The Office of Admission predicts the number of applications for the class of 2014 to be in the region of 3,300, roughly even to the number of applications received last year. Although the deadline for applications was Jan. 15, the exact number of applicants is unknown because not all applications have been organized and counted.
This predicted tally is notable because the number of high school graduates in the United States is expected to decline this year, after having peaked in 2009.
“National demographics show that 2009 is the peak of high school graduates in terms of sheer population,” Director of Admissions Kevin Dyerly told The Pioneer in February 2009, noting the possibility of a decline in applications for the class of 2014.
However, it is possible that this national decline in high school graduates will have little affect on Whitman applications.
“The decline [in high school graduates] is not across the board,” said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco. “They are primarily in the northeast and upper Midwest . . . the decline in Washington is very modest. Relative to [Whitman’s location], the impact might be not that big overall.”
So far the impact has hardly been noticeable. The Office of Admission received about 180 early decision applications this year. Although it is less than last year’s record-breaking 200, this year still amounts to Whitman’s third best year for early decision applications.
If there is a slight decline in the total amount of applications received this year, it would be the first time since 1995. The number of applications Whitman receives has more than doubled in the past 15 years from 1,535 in 1995 to 3,309 in 2009.
Tory Sheffield, a high school senior from Seattle, suspected an increase in Whitman applications from her high school.
“I think that 35 applied last year and I feel like it’s more this year but I don’t know for sure,” she said.
Sheffield also mentioned the many letters and e-mails she received from Whitman.
“They sent out a lot of newsletters and really tried to reach out and I got the feeling of a strong community,” she said.
According to Cabasco, the large amount of contact made with prospective students is very intentional.
“We want to build connections,” he explained. “Our approach has always been to ensure that Whitman is on the mind of the [prospective] student.” Cabasco pointed to the Office of Admission’s Facebook page, and noted that they’re in the process of creating a blog.
2010 also marks the first year that all applications are being processed and read electronically.
“It’s been a two- to three-year process,” explained Cabasco. “We’ve had to adjust a lot of things. Two years ago we would receive applications electronically, but we would still have to print them and read them. Now we just transfer the PDF directly to electronic storage.”
Even letters of recommendation and high school transcripts are received electronically.
Paper applications are still accepted. However, they are now scanned and stored digitally. This allows out-of-state and off-campus admissions officers to access the applications.
“The Internet is becoming ubiquitous,” said Cabasco. “Five years from now, I might be doing this on my digital phone.”
