WOMEN DOMINATING COLLEGE CAMPUSES

By Veronica Toney

There are many choices for life after high school. Some people get jobs. Others join the military. But for the majority of women, college seems to be the No. 1 option. Over the last five years, the number of women seeking higher education around the nation has been on the rise.

"The percentage of females has been increasing over the last four to five years," says Dr. Ned Harris, William Jewell College’s dean of admissions, "to the point where the entering class this year was 62 percent female." This percentage is slightly above the national average, which is approximately 55 percent women.

Some blame the increase in estrogen on the feminist movement and others on Title IX, which increased the number of collegiate women sports. Still others blame the War in Iraq and a lack of maturity in men. "In the last 30 to 40 years, women’s roles have changed and more opportunities are open," explains Jennifer DeHaemers, the director of admissions at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Whatever the reason, women seem to be dominating college campuses around the country.

One reason for the increase in women students is that they have what colleges want. When it comes time to apply to college, high school women already have an advantage. They have good grades and high test scores, are ranked in the top percentiles and involved in extracurricular activities, such as National Honor Society and volunteer programs. These qualities are what colleges look for in applicants. Since colleges and universities are not lowering their admissions standards, they are admitting more women. "In an ideal world, you would love to have a balance," Ned says. "But we can’t change who’s going to college. It hasn’t affected our admissions practices."

This difference in high school performance could be linked to hormones. As some statistics show, women mature faster than men. "Young women out of high school as a group are a little bit more advanced than their male counterparts," he says. "They are more ready to take that next step into college." Therefore, instead of moving on to higher education, men are exploring other options.

"Men think there are other options, such as joining the military or starting a career without college," Jennifer says. "Women see that to have the career they want, they need to go to college." Joining the military or entering the job market right away are not options that attract many women. But for men in search of more direct, less expensive alternatives after high school, these routes are very attractive.

In order to compete with these other options, colleges are creating ways to lure men to their campuses. Some schools are hoping their athletics will bring in the men. In 2003, the men’s basketball team at Seattle University moved into a higher NCAA division. Mike McKeon, the director of admissions, explained, "There’s a certain amount of identification with the athletic program, so more prominent athletic programs—clearly male athletic programs—are going to help us attract more males." In the last three years, this plan hasn’t seen many results. In fact, the percentage of women undergraduates has stayed at 61 percent. Other schools are trying less stereotypical methods to attract men.

At William Jewell College, officials are changing their recruitment tactics. "We’re trying to make a better balance in the inquiry poll," Ned explains, "which makes a better applicant poll." The inquiry poll is a list of names the school purchases from sources like the ACT. "When we purchase names from those sources, we try to make sure we have a larger number of males," Ned says. A larger number of men receiving information on the school leads to a larger number applying for admission. "We’re giving them a fighting chance when we get to the applicant stage," he says.

At the University of Missouri-Kansas City, 58 percent of undergraduate students are women. However, instead of the university recruiting more men, specific schools are attempting to balance the genders. "We have a general recruitment plan, and we’re doing nothing specific to recruit either sex," Jennifer says. "But, there is an effort in some areas. "Traditional curriculums for men, such as engineering, computer science and mathematics, are heavily recruiting women, while women-heavy programs like nursing are recruiting males. "These specific fields have made efforts to change the gender balance," she says.

These schools want to balance the genders for the same reasons they seek out other forms of diversity. "It’s important to have diverse viewpoints," Ned says. "Having equal numbers of men and women is just as important as ethnic and geographical diversity."

Until the sexes balance themselves out, admissions recruiters are reminding both men and women that the best way to prepare for life after high school is to keep their options open. "The best way to ensure opportunities is to take a core curriculum of classes that provides an opportunity to go to college, join the military or get a job," Jennifer says. "Nowadays, employers want employees with critical thinking skills that come from higher level math, English and literature classes. A college-prep curriculum is important for any goal."

Ned doesn’t expect this imbalance to last much longer, but in the meantime, he encourages men to follow the lead of women when it comes to life after high school. "Opportunities are much greater if they seek out a four-year college rather than pursuing the easier route and going straight into the job market," he warns. Whether or not the women majority is a fading trend, both men and women should expect to see more women walking to class, eating at the dining hall and studying in the library this fall.