The University of Colorado Boulder’s main campus. (Photo courtesy of The University of Colorado Boulder)
Several factors contribute to whether one chooses to attend a university and where one decides to apply. The national landscape for college admissions has been an ever-changing platform, yet this 2024 admissions season has seen the largest increase in applicants in recent history.
Institutions nationwide have seen a 70,000-applicant increase since the fall 2023 application season, according to Common App. At the University of Colorado, Boulder, this past application year for the fall 2024 semester has seen a record number of 68,000 applicants, a 20 percent increase from the fall of 2023, according to the CU Boulder Office of Admissions.
While some may attribute the application surge to the arrival of the newly appointed head football coach Deion Sanders and his recent successes, there are many other qualities CU has to offer that make it desirable.
Israel Sanchez, assistant director of admissions at CU Boulder, recognizes that these factors are up to speculation. While acknowledging that the athletic program, a renowned engineering program (ranked 19th in the nation according to U.S. News), a central geographic location, and accessibility to the outdoors, led to the surge.
“We do think that football and different academic reasons would be a big reason for the rise in applications. We’re in the middle of the country, it’s an absolutely beautiful campus, so the more exposure we’ve gotten over the last year has helped overall,” Sanchez said.
The university has become more and more appealing to future students. To CU applicant Vaughn Gillberg, this appeal stems from the exposure brought on by the new and improved football program.
“I didn’t know much about CU at all until this past fall,” Gillberg said. “I saw the Big Ten game televised and all the excitement and celebrities that came with Deion taking over, which definitely is what initially sparked my interest in applying.”
Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Gillberg has had little exposure to schools out West.
“A lot of people from my high school wanted to go to big SEC football schools, but after this year, I thought Boulder could be a perfect balance,” Gillberg said.
Karen Bouchoux, the mother of CU Boulder applicant Vaughn Gillberg, shared her insights on what may have been the allure of the university.
“He applied to Boulder because of its reputation,” Bouchoux said. “It’s known for being a big university, outdoorsy, and its emphasis on social life.”
Bouchoux went on to add that another appealing aspect was the fact that should he get in, Gillberg would be able to attend without declaring a major right away. The university allows incoming students to enter into the exploratory studies major upon entrance, offering a buffer for students to decide what fields of study they may be interested in.
Despite the university’s many redeeming qualities, attending such a highly coveted school comes at a cost. Sophie Andelman, a sophomore at CU Boulder, has several concerns with the immense rise in applicants.
“My current landlord already told me that our rent will be raised next year, but he didn’t disclose exactly how much,” Andelman, a current resident on the hill in Boulder, said. “I’m really worried about the already drastic cost of living increasing exponentially with an influx of new students. The cost of living in Boulder is already incredibly unsustainable.”
Not only are more students applying, but the applicant pool is far more diverse than in recent years. According to CPR News, Black or African American student numbers have risen by 50 percent. Applications from Latino students have also increased by 25 percent.
“I think it’s an exciting time to be a Buff. We’re getting a lot of students from all over the nation, from all different types of backgrounds,” Sanchez said. “I’m all for increasing diversity, but also maintaining equity and inclusion in our institution, making sure that the support systems are there for all of our students.”
Contact Cu Independent guest writer Olivia O’Haver at oloh6708@colorado.edu
