Looking to rebound from a year in which overall applications to the university dropped by 5 percent, Northwestern admissions officials said they have received about 120 more early-decision applications than last year, an increase of 16 percent.
With the number of high school seniors opting for early decision skyrocketing nationwide, and the success of last year’s football team bringing NU wider exposure, the admissions office increased direct mailings to prospective freshmen this year with hopes of capitalizing on name recognition, said Rebecca Dixon, associate provost for university enrollment.
“We sent out more direct mail this year to elicit more responses with the expectation that the higher number of responses would yield more applications,” Dixon said. “The admissions office is pleased to see the increase.”
The office currently has received 918 applications, compared to 791 last fall and 808 two years ago, she said.
Although NU did send out more mailings, administrators canceled other efforts to target potential students after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including a three-week recruiting trip to South Asia. Dixon said it remains to be seen how the attacks will impact the application total.
“Some students who have had NU as a strong preference may now feel as though we are absolutely No. 1,” she said. “They are from the Midwest and want to remain closer to home because of the terrorist strikes. I am only guessing that they would want to lock up their top college choice and stop fretting about their college decision.”
Dixon also noted the national trend of students choosing to apply early decision to selective institutions. Jim Conroy, chair of the post-high school counseling department at New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, said more top students are realizing the advantages of early decision.
“The top students are definitely jumping on to the bandwagon,” Conroy said. “As long as there is an emphasis that going to a school with NU’s quality is a ticket to a better job, students are going to do what they can to get in.”
Conroy said at least half of New Trier’s top 25 percent of seniors apply early decision to a college. Although 68 students from the school applied to NU last year, he said some seniors eager to leave the North Shore aren’t thrilled with the location.
“NU is always popular with our kids,” he said. “It is the right size, the right reputation and the right flavor. Everyone always says it is perfect except for being so close.”
Austin Lavin, an early decision applicant to the School of Speech from Maryland, said applying early wouldn’t hurt his chances of admission but would give him peace of mind. Lavin spent his summer at NU taking a college-preparatory program.
“NU has been something I’ve known about through family and taking classes this summer,” Lavin said. “It will be great to know either way by December because I don’t have the patience to wait until April.”
But Sarah Felt, a Glenbrook South High School senior with a sister already at NU, said she was not ready to commit to a school so early.
“I’m not sure if I want something more academic or a state school, and applying early wouldn’t give me a choice,” said Felt, who will apply to NU and the University of Illinois. “I don’t want to close any doors yet.”
