Tulane University is reporting a 12 percent increase in applications for the fall semester, while Loyola University’s applications have stayed the same, compared to this past year.
Richard Whiteside, dean of admissions at Tulane, said he thinks the increase is because of the prominence the university has gained following the hurricanes.
“Students realize that there are opportunities at Tulane that exist nowhere else,” he said.
Whiteside said it is too early to determine if the increase will mean an overall increase for the year.
Whiteside said this past year the university received 18,600 applications. For the fall 2006 semester, Tulane has received 9,500 applications and the deadline for applying is Jan. 15, he said.
“If the patterns continues to hold, it will indeed be a very competitive year in which to gain admission to Tulane,” Whiteside said.
After Hurricane Katrina, Scott Cowen, Tulane University president, told several papers that funds from university endowments would be reallocated from ventures like research to fund rebuilding and repairing costs.
Whiteside said he does not think there will be a direct link between increased application numbers and a possible increase in endowment funds, but he said the increased numbers could be a positive sign.
“The increase may, however, signal to individuals considering a gift to Tulane that giving such a gift is a wise choice,” he said.
Loyola University, which is located next to Tulane on St. Charles Avenue, has not seen an increase in applications numbers, but the university is not decreasing either.
Kristine Lelong, director of public affairs and external relations for Loyola, said applications for Loyola are the same as this past year.
Lelong said the university, however, received the greatest number of applications this past year than the school has ever received.