More than 4,000 students have already paid a $50 enrollment deposit to secure a spot in Ball State's 2002-03 freshman class. The Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management sent out postcards this week to an additional 4,000 high school seniors who have been admitted to Ball State but have not yet paid the deposit.

"We usually send out a deposit reminder card, but what's unusual about this one is the message that we are close to running out of space," said Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. "This is another sign of the steady enrollment increases we've seen over the past few years."

The postcard notifies prospective students that the university is accepting freshman enrollment confirmations on a "space available basis only" and is urging students to send in their deposits postmarked by May 17.

That is also the date university officials could decide to end freshman enrollment for fall. If the university is full at the time it receives a freshman's deposit, the student's enrollment will be deferred to spring 2003.

McConkey said the warning does not apply to transfer students.

Based on trends university officials have charted in recent years, McConkey projects Ball State will have a freshman class of around 3,900 students. If the postcard prompts several hundred responses, that number could climb above 3,900.

"That's the point at which our housing gets pretty tight," McConkey said. "We set 3,700 as a target for freshmen, but the number of students who applied and the number who have paid their deposits have both risen significantly.

"I think that speaks well to the quality of the education we offer at Ball State," he added.

The challenge now is finding enough rooms to house students, including returning students and transfers.

"We are giving priority for university housing to incoming students," McConkey said. "Returning students who plan to, but have not yet signed a housing contract for next year also had better move quickly or they may have to find off-campus housing."

Housing and Residence Life is considering allowing transfer students to live in Scheidler Apartments if the number of applicants exceeds the available space in residence halls. The apartments are typically reserved for mature single students and students who are married and/or live with their children.

"We have some challenges to meet, not only in housing, but also in making sure we have enough classes available for these students," McConkey said. "But with so many students interested in attending Ball State, we get excited about facing these challenges and ensuring our students have a positive experience once they arrive on campus."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on this story, contact McConkey at (765) 285-1444 or dmcconkey@bsu.edu)