The past year saw another record-breaking admissions cycle in colleges and universities across the country, with unprecedented numbers of students both applying for and being rejected from institutions of higher education.

“This year has been a very interesting one around the country, so it’s difficult to predict what will happen with all colleges and with Washington University,” Nanette Tarbouni, director of admissions, wrote in an e-mail.

Of more than 27,000 students who applied for admission into Harvard University’s freshman class, only 7.1 percent were accepted, making this year the most competitive in the school’s history. Princeton University, which received 21,369 applications, accepted just 9.3 percent of its applicants, a decrease from the 9.5 percent it accepted last year.

One of the principal factors cited for the increase in applications this year to universities like Harvard and Princeton has been the discontinuation of these schools’ early admissions programs, which has led many students to apply to more schools instead of committing early to one.

Applications to Washington University, which retained its early decision program, did not rise significantly. Similar to last year, about 22,000 students applied for entrance into the Class of 2012, with admission being offered to about 20 percent of applicants.

In response to this, junior Niki Wagstaff said she thinks the University could benefit from adopting a policy similar to Harvard’s or Princeton’s.

“I think that having all students apply together could draw more people to Wash. U., especially because of what Wash. U. has done recently to improve its financial aid program,” Wagstaff said.

Wagstaff said that another factor that is being used to explain this year’s large applicant pool is the recent trend among selective colleges and universities to expand their financial aid programs, which has made many highly-ranked institutions more accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.

Many colleges, including Washington University, have eliminated loans for students from families earning less than a certain income-$60,000 in the case of Washington University-in a year. Other selective universities have increased the number of students eligible for financial aid by permitting more students from middle-class backgrounds to receive assistance.

Jimmy Cox, a sophomore and member of the Student Admissions Committee, thinks that the University could benefit from expanding its financial aid.

“I believe that students in the middle tax bracket, say 100 to 180 thousand dollar annual income, shouldn’t have to pay more than 10 percent of that on tuition,” Cox said.

As a result of this year’s unique admissions season, many universities remain uncertain of the number of incoming freshmen who will matriculate.

Washington University is aiming for an incoming class of about 1,350 for next year, though Tarbouni said the University’s exact yield is unpredictable.

“We can’t predict what will happen,” Tarbouni wrote. “It’s the time of year when we remember that the decisions are where they should be-with the students.”

As in the past, admissions officers at the University are controlling the yield by relegating many applicants to the waiting list.

However, Tarbouni said that given the reactions of prospective freshmen to last week’s Celebrations Weekend, she expects many of the students who visited to attend the University.

“Last weekend provided a challenge, with the canceling of so many American Airline flights,” Tarbouni wrote. “But most students still made it here. When they left on Sunday, many were saying they would be back in August.”

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