Nearly half of '13 admitted ED

Author: Catherine Ahearn

Changes in the application protocol and a six-percent decline in prospective students' campus visits have led to a smaller applicant pool for the Class of 2013, whose members will receive their decision letters on March 27. However, 45 percent of the incoming class has already been admitted early decision.

"If anything, this year's applicant pool was even stronger than we have seen in the past," said Dean of Admissions Bob Clagett. "Based on SAT scores and the academic and other ratings that we use in the office, this was the strongest pool that we have ever had at Middlebury."

Applicants came from all over the country and the world; however the applicant pool was slightly smaller than in recent years. Clagett attributed this variance to a change in the application process, now requiring that the application fee be paid upon submission of an application.

In the past, students were able to submit an application and pay the fee at a later time. This resulted in a relatively large number of students who sent in an incomplete application and therefore never received a decision. This year, every application that was processed by the admissions office was complete.

"The bottom line to keep in mind," Clagett clarifies, "is that we are sending out about as many decisions this year as we did last year, if not a few more."

The number of prospective students attending informational sessions and campus tours has declined six percent. Clagett believes that this could be a result of higher gasoline prices and generally inflated expenses of traveling.

Despite the economic crisis, however, little has changed with regard to domestic applicants, who are accepted need-blind. Although little can be known about the financial circumstances of admitted students, it is very possible that the economic crisis will have an impact on aid eligibility. The College vows to meet 100 percent of a student's expressed need and intends to do so in order to remain competitive with other colleges' need-based offers.

"We do not have any reason to believe that the economic crisis will have an effect on our yield," Clagett asserts, believing that the College will welcome the same number of students next fall as it did in 2008.

It is no secret that the Office of Admissions has reviewed international students need-aware for the past several years. But, in a recent message to the College community, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz announced that next year the College will be increasing its total spending for financial aid solely for international students from $7.5 million to approximately $8 million next year.

"We have a set budget for international grant assistance," Clagett says, "and it is important that we not overspend that budget