July 9, 2003
Albany - Some Georgia colleges and universities are turning away students applying for fall because of overcrowding. For the first time, Kennesaw State University in Cobb County has stopped taking applications for fall semester before the deadline.
Albany State, Darton, and Georgia Southwestern all saw a record number of applicants for the upcoming school year. More students are applying for college, exhausting resources at most schools.
Wilena McClein hurries to turn in her application to attend Albany State fall semester. A recent move from North Carolina and a new baby have her crunched for time. "I'm nervous about getting accepted since I'm applying so late," said McClein.
ASU's deadline for application was July 1st, but the school continues to take some last minutes students. "We've been very busy," said Admissions and Recruitment Director Robin McDermott. "We've had more applicants and more admittance."
McDermott says late applicants are out of luck if they plan to live on campus. Classroom aren't full, but the residence halls are. "We, unfortunately, have to disappoint some students because they will have to consider off campus housing options if they applied late in the summer." The resident halls are almost full at Georgia Southwestern also, where more than 13,000 students applied for fall semester.
3,500 students applied for the upcoming year - that's 14% more than last year. Admissions also rose at Darton College and Georgia Southwestern, and both will see a freshman class larger than ever before. McDermott credits the HOPE scholarship and a lagging economy for the spike in enrollment. "Students look at the not-so-good job market, consider the HOPE, and realize this is a good time to further their education," said McDermott.
If Georgia schools continue to see more applicants, more might have to start turning students away from higher education.
Posted at 5:10PM by kathryn.murchison@walb.com
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