By Kristine Hamlyn
It’s back to school season again and it looks like more people are interested in heading to Memorial University. The university’s undergraduate application figures indicate a 13 per cent increase for the fall semester.

The preliminary numbers show a slight increase in applications from high school students in Newfoundland and Labrador, with more students from outside the province applying to go to Memorial. There was a significant increase in applications originating from Ontario, probably as a result of the double cohort, the term used to refer to the estimated 70,000 more high school graduates this year as a result of the elimination of Grade 13 in that province.

“The increased number of applicants is a sound endorsement of the quality-education and attractiveness of Memorial University and our province,” said Memorial President Dr. Axel Meisen. “The challenge is now to register the applicants and to turn our plans to receive the additional students into reality.”

The 13 per cent overall undergraduate increase represents about 700 more applications over last year’s figures. “I think we are doing very well, especially when you consider the province is facing a declining population and the resulting pool of potential students has become smaller,” said Maire O’Dea, acting university registrar. Memorial currently has an overall student population of 17,000 students.

“Having had two recruiters based in Ontario, and our more in-depth approach regarding prospective students in our in-province market helped us a great deal,” said Sheila Devine, director of Memorial’s Office of Student Recruitment.

The increase in the number of students applying to Memorial’s Grenfell College campus in Corner Brook was also significant. Grenfell saw an increase of 107 applicants over last year. Ms. Devine credits the application increase at Grenfell to the college’s improved recruitment strategy.

The university received a total of 248 applications from Ontario-based students, an increase of 153 (62 per cent) over last fall’s number. Ms. Devine said that Ontario students are being recruited by other Canadian universities and some within the United States as well, making Ontario a challenging market for Memorial recruiters.

The number of students registered for the fall 2003 semester will not be known until after Sept. 17, the last day for students to add courses.