convinced – by the reaction of many students, parents, and guidance counselors – that the academic and social co-curricular initiatives undertaken in the past few years are 'rewarding' us."

Lundquist said he expects the total to increase slightly with late-filers. But last week's "snapshot" already represents an all-time high for the College, passing the previous point-in-time mark of 4,162 set two years ago.

Admissions is offering faculty the opportunity to contact select candidates, Lundquist said. "We have hundreds with 'Ivy quality' profiles." Email is usually the best and most convenient method, he explained, because it allows placement of URLs that can easily direct students to web-based information. Faculty who would like to contact students may reach Lundquist at lundquid@union.edu or ext. 6112.

This spring brings the "Just for Juniors" program aimed at reaching students and families at the beginning of the college search. "Junior Jump Start" days will focus on interviewing, essays and financial aid. "The day is designed to help ease students' and parents' worries about the college process," said Lilia Tiemann, who coordinates the program. "When students leave Union they will no longer feel overwhelmed by the college process and will have gained the skills to jump start their college search."

Admissions counselors spent a total of 50 weeks on the road this fall, visiting some 3,500 students. While the focus was on primary "feeder" markets in the northeast, they visited 22 other states, DC, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. Lundquist said there were a record number of on-campus visitors: over 2,500 students and 119 guidance counselors.

"There's no doubt our combination of the Minervas, CT, Terms Abroad, and Undergraduate Research are giving us a distinctive advantage," Lundquist said. "Our location is really becoming a positive for many as cultural, internship, volunteer and entertainment options are flourishing locally."

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