By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Applications for admission to Miami University are at an all-time high, both in the number of students applying and their academic qualifications.

The last day to submit applications was Jan. 31 and numbers are still being tabulated, but early results show the number stands at 13,700 applications for 3,450 openings for fall 2003.

That's up 15 percent from last year's total at this time, 11,934, Provost Ronald Crutcher said.

Applicants' academic records are strong, too. Miami President James Garland said. Those admitted have an average ACT score of 28 compared with the national average of 22 out of 36. Their average SAT score is 1255 out of 1600.

"To put this in perspective, most students admitted to Miami would qualify for automatic acceptance into many college and university honors programs," Garland said.