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The economic downturn fuelled a panic in the higher education institutions in America which seem unfounded today as they struggle to manage the number of enrolments. For example, the public university in New Paltz faces a tumultuous autumn this year. This University situated in a tucked away rural corner of New York near Wood stock sees crowds of students they are unable to accommodate in their dormitories. Three or even four of them are packed together in rooms designed to accommodate just two.

Pathetically, temporary trailers are used by faculty members with the entire university resounding with the noise of construction and dust all around. There were rumours that said that at least fifteen percent of the demand would be reduced due to rising tuition fees, money worries and high rate of unemployment. This prompted universities to admit more number of people. Institutions even coaxed students with enhanced financial aid and other benefits.

Schools across the nation have over compensated for the students who went and never came back struggling to cope with the swelling numbers. They are reeling under the onslaught of students requiring more housing and extended teaching hours which does not even stop for weekends.

Another college that took in twenty percent more freshers is the Ithaca College in New York. In order to accommodate the numbers, this college had to construct a new dormitory on a war footing and is actually paying students to live off campus or even requesting them to come back next year.

John Hopkins University had to reopen an old dormitory house, take on lease a bed and breakfast hotel and even hire part time faculty on a temporary basis to teach the extra students enrolled. In order to ensure sufficient cushioning, universities like Emory University in Atlanta admitted enormous number of students and even offered them financial aid.

Universities went to the extent of constantly keeping in touch and corresponding with the enrolled students to ensure they were not backing out, said Ms. Jordan, the dean of Emory University. Every university was fighting to achieve the target.

Interestingly, certain universities such as University of New Haven in Connecticut maintained communication with students even through Twitter, Facebook, online chat rooms and YouTube resulting in the largest incoming class enrolments.

Certain universities used other strategies to attract students. DePaul University in Chicago, for example increased financial aid and made it much easier for undergraduates to transfer from other colleges.

The outcome of this situation seems to be mixed. Those who applied for the courses and did not show up must have taken a year off, opted for the less expensive community colleges or permanently dropped out. Universities are in a dilemma as they cannot keep up the kind of financial aid they are offering right now. However, there is no way to tell what the future is going to be, especially the situation next year. There is nothing anyone can do about it but take it year by year and see what happens.