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University of Wisconsin undergraduate admissions for the fall semester have decreased for the first time in five years.
According to Registrar Joanne Berg, the university saw a total application decrease of just over 1,100.
“We have 24,000 applications, and last year we had a little over 25,000,” Berg added. “The numbers aren’t a big change but … the school would like to know why the decrease is happening.”
Though overall applications decreased, the only decrease came from in-state students. Out of state applications, on the other hand, increased by 211, which Berg said is a very rare occurrence.
Though Berg said the school has no definitive answer as to why these numbers have occurred, she made several speculations.
“One guess is that out of state families want to send their students to a good Big Ten school, and we have a relatively low tuition,” Berg said.
Berg added students may be applying to fewer schools and an increase in application price from $39 to $44 may have turned off some potential applicants.
“Economically, the whole country is experiencing the strange phenomenon — we don’t know if it’s the economy or less students applying” Berg said. “And we won’t be able to understand why until next fall when we find out where people are going instead.”
Berg added UW officials will be doing research and talking to colleagues at colleges across the county to help understand the cause of the overall decline in applications.
Though applications have decreased, Berg noted they have not seen a decrease in the quality of submitted applications, even in comparison to last year’s record high number of applicants.
The university is also targeting to admit the same size class as years past.
“What we do know is that we will have a freshman class, and it will be full of great students,” Berg said.
Mary Gulbrandsen, executive director for the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, agreed, though there are likely many reasons for a decline in enrollments, some probably related to the country’s current economic climate.
Gulbrandsen added a follow up from students who did and did not apply to the school is a necessary step in acquiring information about the decline.
“Maybe the application price has something to do with it, or maybe students didn’t apply to as many schools this year,” Gulbrandsen said “Without talking to students and looking into it more we won’t know for sure.”
Gulbrandsen added she hopes the trend will reverse if applications continue to decrease in the spring semester and an increase in financial aid is granted in Gov. Jim Doyle’s upcoming budget proposal.
“I think there are so many factors … but I would hope it would,” Gulbrandsen said. “I don’t think it’s anything to panic about, there are just a million different things they are going to have to look at.”
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“Fewer kids apply to UW” makes it sound like UW is full of fourth graders….
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The coasties’ money is with Madoff.
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**Could the skyrocketing tuition and housing costs have anything to do with it?
*Could the questionable and possibly corrupt practices of the administration have anything to do with it? *Could the alleged price collusion among area bars and rental agencies have anything to do with it? *Could the murder of Brittany Zimmerman and other students have anything to do with it? *Could the subsequent cover-up of the mishandling of these murders have anything to do with it? **Could the extremist liberal ideology of UW-Madison have anything to do with it? Yes, I know you are open to new ideas—just as long as they agree with yours.
I think the above factors might have more to do with the decrease than the $5.00 increase in the application fee… It doesn’t take a study to figure out what is happening to UW-Madison. Any I really believe this is only the beginning.
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Hey, I applied to this school to get a taste of extremist liberal ideology, and all I got was a bunch of whiners telling me how second-trimester fetuses live happy, unassisted lives outside the womb. Also, we shouldn’t have a radical feminist for a chancellor.
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1:05 No, no, no, no, no, and no. Get a clue.
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It seems to me that the economy is making a big impact on tuition. Even 3 years ago when I applied here, most of my friends (who were well-qualified for Madison) were choosing smaller UW schools with lower tuition. It was purley a matter of tuition costs overall being lower at other schools (and the whole textbook buying vs renting situation). I’d imagine these same factors are at work now, but with greater force.
Considering I have freshman in my classes this year who don’t even know about Brittany Zimmerman and the accompanying police foibles, I doubt these play a significant role in applicants’ choice of schools.
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As a parent of three recent UW graduates and a WI resident I would say the decline in apps. most certainly has to do with the murders, including the most recent tromp down in the alley. Britanny was hung up on and then it was covered up. She was someone’s little girl! You need to get a clue that it’s the parents who pay for the education. We will not continue to send our students where they are no longer safe. The hobos on State Street have more consideration given to them than the students. Legislature has made laws legalizing public urination and campouts on store fronts. A girl was punched in the face by one last year when she refused to give him money! The liberal ideals of Madtown were once a draw to parents. They no longer are. It is easy for WI residents to see the reasons for the decline. Madtown makes money on these students …they should act like it. We will refuse to send our students where they are treated as a comodity and not respected as the valuable assets that they are. I would expect to see the apps continue to decline along with the endowments.. It also explains why the out of state apps are the same or up, we have front row seats to the madness.