Syracuse University saw a 9 percent overall increase in fall 2010 undergraduate applications, setting a record of 22,661 applications and matching a national trend of increased college applicants.

Stronger marketing campaigns, professional schools’ interaction with one another, as well as new programs within schools may account for the overall application increase, college recruitment directors throughout SU said.

A stronger marketing and outreach admissions campaign is one reason for the increase in applications, but SU is also becoming well known because of alumni and current student activity, said Donald Saleh, SU vice president for enrollment management.

‘Syracuse is getting known for having strong academic programs, for having students engaged in the community, across the country, around the world, and that reputation is spreading,’ Saleh said.

There was an increase in applicants from California, Florida and China. SU is traditionally strong throughout the Mid-Atlantic states and Northeast, Saleh said.

Saleh said he predicted campus would become more diverse, gaining more students from different regions and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Although admissions will be more selective this year, about half of those who applied will likely be accepted. SU plans to accept enough students to meet its target of 3,300 freshmen, about 50 more than last year’s class, Saleh said.

The College of Arts Sciences received the highest number of applications with 9,301. It was followed by the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at 3,323 and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at 3,077.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts was the only school to decrease in applicants, Saleh said. Administators in VPA declined to comment on the 8 percent decrease to 2,420 applications.

The School of Information Studies received the largest percent increase of applicants, 129, a 22 percent increase.

Julie Walas, recruitment specialist for the iSchool, said interaction between other schools and the collaboration program with the JP Morgan Chase program has helped the School become more popular on campus.

‘When students are excited to be somewhere, that message spreads quickly. I think the iSchool is a hot place to be right now because we’re in the middle of everything,’ Walas said. ‘Information is in the middle of everything and part of every field.’

The iSchool adapted a technology-focused approach in order to attract more students, using Facebook, Twitter and a blog.

‘It is nice to see that most of the students that we give tours to end up attending the iSchool,’ said James Benninger, a peer adviser for the iSchool and a senior information management and technology major.

Whitman received the second-most applications. Carol Heil, director of undergraduate recruitment and college relations at Whitman said more international prominence, study abroad options and the new real estate major likely encouraged applicants.

Increased national and international prominence were considered factors at the other schools as well.

Mary O’Brien, director of communications and media at the School of Architecture, said the prominence of the college helped with the 1,047 applications received.

‘The fact that we’re a part of a big university, a lot of students that come here like being part of a big school like this,’ she said.

Applications have not increased at SU alone. Princeton University reported a record 19 percent increase, receiving 26,166 applications, and the University of Chicago reported a 42 percent increase, receiving 19,306 applications.

dkmcbrid@syr.edu

University applications

Overall (as of Feb. 22, 2010): 22,661Architecture: 1,047 (8 percent increase)Arts and Sciences: 9,301 (14 percent increase)Education: 638 (15 percent increase)Engineering: 2,065 (11 percent increase)Human Ecology: 661 (6 percent increase)iSchool: 129 (22 percent increase)Whitman: 3,323 (9 percent increase)Newhouse: 3,077 (11 percent increase)VPA: 2,420 (8 percent decrease)

Published on March 1, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride