Although 2006 admissions standards will be more stringent for resident undergraduates applying to the UA, administrators said the change will not immediately impact the university's student makeup.
President Peter Likins said as part of his Focused Excellence plan, the UA is concentrating on becoming "better, not bigger," by exercising more selection in admitting incoming students.
"Because we're the best university in Arizona, we get really bright students, and while we are egalitarian, we get many marginal students as well," Likins said. "Our range is enormous."
A 2003 Arizona Board of Regents decision no longer requires the UA to accept all applicants in the top half of their graduating class, but rather the top 25th percentile, said Paul Kohn, interim director of admissions and new student enrollment for the Office of Admissions.
The 2006 application for enrollment will require every student to write two essays, which will be used to further examine those who are not automatically accepted.
From the heightened selectiveness, Likins said he expects an improved graduation rate and more students advancing to graduate school. However, he said the change will not be dramatic or discernable in the 2006 academic year.
Likins said he hopes in 10 years a larger majority of freshmen will become sophomores, and with the retention rate now at about 78 percent, this may be an attainable goal.
"When 20 percent or more (freshmen) are not making it to the sophomore class, they are not well served," said Likins. "The state is spending money without benefiting and the institution is diminished."
Likins said the stricter admissions standards should redirect "marginal" students to community colleges, noting those students can transfer to the UA after establishing a sufficient grade status.
"Spend two years at a community college and you can transfer with a 'C' average," Likins said. "Its better for everyone - those students who are going to fall out after 12 months can get their act together and come ready to succeed."
Kohn said the new application will ask students to write two essays about their high school careers and their suitability for enrollment at the UA.
Applicants not guaranteed admission will undergo a "comprehensive review" of their essays, high school grade point averages and test scores.
Kohn said the comprehensive review system will give students an opportunity to express the obstacles they faced in their education and why their contribution to the UA would be unique or special.
Students who may have had one bad year in high school and consequently were ranked lower in their graduating classes will be examined more carefully, giving them a better chance of admission, Kohn said.
Kohn said the new admissions standards could possibly allow the UA to recruit more minority students.
"There's a large pool of minority students who have not graduated in the top percentage of their class, and are still a bunch of desirable students," said Kohn.
Kohn said the change in standards is generating unnecessary fears among parents and high school students.
"The main myth is that people think only the top 25 percent are going to get in, and that's not true," said Kohn. "There aren't enough students in that bracket to fill out our freshman population."
Kohn said the admissions standards change is not intended to reduce the university's population.
"We would miss out on a lot of talented young people," he said.
"We have 37,000 students, and space planners tell us we have room for 40,000," Likins said.
At November's regents meeting, Likins said by 2010, the university's enrollment will reach 40,000.
Kohn said the new admissions standards apply only to the UA, not Arizona State University or Northern Arizona University. The other two state universities will continue assuring admission to the top 50th percentile.
As for non-resident applicants, Kohn said the admissions standards will remain the same.