His main concern was that every year Ursinus received more applications and offered admission to more applicants, but that the percentage who accepted the offer, known as the yield, went down steadily. For example, in 2005, the year before it brought on Royall, the yield was about 30 percent meaning that of the 1,290 high school seniors offered admission, about 420 enrolled.</p>
<p>But by last year, the yield figure had plunged to 13.5 percent.</p>
<p>That meant almost 87 percent we admitted werent going to come, Mr. DiFeliciantonio said.</p>
<p>So how did Ursinus manage to consciously slim down?</p>
<p>For one thing, it ended its relationship with Royall last spring. (The companys founder, Bill Royall, did not respond to a message left at his office on Monday.) For another, Ursinus restored the essay questions to its application. Applicants were also required this year to submit a graded term paper.</p>
<p>In the process, Ursinus has become that rare college that has made it harder to apply thus ensuring that students who submit applications are more likely to consider attending if accepted.</p>
<p>Weve taken a bit of a leap, said Mr. DiFeliciantonio, adding that he was unaware of another college that had taken a similar step, at least not in recent years. I hope our yield pops up, ideally to 16, 17 percent. If it does, well have a class of about 460.</p>
<p>And that, he added, would be just fine.