ADMISSIONS GU’s Prospective Student Applications Remain High By Arianne Aryanpur Hoya Staff Writer

Despite the Sept. 11 attacks and the recent slowing of mail flow in the Washington area due to the closing of the U.S. Postal Service’s Brentwood Road main processing center, Georgetown University has still received more applications for Early Action admission than last year, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon said.

“Since Oct. 22, we had gotten 10 percent more applications than [the same time last year],” Deacon said. Last year the university received 4,100 Early Action applications. Deacon said he expects around 4,500 applications for the class of 2006.

The increase in applications in light of Sept. 11 could be due to Georgetown’s unique location in the nation’s capital, according to Deacon. “Washington may be a particularly appealing place because as [University President John J.] DeGioia has said, it is the epicenter of democracy,” he said. “Georgetown may be a special case because people relate it to public service.”

The lack of a decrease in applications could also possibly be attributed to the fact that unlike most universities, Georgetown utilizes a non-binding Early Action policy, according to Deacon. While Early Decision requires accepted students to matriculate, Early Action does not require that applicants attend Georgetown if accepted.

“At this point in time, Early Action is a good way for Georgetown to be going,” Deacon said. “Early Decision may just be too restrictive [for students] at this time of uncertainty.”

Officials closed the Brentwood Road facility Oct. 21 after it handled an anthrax-contaminated letter mailed to Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle’s (D-S.D.) office. The subsequent closing of 20 other Georgetown’s bulk mail, reopened Wednesday, the university is still receiving mail delayed as much as 10 days.

Media reports of mail backup in the Washington area have prompted many applicants and their parents to call the Undergraduate Admissions Office asking if their applications will arrive by the Nov. 1 deadline, Deacon said. Since mail is postmarked in the sender’s hometown, the university has been assuring applicants that if their applications are postmarked by Nov. 1, they have nothing to worry about.

The backup in mail flow has also put extra pressure on the university since they must mail Early Action response letters by Dec. 13.

“If the mail continues at this rate it won’t be problem,” Deacon said. “By Nov. 9 we should be caught up if there are no more disruptions.”

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