Online Edition | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Friday, February 22, 2002

Application deadline moved
More scholars applying
By Robert Frank, WSU Today

Washington State University’s Admissions and Marketing Communication offices are ready to celebrate a "threepeat" next fall, if enrollment applications continue to roll in at their current rate.

And, despite the current economic downturn and anticipated tuition rate increase, momentum is rolling in their direction. Spring semester showed record-level enrollment and, so far, fall applications are surpassing last year’s levels by 20 percent. Now, the university wants to use this opportunity to nudge itself closer to one of its long-standing goals — raising academic standards and attracting high-ability students.

Already under way, the Admissions Office has moved its suggested application date up by two months, from May 1 to March 1. And it is getting the word out to high school and college counselors, as well as media, that WSU seeks high-ability students.

"What’s making this possible is an increased awareness and interest in the quality academic programs that Washington State University offers," said Wendy Peterson, director of admissions. "The word is getting out that students have the opportunity to work face to face with faculty who are leaders in their fields."

What’s the driving force behind this trend?

Marketing Communications started the ball rolling last spring with a comprehensive marketing/advertising campaign, telling the state about WSU’s "World Class, Face to Face" excellence, via newspapers, radio and television. In addition, it has been updating and promoting the university’s Web site and providing support materials to match the effort. Admission counselors have reinforced the message, targeting high academic achievers, while faculty, staff and students have fulfilled the message on a day-to-day basis.

In August, the university announced its new Regent Scholarship Program, offering substantial financial packages to top academic students from every high school in the state. Then the university’s football team accelerated the pace when it drew broad media exposure and a postseason Sun Bowl victory.

"People are starting to recognize what WSU has to offer, that we are very solid academically and offer excellent quality in a wide number of areas in which faculty are doing cutting-edge research and teaching," said Peterson. "It’s the reality of our ‘World Class, Face to Face’ image. Plus, we are communicating more with prospective students and trying to bring them and their parents to campus for a visit.

"Our experience tells us that once they (prospective students) visit campus, they are much more likely to enroll. One comment we consistently hear is ‘There’s so much more here than I thought.’"

Jim Rimpau, associate vice president for enrollment management, said the move to March 1 is being made for three major reasons:

• it is more consistent with the dates set by other institutions

• it gives WSU a better chance to help students line up financial aid, scholarships and housing

• WSU anticipates a growing demand that will cause the university to fill up earlier

"The increase we have seen in enrollment applications is pretty significant," said Rimpau. "We’re currently up about 1,200 – 1,300 (applications) over last year at this time. That’s about a 20 percent increase. Plus, transfer applications from community colleges and other institutions have just started coming in and are already 7 percent ahead of last year. The thing you need to remember is, we’re not 20 percent ahead of a bad year, we’re 20 percent ahead of a record year."

Spring and fall semester enrollment hit record highs in 2001-02, up 546 and 390 students, respectively, over the previous year.

Peterson notes that the earlier application date "does not mean we won’t accept applications after that date this year, but will take them only as space allows.

"We have not had an absolute cutoff date in the past," she said. "We have always used May 1 as our suggested application date, and could often allow students to apply up to the start of classes. But that is different now and will continue to be in the future. The door might close earlier."

Academic eligibility for freshmen is determined by a number of factors, including the student’s grade point average, his/her score on the SAT or ACT exam and college preparatory courses taken in high school. Students are assigned an "Admissions Index Number" which is based on a weighted combination of grades and test scores, with the GPA counting for 75 percent of student’s index score and the SAT or ACT counting for the other 25 percent.

Using the university’s online Admissions Index Calculator (see www.it.wsu.edu/AIS/ADM/cgi-bin/AIN_calc.cgi on the Admissions Web page, students can usually determine within seconds if they are eligible. The current minimum Admissions Index Number for WSU is 28 or higher.

In addition to meeting the minimum index level, students are required to have successfully completed a variety of high school course work in English, mathematics, science, foreign language, social science and the arts.

Students who do not meet the published admission criteria may be asked to provide additional information for consideration of special circumstances. Under state policy, the university can admit up to 15 percent of its freshman by reviewing information beyond grades and test scores to determine a student’s academic potential.

In the special admission process, each student’s case is reviewed on an individual basis. "Sometimes students have experienced circumstances beyond their control that affected their academic performance. For example, a student may have had a bad semester in his or her sophomore year due to extenuating family circumstances, but turned it around in their junior and senior years.

"Every case is different and we try to make our decision on whether a student shows the academic potential necessary to be successful. We consider their circumstances and any supporting documentation, such as recommendations from counselors and teachers."

In past years, student applications were reviewed on a rolling (first-come-first-served) basis, beginning Dec. 1. This year, however, due to the volume of higher qualified applicants, the admissions office is waiting longer to review applications from those with special circumstances or lower admission index scores.

Whether WSU will, in fact, see a threepeat is uncertain. Pending tuition hikes and a struggling state and federal economy pose the greatest hurdles. Meanwhile, the admissions office, Marketing Communications and admission counselors statewide are continuing to focus on higher academic students, building diversity and expanding the university’s exposure.

"WSU’s strategic planning and integrated marketing programs have concentrated on excellence," said Mary Gresch, director of Marketing Communications. "As we have developed this plan, we have also communicated our commitment to it. Students and their families are paying attention."