Columbia College received a record 14,070 applications this year, a 4.1 percent jump from last year. Regular decision applications totaled 12,569, a 3.1 percent rise, and early admissions applications reached 1,501, a 12.9 percent leap. Undergraduate applications have been mounting steadily for over a decade, more than doubling since 1991.

Chris Colombo, dean of student affairs for Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, attributes the strong applicant numbers to the strategic work of Eric Furda, executive director of undergraduate admissions and financial aid.

"The numbers have really skyrocketed since he came aboard," says Colombo. "Eric has developed several new and innovative ways to continue to feed the application pool each year."

Those innovations include using new technology to attract individuals and get information to them quickly, and offering special events to help familiarize high school students with Columbia's diverse academic programs and community.

Colombo notes that structural improvements around campus have also helped attract prospective undergraduates. The late 1990s marked the construction of Lerner Hall, the new campus student center, and the Broadway Residence Hall, as well as major renovations in the athletic center, Butler Library and dorms around campus.

The number of visitors to the Morningside campus has risen dramatically in the past six years. Overall traffic at the University's Visitors Center has gone from 24,217 people in 1995 to 47,101 in 2000. Of that number, those interested in the undergraduate schools totaled 23,139 in 2000, compared with 10,868 in 1995. Colombo believes the increase in visitors has helped boost applications as well.

Angela Hoyte, the Center's co-director, says those who venture to Morningside Heights don't often expect what they find there. "Most people are surprised by how beautiful the layout of the campus is," says Hoyte. "They assume the environment will be assume the environment will be completely urban. They don't expect to see grass and trees."

Applications to the School of Engineering and Applied Science held steady this year, totaling 2,234, compared to last year's 2,246. The schools early admissions applications were up nine, to 202. Overall, undergraduate engineering applications have jumped almost 600 since 1996.

Barnard College is also enjoying a flood of applications, receiving more than 4,000 this year, up from 2,973 in 1995, and early decision applications were up 38 percent over last year.

Dean of Admissions Jennifer Fondiller says Barnard has focused on reaching more prospective students through new admissions publications, both in print and on the Web, and expanding communication with alumni throughout the world.

"I believe our increase [in applications] speaks powerfully to the efforts we are making to effectively communicate Barnard's strengths and what makes us unique," says Fondiller.

Safety remains among the most important factors for those interested in attending college in New York City, and the crime rate in Morningside Heights continues to drop. Since 1993, robbery is down 70.7 percent for the 26th Precinct, which encompasses Columbia's campus, and assaults have dropped 43.4 percent.

A revitalization of restaurants and shops on Broadway also help contribute to the University's enhanced sense of community.