Fewer freshmen have applied to UC schools

Marisa O’Neil

University of California campuses received fewer applications from

high school students for fall 2004 than last year, the first time the

system has seen a drop in 10 years.

Freshman applications systemwide dropped by 4.1% and dropped by

1.4% at UC Irvine, according to a report released by UC officials on

Tuesday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget calls for

UC campuses to cut freshman enrollment by 10% -- a task made easier

with a smaller pool of applicants.

“We never welcome a decrease in applications,” UC spokesman Hanan

Eisenman said. “But given that we’re being asked to decrease freshman

enrollment by 3,200 students next year, a slight reduction [in

applications] may ease pressure on the system.”

Schwarzenegger’s budget also requires UC schools to increase fees

by 10% for undergraduate and 40% for graduate students. That comes on

top of other recent increases.

Overall, UC campuses saw 1.3% fewer applications than last year --

a 3.8% drop since fall 2002. International students had the biggest

drop at 37.5% overall, 56% for transfer students.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the government tightened

requirements on student visas, which may have contributed to fewer

international applications, Eisenman said.

“We believe the decrease [in applications] may be tied to modest

growth in graduating high school students this year at less than 1%

and UC fee increases due to state budget cuts,” Eisenman said.

“Another factor is the new federal immigration policies, which make

it more difficult for international students.”

The total number of transfer students applying, however, increased

by 5.7% for all campuses and by 13% for UCI.

Students applying for their freshman year at UCI are also getting

smarter. The mean high school grade point average went to 3.64 from

3.61 last year and SAT composite scores increased from 1152 to 1164

out of a possible 1600.

The UC president’s office has instructed each campus to set

freshman enrollment targets of 400 fewer students this year to meet

Schwarzenegger’s requirements, Eisenman said.

Those who meet eligibility requirements but don’t get accepted may

be selected to take part in a transfer program, which would guarantee

their acceptance after they fulfilled course requirements at a

community college, he said. Another program is also planned that

would accept eligible students at the Riverside or new Merced campus

even if they don’t qualify for the transfer program.

Merced, the UC system’s 10th school, is scheduled to open in fall

2005.

Orange Coast College’s enrollment, on the other hand, increased by

12% this spring, said Nancy Kidder, administrative dean of admissions

and records.

“We’re seeing a steady increase for the last four years,

predominantly in students under 21,” she said. “We anticipate an

increase through at least 2010.”

Because of budget cuts, the school has cut course offerings by

about 20%, but demand has not slowed down, Kidder said. She estimates

the school turned away 4,000 students last fall because students

could not find the courses they needed.