The Saint Louis University class of 2005 will not be the biggest. However, it just may turn out to be the brightest.

The number of freshmen enrolled for the fall semester is lower than anticipated, according to members of the Admissions office. In January, the target number for freshmen was 1,380, the same number allotted for students in the 2004 class. By May, the number had jumped to 1,410. Now, with less than six weeks of summer left, the number has plummeted to 1,360.

That’s due to two factors: the retention of current students has remained higher than anticipated, and the number of applicants accepting their place at SLU was lower than that of last year, according Ned Harris, associate provost for Enrollment and Academic Services.

The purpose of a target number of students helps to create the University’s budget, which was set in January.

Last year, more freshmen than anticipated enrolled, resulting in the largest freshman class ever. Students may remember the crunch to find adequate housing for the new freshman.

In 2000, 69 percent of the students applying to SLU were accepted. That freshman class ended up with 1,398 students and the highest aggregate ACT score yet, earning the title of the biggest and the brightest class ever to attend SLU.

Harris noted that the statistics from last year were the exception, not the rule. “Last year was an anomaly,” Harris said.

Admissions counselors have not had the problem of finding accommodations for a larger number of new students than expected. “This year, like previous years, we’re continuing to work all summer to meet 1,360,” Harris said.

While the target is set at 1,360 students, the count thus far is still below the 1,300 mark.

There are 1,262 actual deposits with more than 55 students enrolled in summer enrichment programs. Almost all of those students will enroll, according to Harris.

“It’s not a perfect science,” Harris continued. “We’re not at our goal of 1,360. When you’re not there, your target moves. I’m fairly confident that we’ll make it.”

To find more students to fill the open slots, the Admissions office is continuing to recruit and performing an “aggressive” follow-up to students who didn’t respond to acceptance letters.

While the class may not be the largest, it just may be the “smartest.”

“The quality of these students is extremely strong,” Belobrajdic said. “The preliminary average ACT score might be as high as 26.8 compared to 26.1 last year.”