Michael Ward never wanted to go to a college that accepted a lot of people.

People believe that we live in a post-racial society. It’s a nice thought, an ideal, but ultimately a fallacy.

Less than a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of race as a factor in college admissions, a new case could reverse that decision, affecting public universities nationwide.

Jackson Hall is becoming a more popular place on campus year after year.

The University’s switch to the Common Application has admissions staff reviewing 5,468 more applications than last year — a jump of 23 percent.

Universities paying international recruiting agents on a per- student commission have fueled a national ethical debate. And the UNC system will be joining the discussion.

Despite stagnant faculty salaries and likely tuition hikes, the University is no less attractive to top high school students, said Chancellor Holden Thorp at a Monday meeting of the chancellor’s advisory committee.

Hispanic college enrollment increased by almost a quarter from 2009 to 2010, mirroring the nation’s rapidly diversifying population.

In an effort to make UNC a more diverse campus, student government’s Global University Committee is working with the Study Abroad Office and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to create an international ambassadors program, the committee’s co-chairwoman Shannon Steel said.

With summer quickly approaching, new and prospective students are appearing around campus. Whether following along on a tour or visiting during CTOPS, they are trying to find a place at UNC. Campus tours, led by Admissions Ambassadors, typically begin in the early spring.

Administrators are trying to rework financial awards to attract top students to UNC in new ways. The committee on scholarships, awards and student aid met Wednesday to discuss two new programs committee members hope will attract promising students and reach out to those with financial needs.

In September, many high school seniors are expecting to receive their early acceptance letters from colleges. These admission letters will be sent by colleges four months earlier than their traditional early acceptance letters. But some college and high-school administrators are worried about the stress on prospective students when schools begin asking for applications so early.

For the second consecutive year, the University admitted too many out-of-state students. UNC faces a $158,225 fine as punishment.

Early applications to UNC jumped 7 percent from last year, marking a record number of first-deadline applicants for UNC. In January, UNC welcomed a lucky 5,104 to the class of 2015. A total of 23,473 applications were received for the 2011 school year.

In the coming months, high school seniors and transfer students accepted to UNC will have to pay an enrollment deposit of $250, marking an increase of $150 from previous years. The hike is designed to reduce the likelihood of students reneging on their decision to enroll at UNC.

This year’s applicants to the University could be the last to submit applications without the Common Application. More than 400 universities currently use the Common Application in an effort to simplify the college admissions process.

Moving away from home is always an adjustment for freshmen. But some students have to go one step further: moving into a study lounge or even an off-campus hotel. Schools across the country have recently had problems with student enrollment growing faster than the school’s ability to house them.

Applicants who have family ties to certain universities could have a significant leg up on admissions. Some UNC administrators say this rings true on campus, but mainly for out-of-state applicants.

For the tenth consecutive year, UNC has been named the best value in the land. The University received the No. 1 ranking on Kiplinger’s “Best Values in Public Colleges” list.

The UNC Campus Y’s newest initiative, the Global Gap Year Program, will allow students to expand their opportunities, both mentally and physically. Next year, the program will award five fellowships for prospective students to defer their UNC education for a year, said Campus Y Director Richard Harrill. The program, which was created last fall, will allow UNC students to go abroad the year before they enter college to work, travel, study and perform public service internationally.