The number of new students applying to Lang has surpassed that of students applying to Parsons for the first time, according to data from the New School Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.
As of May 1, applications to Lang for Fall 2015 stood at 3,628, a startling 60% increase over the 2,190 who applied last year. To compare, Parsons applications decreased slightly from 3,658 in 2014 to 3,490 in 2015.
“Applications have been increasing for the last four years, although this year the increase was particularly large,” said Stephanie Browner, the Dean of Lang, in an email. “We have more alumni talking about us, and as a young school each graduating class means a dramatic increase in alumni talking about us.”
The number of applicants admitted to Lang also surged. Last year at this time, 1475 students had been offered admission; so far this year, the school has admitted 2424. At Parsons, the 2014 and 2015 numbers were 1670 and 1903, respectively.
Browner said she expected “only very modest growth if any” in the number of students who actually enroll this year.
“Typically when the applicant pool grows suddenly and dramatically, the pool is “soft.”” she said. “Many applicants may have heard of us for the first time and decided to apply but had a long standing interest in other schools on their list. So we admitted with this in mind.”
Incoming freshmen are supposed to make a deposit by May 1 in order to secure a place. One who did, Hannah Abu-Eideh, from Dallas, Texas, said she was excited to study Liberal Arts at Lang because of its small, discussion-centered classrooms.
“I visited and I knew it was the right place because of the their seminar-based classes,” Abu-Eideh said. “I also liked the teacher to student ratio.”
Another incoming freshman, Sonu Gurung, from Nepal, said she had first heard about Lang through a family friend.
“When he told me, I wasn’t as interested but when I visited it, I loved it,” said Gurung, who is planning to take Global Studies courses.
She said the appearance of the recently built University Center on Fifth Ave blew her away.
“The environment and building itself was amazing,” she said.