Admissions adds to online offerings

by Lindsey McKay
Staff Writer

Applying for college can be a complicated process, but increasing numbers of Ohio University students are avoiding the delay of regular mail and applying online.

OU began accepting applications online three years ago. During Fall Quarter 1999, 5 percent of freshman and transfer applications were submitted electronically. In 2000, the number rose to 13 percent. And this quarter, almost 22 percent of OU's applications were submitted online.

OU freshman Stacy Logan applied online last year and said she would recommend it to others.

But others encountered problems applying electronically. OU sophomore Alisha Brown said applying online was not worth it.

"I thought it would be faster, but I was wrong," she said. "I didn't get a confirmation and I didn't find out I was accepted until two days before orientation."

Kip Howard, OU director of undergraduate admissions, said applications might have been delayed in the past because admissions did not receive them immediately from College Net, the third-party vendor that processes OU's online applications. Usually within 48 hours of receiving an application, the admissions office mails a confirmation letter to the applicant.

Howard said he hopes to see online applications reach 30 percent of the total next fall.

And OU is working to increase the number of online services available to prospective students through the university's Web site, http://www.ohiou.edu, Howard said.

A service that allows prospective students to schedule campus visits online became accessible in early July. Half of the students who scheduled tours in September used the service.

Admissions officials also are creating an electronic newsletter for prospective students that will be available in fall 2002.

Also, prospective students who apply by mail or computer soon will be able to check their application status online. The site will be updated daily and is expected to be available in about a week.

Although Howard looks for continued growth of online applications, OU still will receive applications by mail.

"We won't be able to go 100 percent electronic," he said.