John Spaccarelli, director of special projects, and Donna Rapaccioli, Dean of the Gabelli School of Business, during a tour of Hughes Hall, in August. Photo by Chris Taggart

Early action applications to the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) for the 2012-2013 academic year increased by 30 percent over the previous year’s total.

The jump from 2,004 to 2,616 was caused largely by Gabelli’s rising profile and innovative programming, as well as the tendency of some students to seek a business education during uncertain economic times, said John W. Buckley, associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment.

“The recent, substantive donations to Gabelli went a long way toward people realizing that GSB is going to have resources,” Buckley said. “Also, visitors have seen the tangible changes happening at Hughes Hall. It’s clear that there will be an outstanding business facility in the heart of the campus.”

Donna Rapaccioli, Ph.D., dean of Gabelli, said the jump in early applications is an indication that the school is quickly becoming a business school of choice—thanks to the strength of its programs, faculty and alumni network.

“People are discovering the innovations we have added to our curriculum over the last several years,” Rapaccioli said. “Those advances in business education—combined with our location in New York and the opportunities we offer for internships and hands-on learning—are making us an ever-more attractive destination.”

On the whole, the University experienced 12 percent growth in early action requests, from 10,111 applications in 2011-2012 to 11,309 this year.

Overall, applications have increased by 8 percent at the undergraduate colleges—from 30,438 last year to 32,752 for this year as of Jan. 17. This represents the 21st consecutive cycle of application growth at Fordham.

“The volume and strength of the Fordham’s undergraduate pool are signs of the University’s growing reputation in both domestic and international markets,” Buckley said.

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