WMU to close freshman admissions May 1
April 19, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- For the third consecutive year, Western Michigan will respond to the receipt of record numbers of applicants for its fall freshman class by closing admissions.
The University will stop accepting applications for admission to its fall 2001 class on May 1. Last fall, WMU admitted a record 4,543 students to its class of beginning freshmen-increasing the size of the class by 117 students over the previous year's record-setting class of 4426. This year, WMU is experiencing continued popularity among both in-state and out-of-state applicants, with students signaling their decision to accept admission by making deposits earlier and in larger numbers than in prior years.
"Our university has become enormously popular in recent years, and students in Michigan and around the nation are turning out in record numbers to take advantage of an opportunity to attend one of Michigan's top universities," says WMU President Elson S. Floyd. "While we're pleased at this level of response, we're also watching the trends carefully and working very hard to keep our incoming class at a size that will allow us to preserve the level of quality and service all of our students want and deserve."
Western Michigan University's Fiscal Year Equated Student count has grown by 2,189 students--making it Michigan's fastest growing university and the seventh fastest growing institution in the nation named by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to its top "doctoral/research-extensive university" classification.
According to John Fraire, WMU dean of admissions, the move to close freshman admissions primarily affects graduating high school seniors heading for college this fall and does not affect admission prospects for transfer students or graduate students. He notes certain exceptions to the closed status will be made. Those decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Admissions staff will continue to process applications postmarked by May 1.
Media contact: Matt Kurz, 616 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu