SMC increases enrollment
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
News Writer
Saint Mary's Class of 2004 is on its way to becoming the largest freshman class in at least the last three years, according to projected statistics.
"The enrollment for Fall 2000 includes 435 first year students and 50 transfer students," said Mary Pat Nolan, director of Admissions for Saint Mary's said. "I have a very positive feeling about how this class is coming together."
At this point in the application process, the amount of incoming applications is up three percent from last year, and roughly 20 percent from two years ago. The increase in application submissions is due in part to the College's decision to increase overall enrollment as part of the five-year Master Plan.
According to the plan, Saint Mary's will increase overall enrollment over the next five years until the student body numbers about 1700 to 1750 women.
"Our ultimate goal is to have a freshman class of 450 by 2005," Nolan said. The increase in applications is also due to Saint Mary's agressive recruitment on the national and international levels.
"In 1999-2000, as in the past 15 years or more, the Admission program has had a national and international focus," Nolan said. "Our admission counseling staff travels to over 30 states and 15 countries. We are supported by our alumnae VISA (Volunteers in Support of Admission) members who are visiting schools for us."
Admissions has a network of admissions counselors assigned to regions in the United States, and also sends staff out on visits, both natonal and international, throughout the year.
"We are working to develop in the international market," Nolan said. "Our international population is growing. Yesterday we recieved an application from a student in Rome."
On the international level, Europe, Central America and South America are the focus of the Admissions office. Joyce Lantz, associate director of Admissions, will travel to eight different European cities: Istanbul, Athens, Berlin, Hamburg, The Hague, London and Rome, to visit several schools and counselors in order to generate more interest in the college.
Saint Mary's is also a member of the European Council of International Schools, which puts on several tours and a conference each year. Last year's conference was in Nice, France and cities on the tour included Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, and a side trip to Rome.
"A year from now, we hope to develop a tour in Latin and South America," Nolan said.
Admissions staff will travel to Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuala, Guatamala, and Panama this September with the College Information Exchange's 2000 Latin America Tour, to plant roots for this new venture.
Exact numbers and characteristics of the class of 2004 were unavailable because of the intermediate stage of the admissions process. However, Nolan did have some idea of what the class would be like.
"The core of the class is from the Midwest," Nolan said. "Our primary market states are Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Approximately two-thirds of the applicant pool will be from these states.
However, nearly 40 states are represented. Concern for diversity within the student body has also spread to the Admissions Office.
"To bring together women of diverse backgrounds is to enrich the education of all," Nolan said. "We are pleased to report that applications for multicultural students have increased by a few percentage points."
Nolan also stressed the fact that the involvement of current students, faculty and alumnae in the recruitment and enrollment prcess is one of the reasons Saint Mary's is so successful in attracting applicants to the College.
"The application for admission gives applicants an opportunity to list factors important to their decision to apply for admission," Nolan said. "Among those most commonly listed [are] on-campus visits, current students, alumnae-endorsements, Saint Mary's publications, meeting admissions counselors at high school visits and college fairs."
"What made me make my final decision was talking to Kelly [Armbrecht] and hearing about her experiences [as a student at Saint Mary's]," Meghan VandeWater, a current freshman, said.
VandeWater and Armbrecht attended Shawe Memorial High School in Madison, Ind. together. Armbrecht is now a sophomore at Saint Mary's.
Nolan agreed that the relationships that a prospective student develops through the admissions process are very important as regards to their eventual college decision.
"We feel we are developing a relationship with each and every student. Once they are on campus, they feel like the message we gave was what they found. We like to get our current students involved — you're talking to someone who is living the experience. Our messages are consistent. Everyone wants to get in on the act."
For the class of 2004 and previous first-year classes, Nolan had nothing but praise. "We tend to attract students who are very active in their community. They tend to be the doers, and they add to the quality of life in their high schools. They're a pretty special bunch."
All News Stories for Friday, April 14, 2000
