New student applications at the University of Rhode Island increased by 5 percent in the past year, surpassing 23,000 new student applications following the Feb. 1 regular decision deadline.
In 2019, the University received 22,437 applicants in total. 2020 shows an increase of 563 applications for the Office of Admissions.
By Dec. 1, the early action deadline for URI, 16,563 applications had been sent in. Dean of Admissions Cynthia Bonn credited the steady increase of hopeful students to multiple sources of outreach.
“It’s always hard to pinpoint, but we have our two new full-ride scholarships thanks to very generous donations by two of our alumni, Thomas M. Ryan and Alfred J. Verrecchia,” said Bonn.
The Verrecchia scholarship is exclusively for students applying to the College of Business, but the Ryan scholarship is open to students in every other major, according to Bonn. Both scholarships include all tuition fees, a stipend for books, housing, dining, an annual retreat with Thomas M. Ryan and automatic admission to the Honors Program.
The rise in applications at URI is thought to stem from these new offers aimed towards the highest achieving students nationally, according to Bonn.
“These students have very high SATs, very high GPAs and amazing accomplishments,” said Bonn. “Some of them have started nonprofit organizations [and have] done independent scientific research.”
The news of these alumni scholarships has been publicized in local media, even getting attention from major publications like The Boston Globe.
However, the Ryan and Verrechia scholarships are not the only cause of a larger applicant pool. Bonn cited the Robert J. Higgins Welcome Center as another source of attraction for prospective students, which was opened in late 2018.
“We’re in our second year of having that amazing facility, which helps us to showcase the University in a really professional and positive way,” said Bonn.
The continued efforts of admissions to increase notices and reminders on application deadlines was found through a new means of communications between URI and prospective students: texting. Bonn believes this new cellular initiative aided in generating even more applicants.
Alongside Bonn sits an admissions team of about 36 people. Housed in Newman Hall and the Higgins Welcome Center, admissions are made up of faculty on a transfer team, international team, recruitment and travel team, as well as additional staff who support GPA data collection, completing applications, answering phones and more.
“My role is just to keep all the plates spinning in the air to really bring this great team together and give them support in whatever ways they need,” said Bonn.
All of the greatest treasures Bonn considered to differentiate URI lay within the student body and its diversity. There has been a steady increase in the number of students who identify as students of color on the Common Application since Bonn’s arrival in 2006.
Among URI’s growing diversity of race and culture, there is a growing pool of diversity in the majors students are applying with. URI’s nine degree-granting college offers endless opportunities to take part in interdisciplinary studies, whether that be through more than one major or picking up a minor.
Matthew Durkey, a first-year student from Franklin, Massachusetts attributes his decision to come to URI on the opportunities presented to him through the Harrington School’s film program.
“I came to URI because out of all the film programs I visited, URI’s presented me with the most opportunities and greatest chances of succeeding after I graduated,” said Durkey.
The accessibility to the beach, safety of the campus and quality of education relative to price are attributes Bonn credits to a peaking interest in applying to URI.
“We are the public flagship research university for the state of Rhode Island,” said Bonn. “The research that goes on here is life changing and world changing. It’s a great education at a very affordable price in a beautiful location with a student body that’s compassionate, friendly and welcoming.”