CC and SEAS Receive 21,213 Applications for 2011

For the fifth straight year, Columbia has broken its previous record for the number of applications received in a single year.

Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science received 21,213 applications, a 6.7 percent increase over last year's figures.

The two undergraduate schools enjoyed their biggest years yet individually as well. A total of 17,964 prospective students applied to Columbia College this year, up from 17,151 in 2006-an increase of 4.7 percent.

SEAS enjoyed a similar increase, receiving 3,249 applications, an unprecedented high and an increase of 20.3 percent over last year's figures.

"I am delighted with the great increase in the number of applications to SEAS," said Zvi Galil, dean of SEAS. "These numbers exceed all our expectations. I have been saying for some time that Columbia engineering education is unique-the broadest and one of the best in the country. It seems that the word has gotten out to more and more potential students."

"I'm a little nervous, mostly just anxious because you have to wait so long," said Rebecca Schlenker, a senior at Cranford High School in Cranford, N.J., who applied to Columbia College. "It's a tough competition, so it'll be interesting to find out."

Applicants will be notified as to whether they have been accepted in the first week of April.