Grinnell Admissions strives to maintain business as usual and continue to attract prospective students.

Acceptances for early decision I and II applicants have been made and the regular decision deadline passed Jan 1. The Admissions office said they faced a 50 percent increase in Early Decision applicants and little change in regular decision from the class of 2012 to 2013.

Dean of Admissions Seth Allen said that in an effort to maintain class sizes, the office accepted a smaller percentage of early decision applicants and plans to lower the acceptance rate to around 30 percent, compared to 33.5 percent last year, in an effort to avoid a situation similar to the class of 2012’s over-enrollment.

Despite the increase in the early decision applicants and the stability of regular applications, Allen said he fears that many accepted students will be unable to afford a Grinnell education because of the recent economic downturn.

According to Director of Financial Aid Arnold Woods, Grinnell will continue to practice a need-blind admissions policy for this admission year and the proposed budget for next year plans to increase financial aid by 15 percent.

“It is our sense that in these financial times there are families in serious circumstances who will need more aid from us,” Allen said.