At the 2011 Tiger Walk, the class of 2015 was congratulated on being the largest class MU has ever had. With the climbing application numbers for this year, the distinction might be passed on sooner than expected.

Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Ann Korschgen said as of January 9, the application numbers for this upcoming semester are higher than the numbers from last year at the same time in three main categories: undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

These are not necessarily the enrollment numbers for the fall semester, but the chances are high that the enrollment numbers will be higher than last fall.

“In addition, we have more applications from African American and Hispanic students, as well as international students,” Korschgen said. “Given this, we are predicting a slightly larger freshmen class for this fall.”

At the start of the spring semester, there were 1,031 more applicants than the beginning of last spring semester. Undergraduate and graduate applications have increased almost 4 percent and professional applicant numbers have gone up 2.4 percent.

The 3.7 percent more undergraduate applications comes out to 843 additional students. Mark Twain residence hall closed for renovations during winter break, and renovations on Johnston residence hall start next semester. MU will continue to allow new college students to live on campus, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said in an email.

“It is true we have a finite number of spaces in our residence halls, but we are committed to providing university housing for first-time college students,” Scroggs said.

With this shortage of fully-functioning residence halls, room will inevitably be tight on campus.

“We have responded to the increase in FTCs (first-time college students) each year by limiting the number of returning students we allow to return to the residence halls for a second year and by housing students at extended campus/Tiger Diggs,” Scroggs said.

Students of last year’s incoming class are divided on the potential of even more students coming to campus. Some said they are worried about practical ramifications of possibly overbooking the university, and others said an even bigger incoming class would be a benefit.

Freshman PJ St. Ann said she thinks the increase of undergraduate students could pose a problem on campus.

“(Large incoming numbers) affected us this year, with freshmen being housed off-campus, and that number would only increase with more incoming freshmen,” St. Ann said.

Freshman Morgan Uber said greater numbers would enhance the university.

“I think it will have a positive effect on the university as a whole,” Uber said. “More students will create more diversity. Part of the college experience is not only learning from our professors, but also learning from the other students. It will also create more competition, which will most likely make students work harder.”