After '06 glut, UC Davis admits fewer freshmen

Sacramento Bee 4/6/07

By Bill Lindelof

Fewer students have been offered admission to the University of California, Davis, than last year -- when larger than expected numbers eventually took college officials up on their offer to attend the campus.

UC Davis officials offered admission to 20,473 students applying for freshman status for fall 2007. That is about 1,700 fewer than last year, when UC Davis enrolled its largest entering freshman class in the UC system's history.

Admission was more competitive this year, said Pamela Burnett, director of undergraduate admissions. Despite lower numbers, Burnett said UC Davis is pleased with the socioeconomic, racial and geographic diversity of those offered admission.

"The preparedness and the attributes of the admitted class are excellent -- not only academically," Burnett said.

UC Davis enrolled an entering freshman class of 5,511 last year. They aim to enroll about 4,800 new freshmen this fall -- similar to the number they expected last year.

"In fall 2006 we exceeded our enrollment target by about 660 new freshman," said Burnett.

In practical terms, there are just so many classrooms, professors and places to live at the campus. UC Davis guarantees a residence hall bed for every freshman that applies on time.

"The housing office was heroic in accommodating all of those students," last year, Burnett said. "There were some triple (student) dorm rooms created."

Incoming freshmen have until May 1 to accept UC Davis' offer.

The campus also is planning for about 1,800 new transfer students this fall.

"Another option, an excellent one, especially if they have fallen in love with UC Davis, is to enter as transfer students after attending community college," Burnett said. "We have a guarantee transfer program that they can participate in."

Of those offered admission by UC Davis, 19,268 students attend high schools in state, representing a 7.3 percent decrease from last year's 20,791 California high schoolers given a Davis invitation.

In-state students from so-called "underrepresented groups" -- American Indian, African American and Latino -- account for 19.1 percent. Last year, they accounted for 17.3 percent.

The UC system has issued a record 57,318 offers of enrollment next fall at one or more of its campuses. Most students looking to attend a UC campus apply to several schools.

"We have admitted our largest class of UC freshmen," said Susan Wilbur, director of undergraduate admissions for the UC system. "Over 57,000 students have received the 'big envelope' from the University of California -- a 3.8 percent increase."