With the state of the economy in flux, so is the enrollment status at colleges across the country. The recession has many families scurrying to seek out cheaper alternatives by flooding community and state colleges with admission applications. They are also appealing to private schools to try to bolster financial aid awards. It's always a good idea to try to negotiate with schools to attempt to get more aid. And this is particularly a good time to try as admissions officers are worried about their enrollment numbers. As a wise adviser once told me: "The answer is always 'no' if you don't ask the question.'' It never hurts to ask.
For the latest on this issue, here's an excerpt from a Philadelphia Inquirer story:
Colleges unsure of enrollment picture
With the critical May 1 decision date approaching, private college admissions officials locally and nationally are calling this year one of the most uncertain, tension-filled seasons in decades.
Private liberal arts colleges lagging in the percentage of students who have accepted invitations to attend are wondering whether they will have to dig deeper into their wait lists and offer even more aid to get their freshman classes.
Even schools that are running the same as or ahead of last year remain uncertain whether the numbers will hold next Friday - and whether those who commit actually will show up in the fall, given the economic uncertainty.
The picture, however, is different at state schools and community colleges, generally less costly alternatives. They continue to enroll students in greater numbers, in some cases setting records.
"This is the toughest year I've seen," said Robert Massa, Dickinson College's vice president for enrollment and college relations, who has been in the business 35 years and spoke about the private-school admissions scene generally. "The price has never been higher and the economy's never been worse."
He said colleagues he had spoken with at similar institutions generally were down 5 to 10 percent in the number of students who had submitted deposits. Dickinson is down 5.9 percent.
This admissions season unfolds as a peak number of high school students graduate this year and as many apply to more colleges than ever.
David Hawkins, director of public policy and research at the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said it was the most nerve-charged environment in decades.
Officials caution that they won't know exactly how tough the season has been until after May 1, the date that many schools require students to declare they will attend and submit a deposit.
Schools are especially sensitive about the percentage of students who accept their offer - known as yield - because it can figure in the quality of their freshman class.
And while state schools are up in deposits, some officials believe that some students are "double depositing" more than before as a safety measure.
Signs of money woes, however, are clear. Requests for financial aid are up, and college officials say they are getting more calls from antsy parents wrestling with the financial decision of college: Can they afford to plan four years ahead in such an unstable economy in which job losses are mounting?
"People are worried about what happens if," said George Walter, associate dean of enrollment management at Villanova University.
The number of students who have submitted deposits to be among the school's 1,630 new freshmen is about even with last year, Walter said.
Villanova has increased its financial-aid budget and has assured families it will reevaluate needs if circumstances change, he said.
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