Despite Georgetown’s costly pricetag and the current financial crisis, the university still reports an increase in its early application pool.

Early applications for the Class of 2013 rose from the previous record high of 6,030 last year to between 6,100 and 6,200 this year, according to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon. The number marks a 2 percent rise from last year’s early pool and a 35 percent increase from the 4,562 students who applied early in 2006.

In addition, this year’s early applicants boasted higher average test scores and class rank than last year’s early group, Deacon said, although statistics were not yet available.

The early application period ended last Monday, Nov. 3.

Deacon said that he was pleased with the university’s increased number of early applicants, particularly in the wake of the financial climate. Georgetown was also recently ranked the fourth most expensive school in the nation by CampusGrotto, a Web site that provides students with information and news about life in college.

“This is good news in the face of a tough environment,” Deacon said.

Deacon said he believes that many universities with an early action option have witnessed a dip in their applicant pool.

“It appears that many schools with early action programs are facing lower or substantially lower applicant pools than last year,” he said.

In this economy, Deacon said that state universities will most likely see a significant rise in applicant numbers, while the more expensive private universities will experience a decrease. Certain private colleges, including The George Washington University, have stepped up recruiting efforts by highlighting their financial aid programs and fixed tuition programs to prospective students.

Deacon said that he was unsure exactly why Georgetown’s numbers increased this year – but he did mention that students interested in government were probably more attracted to the university because of D.C.’s exciting political environment of late.

Despite the rise, Deacon expressed concern about the yield rate, especially if the financial crisis persists through April.

“[The crisis] will potentially affect the yield and put more pressure on financial aid,” he said.

Deacon said that while the specific distribution of early applications among the four undergraduate schools is not yet available, the distribution remained virtually the same from last year. 5,996 total early applications were received last year – 17 percent of the total pool applied to the McDonough School of Business; 7 percent applied to the School of Nursing and Health Studies; 54 percent applied to the College and 22 percent applied, to the School of Foreign Service.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions anticipates an acceptance rate similar to last year’s 18 percent mark, Deacon said. He also said he plans to use the same rate for both the early and regular applicant pools.

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