UB's population is getting bigger and better, according to statistics on the freshman class of 2002 compiled by UB's Office of Institutional Analysis.
Last year, the amount of applications received by UB was the highest in 13 years, and this year's freshmen have the highest SAT scores in the university's history, said Sean Sullivan, vice provost for academic information and planning.
"We received a total of 16,065 freshman applications and have experienced, on average, a 2.5 percent compounded growth in applications over the past three years," said Sullivan.
According to Sullivan, this year's average freshman SAT is approximately 1160, four points higher than last year. Since 1997, UB's average SAT scores have risen 26 points.
"We are raising our admissions standards every year as well," Sullivan said. "In 1999, we admitted 82 percent of our applying students. In 2002, we admitted 67.2 percent of our applicants. We expect to reduce that admit percentage to 60 percent by 2004."
Amanda Meisenzahal, a freshman, said she hopes that the stricter admission policies will raise the prestige of the university, ultimately increasing the value of a degree from UB.
She said that the admission policies give students a sense of security, "because you know that you're going to get a good education."
Deena Farghaly, a sophomore chemistry major, said higher SAT scores are not necessarily indicative of better quality students.
"Just because you did bad (on the SATs) doesn't mean you're a bad student," said Farghaly. "Just because you did good, doesn't mean you're a good student."
Despite UB's stricter acceptance rate, the enrollment rate held steady at a 2 percent increase this year, as 3,077 freshmen entered the university.
However, more of UB's freshmen are full-time students than in previous years, as the number of part-time freshmen dropped to under 50 this year.
Jeffrey Dutton, vice provost for Institutional Analysis, said changes in the demographics are to be expected.
"In an institution of this size, a certain amount of fluctuation can be expected from year to year," Dutton said. "Since the total number of freshmen has remained unchanged, more have chosen to enroll as full-time students rather than part-time."
Dutton noted that the state of the economy might have an affect on enrollment.
"In times of economic downturn, full-time, as well as overall enrollment, tends to increase as employment alternatives weaken," he said.
While the enrollment of out-of-state students fell, Dutton said it is nothing UB should be concerned about.
"The change in the number of New York State residents is so small that it may merely reflect normal fluctuation," said Dutton.
The statistics indicated that international enrollment has seen a downturn in the last year as well, said Joseph J. Hindrawan, assistant vice provost and director of International Enrollment Management.
"Since Sept. 11, the U.S. government has tightened their visa proceedings, especially in Islamic countries, Malaysia and Indonesia," Hindrawan said. "Sometimes the visa process takes as long as two months, and this long wait could have caused some students to miss the start of school."
Hindrawan predicts the number of international freshman entering UB will remain close to 100, but the university is still aiming to enroll 200.
"Although international freshman enrollment has decreased from 98 last year to 87 this year, we've still surpassed the overall international undergraduate and graduate enrollment in UB, and the numbers are growing," he said. "Our retention of international students is strong, too."
The numbers of intended majors in the health-related professions, such as pharmacy and nursing, have increased since last year, while the number of intended majors in architecture and planning, informatics and library sciences, and business management has decreased.
Only 665 freshmen were undecided majors this year, a 50 percent decrease from last year's high of 1,379.
Farghaly waited until her sophomore year to declare her major, and said it was a wise choice because students who rush to declare majors may end up changing them after they get deeper into the curriculum.
The Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American and Asian freshmen population all saw an increase in enrollment. The Caucasian freshmen population increased most significantly, with 66 more students than last year's enrollment of 2063.
The African-American freshmen population, however, had a 38-student drop from last year's figure of 245.
Dutton did not believe these numbers were indicative of recruitment efforts.
"We have kept in line with the university's main aim of serving a variety of students from diverse backgrounds," said Dutton.
Full detailed statistics of this year's freshmen class will only be out on the Web in mid-October, but a shortened version of the reports are now available at www.provost.buffalo.edu/oia.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
