IU sees 20 percent jump in applications for 2007-08 school year

IU-Bloomington has seen a 20 percent increase in applications since this time last year, making available spots in next year's incoming class much more competitive.\nRoger Thompson, vice provost for IU's enrollment management department, said the increase in student applications means people are recognizing the strong academic foundation IU offers. \n"It's not surprising that there is high traffic in applications," Thompson said. "I think a part of it is that we are doing a better job of getting the message out."\nThompson said that the increase is coming from both in-state and out-of-state applications. But when it comes to advertising outside Indiana, IU does not do much, said IU Director of Media Relations Larry MacIntyre.\n"In the past few years, a number of things have happened which we think has made IU-Bloomington look more desirable to students," MacIntyre said. "One is that we've developed a real strong reputation for information technology." \nLast month IU was named No. 3 on a PC Magazine list of the top 20 wired colleges. \n"Our students have more access to the Internet and professors, the latest technology and laptops, and that's made us look more interesting to some students," MacIntyre said. \nIU was also named the "Hottest Big State School" in the 2005 issue of the Newsweek-Kaplan College Guide.\nMacIntyre said these bits of media attention and their national distribution are the University's form of national advertising. The spike in applications, he said, may be attributable to the University's scenic environment, IU's renowned schools such as the Kelley School of Business, the Jacobs School of Music and the School of Journalism, and even buzz from Facebook. \n"Everybody trades information and talks about what's hot and what's not," MacIntyre said, "so there's a buzz."\nWhile more people are applying to IU, MacIntyre made it clear the University would not accept more students than normal. \n"Our enrollment is capped," he said. \nThis year's freshman class was made up of 7,259 students, as compared to last year's class of 6,949 students. Because of the influx, about 70 students were left to live temporarily in dorm lounges for several weeks.\nInterim Provost Michael McRobbie told the board of trustees in September that this year's freshman class would probably be the largest ever for the University. \nMore applicants without expanding enrollment ultimately means it will be harder to get into IU. And as it becomes harder to be accepted, an IU degree will become more valuable, Thompson said. \nAlong with more applicants, their qualifications have increased. While the national average SAT score fell seven points, according to the College Board, the organization that administers the test, this year's freshman class had SAT scores 10 points higher than last year's, ranking higher than any other recent class. The number of valedictorians and National Merit Scholars in this year's freshman class also increased. \nThe retention rates for IU-Bloomington are high as well. Not only is the University gaining more applicants, but it's also losing fewer students between their freshman and sophomore years. In 2004, 87.6 percent of beginning students continued into their second year.\nThompson said that while the University does its best to advertise all it has to offer, students are the best recruiters. \n"When students are satisfied with their IU experience," he said, "the word spreads fast"