Admissions gives initial snapshot of Class of 2002

Applicant decrease reflects national trend

Director of Coinservatory Admissions Michael Mandaren is resisting the temptation to break the Conservatory's record for number of applications received. Mandaren said the Conservatory has received 1086 applications, four short of last year's record high. Mandaren has refused to acept more applications.

In the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Admissions, Director of Admissions Debra Chermonte can't relate. The College's number of applicants dropped nearly seven percent this year, a decline Chermonte attributed to the increase in Early Decision applications at large universities. Chermonte speculated that Oberlin's traditional pool of applicants was diminished by the loss of successful Early Decision applicants.

Letters of acceptance were mailed Wednesday. Although Chermonte stressed the College's admissions process was not yet complete, neither Mandaren nor Chermonte reported any significant deviations from previous years.

"It will be a very good class," Mandaren said. "There are no gaps."

The Conservatory received 54 applications from African American students, up from 35 last year. Asian American applications held steady at 78, while Latino applications increased slightly.

The Conservatory continued to attract international students.

"In some cities, Oberlin in better known than Julliard," Mandaren said. "The conservatory has been perceived by many as being more successful, more professional."

In the College, the raw numbers were down slightly, but the overall percentages were nearly identical to last year's figures. The College received 257 African American applications, 252 Asian American applications and 144 Latino applications. Native American applications were down from 22 to 21.

Prospectives are invited to campus for the traditional All Roads event April 16. New events added this year include a parents workshop sponsored by Residential Life, an interactive program at the Multicultural Resource Center and a student service fair.