Northwestern received a record number of Early Decision applications by the Nov. 1 deadline, with an increase of about 23 percent from last year.

A total of 3,736 people submitted applications by the deadline. The last Early Decision application record was set just last year, when the University received a total of 3,022 Early Decision applications.

This year’s spike included an increase in international student submissions, which rose by about 39 percent, totaling 603 international Early Decision applications, said Mike Mills, associate provost for University enrollment.

Mills said NU frequently breaks its records for numbers of applicants.

“It sounds like a broken record, but that’s been true for probably the last 12 years running,” Mills said. “This one’s a new record.”

Mills said he expects the Early Decision round to fill roughly half of next year’s incoming first-year class, which is expected to total 1,925 students. However, he said exact numbers will not be finalized until all of the applications are read.

The source of the increase is unclear, Mills said, but one contributing factor could be the Segal Visitors Center. When campus visits were based at the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 1801 Hinman Ave., large school groups were turned away due to a lack of space, he said.

In contrast, the Segal Visitors Center has allowed the university to accommodate more visitors.

Mills said Early Decision applicant decisions should be released no later than Dec. 15.

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