<p>Appears to be a strengthening trend at not only the top schools</p>
<p>[A</a> bumper year for applications to top colleges | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/31/2010](<a href=“http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20100131_A_bumper_year_for_applications_to_top_colleges.html]A”>A bumper year for applications to top colleges)</p>
<p>"Penn’s applications have risen 17 percent, to 26,800 for 2,400 spots - one of its largest jumps ever after two relatively flat years.</p>
<p>“We’re going to be more selective, if not the most selective Penn has ever been,” admissions dean Eric Furda said.</p>
<p>Admission to other private schools in the region also will be more competitive. Princeton University reports a 19 percent increase in applications, Drexel University 19 percent, Villanova University 10 percent, and Swarthmore College 8 percent.</p>
<p>While many students need look only across the classroom to see competition for coveted freshman slots, increasingly their rivals are hailing from farther away - the left coast in particular.</p>
<p>Penn got 3,350 applications from California, a 22 percent hike. Swarthmore was up 16 percent, Villanova 34 percent, and the University of Delaware 36 percent.</p>
<p>“An increase like we saw in California doesn’t just happen,” Furda said. “Families in California must be looking at the strain the state system is under and are starting to take a look at some other options outside the state.”"</p>