The number of applications to the University fell by about 13 percent this year, a drop that officials said they had anticipated.

The University received about 18,950 applications, down from 21,789 last year. The decline is GW’s first in nearly a decade, but is less than the 4,000-application decrease officials predicted in October after the University decided to use only the Common Application in its admissions process.

The number of Early Decision applications also fell from a total of 2,157 last year to 1,106, the University announced Monday.

About 200 colleges and universities decided last fall to exclusively use the Common Application, which requires students to pay a $75 fee before schools can view their applications. The Common Application, which boasts more than 500 member colleges, came under fire this application cycle after technical glitches forced schools, including GW, to push back deadlines.

Laurie Koehler, GW’s senior associate provost for enrollment management, said in October that the change could also mean less selectivity for the incoming class. The University has admitted about 33 percent of applicants for the last three years.