Record 28,000 Apply to UCLA for Admission in Fall

UCLA’s popularity among incoming freshman appears to growing, university officials report.

The UCLA admissions office has released data showing that the university experienced a 10.7% increase in applications for admission next fall. A record-setting 28,000 students applied to UCLA for the fall term, compared with the 25,300 applications that the university received for this year’s freshman class.

The number of applications from minorities has continued to rise, especially from Asian American applicants. About 1,200 more Asian Americans applied for admittance next fall compared to last fall, and most of the new Asian applicants are Filipino.

Some minorities may have assumed that 1996 would be the last year in which they could apply for admission under affirmative action, a university spokeswoman said. However, affirmative action will not be eliminated until the spring of 1998.

The percentage of white applicants rose 17% for next fall. Despite the fact that affirmative action will still be a factor in admission for two more fall terms, university officials said, more white students could be applying to UCLA with the idea that they now have a better chance of being accepted.