An early CollegeBoard.com prediction said the economic downturn would disrupt students’ college choices. However, that prediction did not prove true for fall 2009. With the failing job market and unemployment on the rise, many students, especially in-state community college students, are deciding a college education is essential.

During fall 2008 Western had 1,990 transfer students apply. For fall 2009 Western saw 2,218 student applications, resulting in a 28.5 percent increase in transfer applications compared to fall 2008.

“We have seen a huge increase in the number of applicants; both transfer and incoming freshman,” Western’s Director of Admissions Karen Copetas said.

However, Western has decided to accept 100 fewer transfer students than originally planned, Copetas said.

During the 2008-09 academic year, Western had 2,693 freshmen arrive on campus and 887 new transfers. For 2009-10 Western expects to have 2,700 freshman and 800 incoming transfer students, Copetas said.

“It was a tough decision [to withhold transfer students],” Copetas said. “But I think we made a really smart decision.”

During May 2009, the final time for admissions to accept students for fall quarter, Western and other state public universities faced large budget cuts. Admissions was unsure how large the cuts would be and which departments would be affected, which forced admissions to restrict students until they could better evaluate the pending budget situation, Copetas said.

Admissions also needed to consider the newly imposed early registration before determining the number of transfer applicants to accept. Copetas said holding fall registration during spring quarter changed how admissions approached their application review process. She said admissions wanted to see which classes were filling up and which departments would have room to allow more students. Admissions wanted to make sure students who are currently enrolled as full-time students at Western received classes they needed before allowing transfer students to fill their spots, she said.

Copetas said the number of students who decided to remain at Western longer than the traditional four years was extremely high. In the face of a struggling job market, many students decided to stay in school longer rather than graduate, she said.

“A lot of students are thinking it is smarter to stay in school until the job market gets better,” Copetas said. “Then, when they do get out, they will have the extra education to help.”

Admissions has decided to restrict any remaining transfer applicants for fall 2009. However, they expect to see 200 or 300 more transfer applicants during winter quarter, Copetas said.

According to the Washington Enrollment Roster, which offers statistics on Western’s 2008 enrollment, Western saw 645 of their 884 transfer students come from community colleges in Washington state for fall 2008.

Patty Collins is one of those students who currently attends Whatcom Community College but is planning to transfer to Western after she finishes her two-year degree. Collins said Western has been her dream school, but due to financial insufficiencies she could not afford a four-year degree.

“I love Western and love Bellingham,” Collins said. “But I could not afford to pay four years at a university, so I took the community college route and got the best of both worlds. I got the community of Bellingham for all four years and will end up with a degree from Western.”

In 2008, Western saw 152 out of 645 of its in-state community college transfers come from Whatcom Community College. Of all the community colleges in Whatcom County, Whatcom Community College sends the most in-state transfer students to Western. Bellevue Community College has the second highest number of students sent to Western, sending 60 students in fall 2008 and Skagit Community College followed in third with 52, according to the Washington Enrollment Roster.

“Most of our students come to Whatcom in hopes to transfer to Western,” said Ray White, Vice President for Administrative Services at Whatcom Community College. “They establish their housing, life, friends and work in this community.”

White said Whatcom Community College has seen a continuous increase in applicants over the past five years.
Studies on Collegeboard.com are being done to monitor whether public universities are becoming overrun with transfer and freshman applicants compared to private universities.

And though predicting how many students are forgoing an out-of-state education and settling with Western is difficult, Copetas said, overall, students who come to Western know they are receiving a quality education.

“I used to say that my job was like looking into a crystal ball; easy to predict and understand,” Copetas said. “Now it is like looking into a black ball.”

According to annual reports on college pricing and student aid released by CollegeBoard.com, students are receiving a record amount of financial aid. President Barack Obama’s education policy is providing more financial aid for those who qualify.

That may be a strong factor in many students’ decisions to transfer to a more affordable in-state, four-year public university rather than their out-of-state dream school, Copetas said.

Western is not the only public university noticing an increase in applicants. Admissions directors at other public universities around the country are seeing an increase in transfer applications, said Barmak Nassirian, a spokesman for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Indiana University saw a 23 percent increase in transfer applications for in-state students for fall 2009, while University of California saw an 11 percent increase.

Nassirian said a 5 to 10 percent increase in transfer applications could be due to any number of factors, such as a successful football team, students being home sick or changing majors, but up to 30 percent increases are more likely due to the failing economy.

A National Association for College Admission Counseling survey showed 71 percent of high schools reported more of their students forgoing their "dream schools"  in 2009 than in previous years. A study conducted by The Princeton Review indicated 38 percent of students reported the economy as the main reason.

Because Western is one of only two public four-year universities on the west side of the state, the university draws a large number of students  from high schools along the I-5 corridor. In 2008, 736 freshmen came from King County. Snohomish County was providing Western with 193 freshman, students, the second largest group, according to the Washington Enrollment Record.

For the first time, Western has admitted students for fall quarter as early as November of the previous year. Normally the deadline is January 1.

Freshman still want the college atmosphere, Copetas said, because 92 percent of freshman live on  campus. Due to Western’s reputation, location and atmosphere, high school seniors and transfer students are deciding to attend college at Western rather than other schools within the state, Copetas said.

“I can’t wait to start school in the fall,” said Katie Reese, an incoming freshman from Bothell, Wash. “I want the whole college experience; dorm life, the dining hall, all-nighters and living away from my parents.”

Share this article:
                                   

Be first to comment on this article

Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.