Incoming students of Iowa State and the University of Iowa are logging on to fill out application forms rather than relying on paper forms.

Marc Harding, director of admissions, said there was a 663 percent increase from 1997 to 2000 in the number of students who applied to Iowa State via the Internet. In 1997, 244 students applied electronically, while in 2000, 1,862 students chose the method over pen and paper.

The University of Iowa has also received numerous online applications. Director of Admissions for the University of Iowa Michael Barron said 53 percent of its graduate student applicants applied electronically. Forty-eight percent of transfer students and 25 percent of freshmen have sent applications through the Web this year, he said.

The university will promote this trend as it continues to grow, Harding said.

“There are a lot of students who aren’t aware that it is available, and there are a subset of students who prefer paper,” he said.

Bob Jungwirth, senior in horticulture, opted not to apply online.

“I don’t really do much stuff online . some people prefer [applying online], I’m sure, but it sort of seems hasty to me,” Jungwirth said.

Harding said applying online is faster in many ways and it allows the college to process applications more quickly.

Barron said he would also like to see more online applications at the University of Iowa. “The more time we don’t have to spend manually on those applications, the more time we can spend with the students,” he said.

Harding said using the Internet for admission to college is also more accurate because a third party isn’t involved.

“When you apply online, you input your own data,” he said.

Harding said a computer system would automatically convert the information the students typed in, eliminating the need for a university worker to manually key in a student’s information from a paper application.

“There has been an increase of students, an increase of people interested [in Iowa State], but there has not been an increase in staff,” he said.

Prospective students may someday receive acceptance letters via e-mail to complement Web-based applications. While Iowa State has investigated this option, there are no plans for it to be implemented in the near future.

“When we’re able to develop a system that allows us to do that, we’ll move toward that and we’ll do it as quickly as we can,” Harding said. “But there are systems and database issues behind that.”

Iowa State would use personal identification numbers for students to access those e-mails, Harding said. He said the university would probably create personalized Web pages for students to view.

“Security is an issue with any Web transaction,” Harding said. “I think over time, it will get safer.”

Sara Geiken, senior in mechanical engineering, said although she thinks being able to apply to college online is a good idea she wishes she had been aware of, she disagrees with the idea of acceptance and denial letters being e-mailed.

“It’s important to get the actual letter; it’s almost like a rite of passage,” she said.

For now, both universities are focusing on making online application easier and quicker for students.

“I believe that students coming into the Iowa State University of Science and Technology are ready for it,” Harding said. “But the Web can’t replace the experience of seeing and feeling the campus.”