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In a year when few high school students could visit college campuses, UR recorded its largest applicant pool in its history.

Nearly 14,000 students applied for admission. The record applicants aren’t completely surprising. “Because many schools including UR went test-optional, students considered schools they might not have in the past,” said Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for enrollment management. What many applicants might not realize, though, she said, is that UR has a holistic admission process and that test scores had always been only part of an applicant’s consideration.

Also contributing to the record pool is the in-person instruction UR offered throughout the 2020–21 academic year. “We delivered an in-person student experience,” Dupaul said. “We stood out for our ability to provide what students value — personal relationships with faculty, staff, and other students.”

As of Aug. 1, the university expected an incoming first-year class of more than 800 students — the final figure was not available at press time — who come from more than 640 high schools in 43 states and 36 countries. They have the highest average high school GPA of any entering class and are among the most diverse, with more than 29% domestic students of color and 8% international students. First-generation college students make up 14% of the class, and 17% received federal Pell grants.

“These are strong enrollment outcomes in this unusual year,” Dupaul wrote in a message to the campus community.