Here they come, ready or not.

The Class of 2010 will be arriving on Syracuse University’s doorstep sometime in late August. This incoming class along with the Class of ’09 may be representing a great change for the entire university. SU is becoming a more posh university on the national scene, and the numbers show it. So as we all scoot over and make room for the incoming freshman class, we should get ready, because the SU of the 21st century is just getting started.

Every fall, the chancellor’s office sets an enrollment goal for the next year. Then the office of housing reports the housing availability while the deans of the various colleges estimate individual college enrollment goals, Director of Admissions Nancy Rothschild wrote in an e-mail. Once all that information is processed, the number of students to be admitted is determined based on history, percent yield and a number of other factors. This process works year after year, unless something is missed.

In the admissions process for the Class of 2009, the numbers were set and a plan was laid out. But then more and more students started sending in deposits and accepting their acceptances. When all was said and done, 3,260 students joined on as the Class of ’09, while housing and admissions alike had only anticipated approximately 2,850. We all witnessed the chaos which ensued. David Kohr, director of the Office of Housing and Meal Plans, recalled how freshman were placed in Skyhall 3 and the Sheraton Hotel, while study lounges were being transformed into quads.

It wasn’t pretty, but the housing department made it work.

To counter the increasing popularity of the university, the Office of Admissions made some changes to the process for the incoming freshman class.

‘Several adjustments were made to our approach this year,’ Rothschild said. ‘Admission was more selective, there were fewer alternate offer decisions and a larger wait list.

‘For the fall of 2006, about 46 percent of our first-year applicants were admitted to their first choice college, and 9 percent of the applicants were admitted to their second or third choice college.’

The expected class size is between 2,900 and 2,950, which would be a 30 percent yield of the overall number of applicants, approximately 10,000.

Getting accepted to SU has become increasingly difficult, which leads to greater respect in the academic community. It also affects the almighty rankings of the U.S. News and World Report; SU is currently ranked 50th among best national universities. With hope, SU’s ranking will continue to climb and bolster the university’s reputation and prestige.

While the increased prestige will be beneficial, concerns must arise from the larger student bodies.

‘While you can’t guarantee (it), we should be fine,’ Kohr said. ‘We will have sufficient housing space if the entering class is around 2,920.’

Only 4,200 students are returning to housing, Kohr said, which is less than expected because of more students living in a fraternity or sorority house than usual.

SU is growing but space is limited. In the recent past, typical class size was around 2,700. The Class of 2009 was larger, and it seems the new average will be near 3,000, according to Rothschild. A larger student body will mean more classes should be offered and more housing must be built.

Trivial aspects of campus life could also be affected. Getting a lower-level seat at the Dome or dealing with more crowded parties and bars could be a consequence of a larger student body. Yet tuition is still increasing, so obviously the greater population is not lightening the financial burden. And unless the administration recognizes the growth and establish a long term plan for adaptation, there may be some rough years ahead.

There are benefits and concerns with enlarging the student body, but the Class of 2010 is on the way. Though if the value of an SU education can increase with a growing student body, I say the heck with being a medium-sized school.