Caltech Sees Big Jump in Applicants, Student Quality.

The nation's top-ranked college doesn't have a football team, is not known for its social life and won't even allow fraternities or sororities. Even so, applications for the fall semester are flooding in.

The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, named the best in the nation for the first time by U.S. News & World Report, is drawing a record number of applicants.

So far, the admissions department has received more than 3,400 applications, and the school expects another 100 to come trickling in. That's almost double the number in 1995, when Caltech received 1,895 applications.

Charlene Liebau, director of admissions, attributes the jump to an increase in outreach activity and recent publicity from the U.S News ranking, which came out in August.

"We have to acknowledge the power of the press in the ratings of U.S. News & World Report," she said.

It's not just the number of applicants that's going up -- it's the quality.

Combined SAT scores of 1450 and placement in the top 25 percent of one's graduating class pretty much guarantees admission to most colleges in the country -- but not Caltech. The average combined SAT scores for Caltech's admitted early-action freshmen (students who apply before Nov. 1 and promise to attend the school if admitted) was 1540 out of a possible 1600. All the applicants were in the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

Of the 726 early-action applications received (up from 125 in 1995), 114 were admitted. About 15 percent of the students who apply are admitted to Caltech, which makes the school one of the most selective in the nation, just behind Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Columbia universities.

"Test scores are only a small part of admission scores, the single most important factor is a rigorous course of study and achievement in that course of study," Liebau said. "We're looking at applicants who are editors of literary magazines and who have done research at the National Cancer Institute."

The school also looks at a demonstrated commitment to math and science in a research environment.

Aruna Venkatesan, 17, is one successful early applicant. She had near-perfect SAT scores and grades and a wide assortment of extracurricular activities. She is the principal clarinetist in her school orchestra, has interned with Clorox labs, logged 400 hours of volunteer work at the local senior center, performs classical Indian dance, and was the valedictorian of her class of 320 at her Northern California high school.

"I'm just looking forward to having these great intellectual conversations about science and stuff," she said.

Even as Caltech raises its admissions standards, it has admitted more women and minorities this year than ever before.

Of the 114 admitted early-action students, 47 (or percent) were women, a significant increase over years past. Meanwhile, three African Americans, 36 Asians, five Latinos and 54 whites were included in the early-action group.

"There are more women in the classes I teach," said Melanie Hunt, who teaches mechanical engineering and is a member of the admissions committee. "If you look at my class, it looks quite diverse, about 40 percent women, and a real mix of very different backgrounds."

Chris Brennan, vice president for student affairs and a professor of mechanical engineering, credits Hunt with helping attract women to the college. "They see her as a role model. They can talk to her, and it's created a women's support network, and that's important," he said.

Brennan also attributes a change in attitudes and social life at the school to more women in the student body and on the faculty. "I've been here 3 years and this has been one of the biggest changes," he said. "Last year's entry class had 35 percent women.

For the first time in its history, the school has been aggressively recruiting students. That means hiring bigger admissions staff and approving more travel to high schools around the country.

"Caltech has not emphasized recruitment in the past," said John Latting, associate director of admissions. "Caltech's position in the marketplace is changing. Now Caltech is having a broader appeal and working harder at recruiting."

With the best and the brightest coming to Caltech and to the Los Angeles area, Ross De Vol, director of regional studies for the Milken Institute, says the big priority is keeping them here.

"When looking at this class of freshmen, you have to keep asking, do they stay here?" De Vol said. "We would lose an immense economic growth potential if we do not retain them."

                        Caltech Students' Evolution
      Early-admission students for 2000 had the highest combined SAT
    scores and greatest number of women in the school's recent history.
                                       1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Average SAT scores [*]
Math                                    735  741  738  740  748  750
Verbal                                  629  686  695  690  711  711
Gender composition of early admissions
Men                                      30   66   88  116   73   67
Women                                     5   19   43   33   31   47
Total                                    35   85  131  149  104  114
(*.)Perfect score is 800
Source: Caltech