MU receives increased admission applications

The majority of the applicants are out of state.

By Isabelle Shaw

Published Feb. 16, 2010

Incoming freshman admission applications to MU at this point in the academic year have increased 6.1 percent since last year, Vice Provost for Admissions Ann Korschgen said.

MU has received 16,329 applications as of Monday. Last year at this time, it had 15,385 applications.

At this point, 4,460 students have paid enrollment deposits. Last year, MU received 4,307 at this point in the year. Korschgen said the majority of the increase in applications is coming from non-residents of Missouri. The enrollment deposit secures a student's place in the freshman class. The enrollment deposit deadline for the class entering the university in fall 2010 is May 1.

Korschgen said the increase in applications would not necessarily translate to a larger freshman class in the next academic year.

"While we are pleased with the increase in applications and deposits, we feel it is still too early to make any predictions about what this means for our fall enrollment numbers," Korschgen said.

The criteria for admission to MU consists of a 24 or higher composite score on the ACT or a 1090 or higher on the SAT critical reading and math scores, according to the MU admissions Web site.

Last year's average score for the incoming freshman class was a 25.6 on the ACT, according to a previous Maneater article. This was the highest average for the university in eight years. Last year's freshman class was also the second largest class in history; the first was the freshman class of 2008.

The percentage increase in admission applicants between last academic year and this academic year has leveled off since the fall semester. In November, MU had received 9,914 applicants. The number indicated a 9.5 percent increase in applicants from the same point the year before.

Korschgen said MU has continuing discussions about capacity issues. In a previous Maneater article, Korschgen referenced the increase in instructors and advisers at MU as steps taken to prepare the campus for more students.

Michael O'Brien, College of Arts and Science dean, said his school and MU as a whole are constantly preparing for a larger incoming freshman class.

"The university anticipates an increase in the freshman class for fall 2010, just as it has seen increases the last two years," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said the school takes several steps to make adequate room for a larger class.

"We believe that in the College of Arts and Science, we have the courses and sections that the fall 2010 student body will need," O'Brien said. "We add sections, hire more teachers and do whatever else is needed to ensure that the anticipated increase is handled smoothly."