The Virginia Tech Admissions Office received a record 18,300 freshman applications this past application season, representing a 12% increase over last year. Continuing a trend where more and more people are conducting vital business over the Internet, over 8,000 of the admissions applications were submitted using the school's web-based online undergraduate admissions form transparently served by CollegeNET, Inc. of Portland, Oregon.

Virginia Tech's ability to handle the higher volume was eased because of the larger proportion of web-based submissions. The Admissions Office had publicly stated prior to the 1999-2000 application cycle that they preferred students to apply online and directed applicants to their web site for specific online application instructions. Apparently it worked-the 8,000 web filings represent 250% growth over the previous year. Karen Torgersen, Virginia Tech's Director of Undergraduate Admissions, explained that "without the automated application printing, acknowledgment, and upload capabilities provided by CollegeNET, our Admissions Office would have had a hard time keeping up with the mountains of apps we received."

Ms. Torgersen attributes the dramatic rise in the overall number of freshman applicants to "a wonderful synergy with so many things coming together at the same time. Certainly our football success is a part, but also our emphasis on technology across the curriculum, the popularity of our computer-related majors, and our jump in national rankings."

Virginia Tech initially contracted with CollegeNET, Inc. in 1995 to transparently serve their online undergraduate admissions application, making the school one of the first in the nation to offer this option to prospective students. "There are many advantages to the online application," says Kelly Queijo, Public Relations Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Virginia Tech. "It's easier for applicants and it's easier for us. With the web app, applicants can begin a session entering their data, save it, and come back at a later time to finish it. Our CollegeNET application has error and completeness checking built in. Erroroneous and incomplete apps hold up the process for the applicant and the admissions office, so this is a tremendous benefit to both parties. Another plus is the ability to pay the application fee online using a debit card, credit card, or electronic check. The benefit to us is that only students serious about applying are going to go through the process of paying the fee. And, finally, there's the faster processing by the Admissions Office. We receive the app immediately, acknowledge receipt online, download and print the paper copy, and CLICK!, the applicant is in our system."

About CollegeNET, Inc:
CollegeNET, Inc. (www.corp.collegenet.com) is a leading provider of Internet forms commerce service to the education and non-profit sector. CollegeNET served forms create workflow savings for end-users and institutions by eliminating the costs, delays, and mistakes associated with paper-based forms processing. Forms transparently served by CollegeNET include admissions applications, financial aid applications, alumni registration, housing and financial aid forms. CollegeNET, Inc. serves over 500 client institutions including Virginia Tech, Georgia State University, University of Washington, and University of Nebraska. The Company is headquartered at One SW Columbia, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon, 97258.