Emory University saw a small increase of less than one percent in regular decision applications for the 2013-2014 academic year, as well as 10 and 16 percent increases in Early Decision (ED) I and ED II applications, respectively.
The College received a record number of 17,652 applications for its regular decision applicant pool, up from last year's 17,492.
John Latting, the assistant vice provost for undergraduate enrollment and dean of admission, said Emory's regular decision acceptance rate will likely fall below 20 percent after decisions are released April 1 as a result of Emory's growing ED applicant pool. Last year, the regular decision acceptance rate was 26 percent.
Latting said he believes applicants are selecting to apply to Emory through the ED process over regular decision at an increasing rate. He explained that because of the rise in the number of ED applicants – along with the fact that ED applicants are required to accept their admissions offers – there is less room for regular-decision applicants in the incoming class.
Although Emory's admissions statistics only have a slight effect on the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Latting said, the decrease in the regular decision acceptance rate could have a positive effect on Emory's national ranking on the list.
Latting attributed the small increase in applications in the regular decision pool to the public relations struggles Emory has witnessed during the past year.
Still, Latting said he feels the public still has confidence in the institution.
"I am excited about [the one percent increase]," Latting said. "I think Emory has had some challenging PR. I think for this particular cycle to have more applications than we have ever had in our history – I am really happy about that. I wouldn't be happy if you asked me over the next 10 years would I want to see a one-percent year-over-year growth; no, I wouldn't be proud of that."
Latting said that although he feels the negative press Emory has garnered might have had some effect on the applicant pool, he is unsure to what extent.
"Can we say if none [of the negative press] happened would we instead have 19,000 applications?" Latting asked. "I don't know."
The ED I round acceptance rate was significantly higher than it was for ED II or regular decision because those students know Emory is their first-choice institution, according to Latting.
"ED I applicants are the core and bedrock of our applicant pool, so we tend to see a higher admit rate there," Latting said. "We like the idea of a good critical mass of students that are committed to Emory."
The Admissions Office is currently in the process of reviewing the regular decision applicant pool and making decisions. Roughly half of the applications have been allocated decisions, though applicants will not receive word from Emory until April 1.
According to Latting, the Admissions Office will continue to review applications and make initial decisions until March 10, when admissions counselors will enter committee and review the remaining uncertain applications.
"In the years ahead, I am not targeting a one percent change in applications." Latting said. "I think in the five to 10 percent range would be more of the goal that I have for Emory College."
– Contact Dustin Slade at
dpslade@emory.edu
