Record numbers admitted, rejected from UW

It’s that time of the year again. Prospective Huskies, as well as all other college hopefuls, are now receiving those coveted acceptance letters — or those dreaded rejection letters.

The UW received 20,000 applications this year. Of those 20,000, 12,000 were accepted and 8,000 were rejected. With this year’s graduating high school class being the largest in U.S. history, deciding who would be UW-bound and who would have to resort to a different college proved to be a difficult decision for admissions director, Philip Ballinger.

“It was a difficult admissions season for both students and their parents,” he said. “If you are 14 right now, you have good timing.”

It’s not only about the grades anymore

Incoming UW freshman, Terri Doan, a Franklin High School senior, is the perfect example of a well-rounded student with her 3.6 GPA and participation in Key Club, the Asian Student Association and Mock Trial.

“I was really involved in the community, and it was really important to me,” she said.

And well-rounded students like Doan are exactly what the UW is looking for.

In 2006, the UW began to admit students based on more than just grades and standardized test scores. Forgoing the traditional admissions index where students in the top 10 percent were automatically admitted, other factors such as extracurricular activities were also considered to determine admission.

“The system was automatic,” said George Dillon, the committee chair of academic standards. “Some of the students who came in that way weren’t talented or creative.”

The holistic approach allows admissions to get a better sense of who the student is. It also encourages students to take on challenges while in high school, Dillon said.

“They are the joiners,” he said. “The first year that we admitted students with this approach, there were more people joining ASUW.”

However, determining whether or not students are being truthful in their extracurricular activities is difficult.

“[It’s] hard to check on extracurriculars, unless one sees inconsistencies in the information provided with the rest of the application materials,” Ballinger said.

While Berkeley has an approach that audits some of its applications, the UW is only discussing it and has not made any decisions.

While giving the admissions team a better idea of the student, the holistic approach also increases diversity at the UW.

“It takes into account whether the student is low income, it takes into account their activities, it takes into account whether they took challenging classes,” Ballinger said. “It uses a more diverse process.”

Since the holistic system is not just based on GPA, all students are encouraged to apply.

“It maintains and improves underrepresented and minority students,” Ballinger said. “It is the best of all words; overall, it speaks highly of this admission process.”

Record-breaking admittance rates

Some may be alarmed at the fact that the UW rejected a record number of students. But this year was record-breaking in terms of admitted students as well.

Despite rising tuition rates for all students, non-residence applications have increased by 20 percent, while international applications increased by 40 percent. The falling dollar must be the main explanation for the increased number of international applicants, Ballinger said.

“It’s a benefit in looking at the UW,” he said. “It’s the only explanation for the increase in international applicants.”

However, Ballinger is happy with the increased number of international students.

“If students have the ability to interact with students from other countries in their own generation, it’s a very enriching experience,” he said.

This year, 40 percent of all international applicants were accepted. For out-of-state applicants, the percentage was more favorable at 56 percent.

Still, UW Admissions had a tough year this year. From last year, there was a 20 percent increase in the number of applications received, resulting in rejection of many good students who otherwise could have been accepted.

Ballinger has already received many upset phone calls from parents of rejected students.

“You have to do some explaining, but that only helps to some degree,” he said.

The admissions process

Imagine going through 20,000 college applications: 20,000 students, 20,000 personal statements and 20,000 lists of extracurricular activities. Now try to imagine deciding which of those students should get into the UW and who shouldn’t.

“Oh, it’s a lot of work,” Ballinger said.

All of that work is done by two different readers who assess each and every application. The assessors must be in agreement about an application in order for it to be further considered for admission.

In the case that assessors are in disagreement, which Ballinger said only occurs in 5 to 10 percent of applications, a third reader is brought into the cycle.

At the very beginning of the admissions season, after the priority deadline of December 1, admissions admits the students with the strongest applications.

“They are the ones with the very high GPAs, test scores, and many extracurriculars,” Ballinger said. “You know that they are going to be admitted.”

However, decisions start to get more difficult during the middle of the admissions season. In order to accept the most qualified students, admissions must wait and read all other applications to determine admission.

It is usually the case that waitlisted students have some fighting hope for acceptance.

But this year, admissions have already enrolled a number of students above the target number.

“I don’t think we’ll be going to the waitlist,” Ballinger said. “We’re done.”

Largest freshman class yet puts a strain on housing

There are more than 450 triple rooms on campus, and with the largest freshman class yet coming to the UW next year, that number would have increased — if there were no plans to make some changes to housing.

Typically, 65 percent of students want to live on campus, said Deborah Costar, the interim director of Housing and Food Services.

In addition to Stevens Court Building L, which is already reserved for freshmen, Stevens Court Building K will be converted to freshmen-only housing. The change will allow for 100 additional spaces.

Opening up Stevens Court Building K and L will also provide relief for international and out-of-state students, who often worry about being kicked out of the dorms during holiday breaks. Students who check that they would like to have housing over the breaks will receive priority for Stevens Court.

In addition, the University’s strategic master plan lists eight more housing facilities on the west side of campus, creating 1,000 additional rooms and eliminating triple rooms. The first dorm will open in 2011.

“It’s like a west-side village we’re creating here,” Costar said. “We’re trying to enhance student vibrancy.”

Acting upon the results of a survey taken by students who were asked what kind of dorms they would like to live in, the new dorms will be apartment-style buildings.

“They will be modern with designs that students said they would be interested in living in,” Costar said.