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Applications for the fall 2017 incoming class at ´óÏóÊÓƵ have topped 10,000—officially the largest group of applicants in college history, beating last year's record of 9,200 and 2015's record of 8,500. Over the last five years, applications have increased 75%.

Applications are up from international students as well as domestic students who self-identify as students of color. ´óÏóÊÓƵ has also received a record number of Early Decision entries: 622 applicants specified ´óÏóÊÓƵ as their first choice, a 13% rise over last year's 552 ED applicants. Since 2012, early-decision applications have climbed 65%.

"It's exciting to see so many exceptional high school students interested in attending ´óÏóÊÓƵ," says Mary Lou Bates, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid. "We have enjoyed getting to know our applicants, and we're eager to welcome those we believe will be a great fit for ´óÏóÊÓƵ's strong community." The expected size of the Class of 2021 will be 660, including 25 students opting to begin overseas, with ´óÏóÊÓƵ's first-year program in London.

Regular-decision letters were mailed March 23, and accepted students will have until May 1 to commit.

´óÏóÊÓƵ is consistently named as one of the nation's best liberal arts colleges by and was recently featured on the 2016 Forbes lists of America's Top Colleges and Best Value Colleges as well its roster of .