The number of underrepresented minority high school seniors applying to UCLA for a coveted spot in the next freshman class jumped 13.7% from the previous year, the largest increase since the end of affirmative action, as UCLA continues to be the nation's most sought-after university for the fourth consecutive year.

Freshman applications from historically underrepresented students - American Indian, African American and Chi-cano/Latino - rose from 6,509 last year to 7,402. Among transfer students, minority applications increased from 1,675 in fall 2000 to 1,926. As of Jan. 29, the campus had received a record-high 40,500 applications for next fall's freshman class, up 7.6% from last year's record of 37,623.

Transfer applications to UCLA, which continues to receive the largest number of such applications (11,150) of any UC campus, also rose to an all-time high, up 10.5%.

"I'm astounded by the degree of continued interest in UCLA, and I'm delighted that we are seeing an increased interest from all ethnic and racial groups," said Rae Lee Siporin, director of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools. "These figures reflect the overall strength of our academic reputation, the excellent educational programs available to our students and the quality of UCLA's teaching and research."

Preliminary admissions data show an increase in freshman and transfer applications from all groups on campus, including underrepresented sectors.

Siporin attributed the increase in minority applications to UCLA's ongoing outreach efforts to attract and recruit underrepresented students. Applications from American Indians, African Americans and Chicanos/Latinos comprise 18.3% of the freshman applicant pool, up from 17.3% for fall 2000.

Among American-Indian freshman applicants (210), there was a 7.6% increase from the previous year; among African Americans (1,668), a 4.3% increase; and among Chicanos/Latinos (5,524), a 17.1% rise.

Asian Americans (14,630) account for 36.1% of the freshman applicant pool. The number of white/Caucasian students (12,948) applying as freshmen also increased 5.6%. A total of 3,079 freshman applicants chose not to state their race or ethnicity, up 11.9%.

UCLA also gained popularity among international students, with 1,699 freshman applications, up 6.9% from fall 2000.

Of the more than 40,500 applications received for the freshman class, UCLA admits about 11,000 and expects to enroll 4,200 for fall 2001. Among 11,150 applicants to transfer, UCLA expects to admit about 3,900 and enroll 2,350. Successful applicants for the freshman class will be notified April 1 of their acceptance; transfer students will be contacted beginning May 1.

"The unfortunate aspect to all of this is that we will have to turn down more qualified, well-prepared and outstanding students than most colleges and universities get as applicants," Siporin said.

Other trends that emerged from applications to the UC system include:

• Systemwide, UC applications hit a record-high 91,904 for freshman and transfer admission. The number of applications from underrepresented minority students are at a record-high 11,739. All ethnic groups showed gains in freshman applications.
• The growth in UC applications is outpacing the growth in public high school graduates statewide. While applications to UC from state public high school seniors went up 7.4%, the projected growth in state public high school graduates is 2.5%.
• About 80% of the students eligible to apply for UC under the program granting eligibility to the top 4% in each of the state's high schools did apply.
• Electronic applications to UC are up 50% over last year's total; 28,330 applications were filed through the UC's online Pathways system.