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Mount Holyoke recorded the largest applicant pool in its history for the class of 2004. In 1999-2000, 2,614 high school seniors competed for admission to the College, representing a 22 percent increase since 1998. As of June 30, 2000, 545 students had accepted an offer of admission, and 535 are expected to ultimately enroll.
In addition to exceeding expectations for applications received in 2000, the applicant pool is also one of the strongest in the College's history. "The acceptance rate has decreased a significant 9 percent in the last two years," notes Diane Anci, dean of admission. In contrast with the 64 percent acceptance rate for the class of 2002, the acceptance rate for students matriculating in 2004 has been reduced to 55 percent. The College continues to experience a strong yield of 38 percent on acceptances (accepted students who decide to come to MHC).
Jane Brown, vice president for enrollment and College relations, attributes the increase in applications to several factors and underscores the successful efforts of the enrollment unit. "Because of the overall high energy and successful initiatives at Mount Holyoke, we're attracting more attention and therefore more students," says Brown. "We also have very strategic communication, admission, and financial aid plans in place." The admission office's personalized approach, says Brown, "has been enhanced by the active participation of numerous Mount Holyoke volunteers--faculty, alumnae, and students--and has been strengthened by a new Senior Fellows program," a program in which Mount Holyoke seniors interview perspective students.
Anci agrees that the College's new and effective admission strategies have made a striking impact. "So many things are happening here. Across the board we've done a great job of communicating our strengths to women who are potentially great matches for us. We build a class one student at a time." Demographics have changed, too, she says, with more qualified women increasing the applicant pool.
Brown points out that the "strong class of 2004 will complement an already impressive student body at Mount Holyoke; the new students will add to the existing pool of academic talent." A diverse group of women from thirty-four countries and forty-five states make up the incoming class. International students constitute 14.5 percent of the class, and African Americans, Latina, Asian Americans, and Native Americans compose 17 percent of the class. Thirteen percent have legacy connections--mothers, aunts or other relatives who graduated from Mount Holyoke.
