<p>The increase in applicants is obviously good news for Midd, and continues a trend that has been evident for several years. The 2008 number can be compared with historic numbers from the Midd [Common</a> Data Sets](<a href=“http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/instres/fall02_cds.htm]Common”>http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/instres/fall02_cds.htm):</p>
<p>2008: 7,800 (estimated)
2007: 7,180
2006: 6,205
2005: 5,254
2004: 5,122</p>
<p>It would be interesting to know if the 2008 numbers continue another trend: the increasing “feminization” of Midd’s applicant pool. This is an issue at many (perhaps most) schools nationwide, but Midd is particularly affected. The CDS data show the following trend in the relative numbers of female/male applicants:</p>
<p>2008: ?
2007: 38.9 % more female applicants
2006: 35.2 % more female applicants
2005: 31.5 % more female applicants
2004: 25.2 % more female applicants</p>
<p>Since Midd (like most other schools) wants to maintain a balanced enrollment in spite of an unbalanced applicant pool, the acceptance rate for male applicants has become significantly higher than that for female applicants. For 2007, the acceptance rate was 24.5 % for males and 17.8 % for females. If previous trends continued in 2008, then this discrepancy may have increased.</p>