Cornell has received an all-time high of 33,011 applications for freshman admission, the Office of Admissions and Enrollment announced last week.

The record number of applicants represents a 9 percent increase over last year and a 17 percent increase over the past two years -- which also were record years. There was no increase in enrollment figures. The selection process for the Cornell Class of 2012 ended March 31.

The overall admit rate -- including early decision and regular decision -- is 20.4 percent, slightly down from last year's admit rate of 20.5 percent, according to the Undergraduate Admissions Mail Date Report. A total of 3,432 students were offered a place on the waitlist; in 2007, 3,223 students were waitlisted.

"About 6 to 7 percent of our applicants do not complete the process and another 3 to 4 percent withdraw before the notification date," said Jason Locke, director of undergraduate admissions. "This is typical for most institutions of higher education."

In addition, 19,305 students were denied admission this year, also a record. Last year 18,419 students were denied admission.

Admissions in general are down at elite colleges across the country, according to an April 1 article by The New York Times. Harvard and Yale universities both reported lower admissions percentages as did Brown, Dartmouth, Bowdoin College and Georgetown University.