The facts: The University’s admissions standards have been rising, which is evidenced by our admissions numbers decreasing.

Our opinion: Raising admissions standards increases our academic worth. The improvement will be gradual; however, the focus needs to shift from more students to better students.

As the University raises the bar for admissions standards, the number of incoming Wolfpack undergraduates will take a hit. The University’s 2020 enrollment plan is designed to accommodate a smaller freshman class, prompting a re-evaluation of the current standards so the plan may come to fruition. The benefits of having a more selective admissions process will allow our University to grow academically and better contribute to the UNC System. However, it will take time for this agenda to be realized.

With a total student body population of 34,376 and an entering freshman class of 4,558 students in fall 2010, N.C. State is the largest university in the UNC System, according to Undergraduate Admissions statistics. Exemplifying the high standards the University maintains in its admissions process, 19,514 prospective freshmen applied to N.C. State in 2010, 54 percent of whom were admitted. Already, this figure places the University in the category of a “more selective” university in terms of admissions. This number is projected to decrease in upcoming years; so, as time goes on, we will be accepting fewer and fewer applicants, reducing the sizes of future freshman classes.

This will directly impact N.C. State’s academic standards, as we will be able to decrease class sizes and develop more competitive programs. The current process is a little biased, since the school’s mission as a land-grant university draws in more students for the agricultural and mechanical arts (engineering) programs. While this is key to maintaining a high-performing program, other degree programs can increase in size by merely accepting less-qualified students. The standards of admissions must reflect the academic excellence of the program.

Further down the road, employers will gain an even greater respect for more N.C. State programs because of their selectivity. Although some of our degree programs are currently not as developed as they could be, greater selectivity in those areas could allow students to be geared toward another UNC program.

If students who are not accepted into an N.C. State program opt for another institution in the UNC System, we will be aiding those schools’ growth. Not only can we benefit from selecting less, other universities in the system can develop and build up their current programs.

At N.C. State, we must select the best and the brightest for our student body, and by increasing student admission standards, we will be on our way. Though we may not notice an immediate impact, the long-term benefits will improve our academic excellence.