Rise in admissions at the University of Ottawa
As the 2009 academic year kicks off, Sonia Cadieux, manager of undergraduate admissions and acting associate registrar for operations, answers questions about admissions in direct-entry faculties, which students enter right out of high school. 
Has the number of admissions in direct-entry faculties increased?
Yes, if we look only at Ontario high schools, our main clients, the University has seen a 5.5% increase in applications for admission, compared to a 0.5% decrease for Ontario universities overall. That amounts to one of the biggest increases in the province for uOttawa. And the number of offers accepted has gone up by 10.7% at the University, compared to 2.1% for all Ontario universities.
What would account for these increases?
Several factors come into play. Not only did the Liaison Office visit more schools, but the Admissions Office was able to process applications more quickly. In fact, there seems to be a correlation between the acceptance of offers of admission and our initial response time: the quicker candidates receive a response, the more likely they are to accept the offer. And of course, the University’s reputation and the quality of its programs mean that lots of young people want to study here.
Are some disciplines more popular than others?
Science and health sciences are big draws, as well as programs involving international issues.
What challenges did your team face in this round of admissions?
The biggest challenge was certainly the faster turnaround in assessing files: Despite the increase in applications, we were able to assess them all more quickly. We also launched a communications campaign to better manage client relations. The campaign aimed to keep candidates informed about the progress of their application and thus reduce their anxiety.
Photo credit: Robert Lacombe
Photo caption: Sonia Cadieux, manager of undergraduate admissions and acting associate registrar for operations
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