Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 2, 1991 TAG: 9102020205
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG/ HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
More high school graduates are seeking to further their education, said Barry Dorsey, deputy director of the Council of Higher Education. And a number of older students are going back to school.
About 57,944 students are expected to graduate from Virginia high schools this year.
"I don't foresee a decline in the number of college students," Dorsey said. "Historically, when there has been a decline in the number of high school graduates, college enrollment does not go down."
But officials say due to tough economic conditions, fewer applications from high school seniors are being found on admissions desks at the more expensive private colleges.
At Virginia Tech, admissions officials still are marveling over an increase of about 3.5 percent in applications over last year at this time. Although the figures aren't final, officials expect the percentage to hold.
If staff members knew why the number of applicants was going up while the number of students was going down "we'd bottle it and save it," said Susan Bambach, senior assistant director of admissions.
Some guesses: The university is aggressively recruiting students - including minority students and National Merit Scholars. The number of applicants in both of those categories rose significantly this year.
Admissions are slightly down at Hollins College, "Just like they are at any other college in the country," said admissions director Virginia Blackwell. "From what I know from other Southern private colleges, most of them are running behind. Private schools now are being hit twofold: One is by the demographics, and two is by the recent threat of a decline in the economy."
Families that used to look toward private institutions are becoming more conservative, she said. "Quite frankly, I can't blame them."
She said that while the pool is down, the quality of students looks similar to that of recent years. "We have no indication of a changing complexion in the freshman class," she said. "We just may have to work a little harder."
Roanoke College reported a 5 percent increase in applications over this time last year.
College officials were not surprised at the increase because of the college's increased emphasis on marketing and recruiting in the last few years.
Washington and Lee University in Lexington appears to be an exception, with an increase in applications of about 8 percent.
The University of Virginia reported an increase in overall applications of about 9 percent, or 2,000 applications.
"I'd been predicting a decline because of the demographics," said Jack Blackburn, dean of admissions at UVa. "If you check around the country, you'll find most are down - there are just fewer high school students to go around."
Radford University, which once admitted only women, reported a decrease in female applicants. But the number of transfer students is up, the number of male applicants is constant, and officials there are hopeful that the numbers will level out by the suggested deadline - April 1.
"The next couple of years are going to be a little more difficult. There are just fewer new students out there," said Vernon Beitzel.
by CNB