The CSU system saw a jump of 2 percent from last year’s number of applicants, totaling to more than 760,000.
Maria Zelada
Special to Mustang News
The number of applicants to the California State University (CSU) system hit a peak this year, reaching numbers greater than the population of Vermont and presenting challenges on how to accommodate the large influx.
The CSU saw a jump of 2 percent from last year’s number of applicants, totaling to more than 760,000. Cal Poly itself received an excess of 50,000 applications for admission.
Some Cal Poly students said they are concerned that an increase in student applicants might have an effect on their education.
“It’s going to affect classrooms, obviously,” physics junior Andrew Parker said. He added that he sees a need to either add more classes or let fewer people in.
James Maraviglia, the associate vice provost for marketing and enrollment development at Cal Poly, reassured students they are handling the application increment efficiently, saying “admissions is managing their enrollment based on anticipated space.”
The CSU system has also found ways to ease ramifications by putting in place resources to help accommodate the large flood of students to state schools, including Coursematch, an online program designed to enroll students into available classes from other CSU campuses.
Coursematch was launched in December and is intended to provide key courses for students online, which will in turn provide space for additional students in classrooms. Forty online classes will be available for students by Spring 2014.
Bre Goetz, an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts, assured students there are many things they can do to get the best out of their education at Cal Poly even as enrollment increases. She urged students to keep an open mind during registration.
“I think the biggest tip is when it’s registration time to make sure you get at least 12 units, even if they’re not your first choice classes, and wait list for classes,” Goetz said. “They can swap things they prefer later. Also, strategize using your priorities. Reserve them for your third or fourth year.”