GW expects about 100 more freshmen on campus next year than this year after accepting 49 percent of applicants, said Kathryn Napper, director of admissions. GW’s acceptance rate has remained the same since 1997.

The University will ease the burden of the larger freshman class size, which grows from 2,120 this year to about 2,200 next year, by housing 200 freshmen at the Mount Vernon Campus.

“The expected increase will be divided between the two campuses – 50 at Foggy Bottom and 50 at Mount Vernon,” Napper said. “(The Community Living and Learning Center) is poised to accommodate the students in the housing system.”

Lower floors in Crawford Hall will also be reserved for freshmen next year, said Andrew Sonn, director of Housing Services.

Preliminary reports for the freshman class show that the class of 2005 will be about the same quality as this year’s freshman class. The middle 50 percent of students have average SAT scores of 1160-1320, almost the same as last year, Napper said. Napper declined to give average GPA of applicants.

Napper said student acceptances are still arriving because the postmark deadline for students to accept their admissions was May 1.

The number of students GW accepted was based on recommendations from the board of trustees, Napper said.

The Board of Zoning Adjustment capped GW’s undergraduate enrollment at 7,380 in February – about 100 students more than projected enrollment for next year. GW’s enrollment, which is currently at about 7,200 students, has increased every year since 1995, according to the GW Fact Book. The enrollment cap will be in effect until GW houses 70 percent of students on campus, but Napper said the BZA’s decision played no role in acceptances.

“The planning for and the recruitment and admission of these students had begun before the BZA’s decision,” Napper said.

Some Foggy Bottom residents said they are concerned that the University is ignoring the BZA’s requirements.

“They are consciously setting about violating the order,” said Michael Thomas, president of the Foggy Bottom Association.

Napper said there were no surprises or changes in this year’s quality of applicants.

“I believe that the students we admitted this year are, more than ever before, seeking GW as their first choice institution,” Napper said. “As the recent Wall Street Journal article indicated, GW is competing for students against the best institutions in the country.”

The amount of financial aid offered to the incoming class will increase with the size of the class, said Daniel Small, director of student financial assistance. GW gives more than $50 million in financial aid, according to the admissions Web site.

The amount of financial aid the University gives is based on projections set by the vice presidents and the board of trustees, Small said.

“We evaluate what is needed to secure retention,” he said.

The office then bases the amount it awards freshmen on the amount left over after it finishes its awards to upperclassmen.

Small said 70 percent of financial aid is given to continuing students, while 30 percent is given to incoming students.