As the University prepares to welcome another freshman class next fall, it has maintained its “healthy international population” on campus by admitting students from many racial groups and all parts of the globe.

In 1999, 3,454 international undergraduate students attended the University. In 2008, this number has increased to 5,794 undergraduate international students.

“In talking with students, many have said that they pick the University because of its academic excellence,” said Julie Misa, director at the International Student and Scholar Services office. “Many have also heard by word of mouth of the healthy international population that exists on our campus.”

According to the International Student and Scholar Services records for 2008, the largest international group was from East Asia with 3,206 students.

“Students are also attracted to how the University welcomes them,” Misa said. “Our office offers a week-long orientation program that not only informs them of what’s on campus, but allows them to meet other international students.”

According to a report published by the Office of Admissions, out of a total of 29,721 undergraduate students at the University in spring 2009, 3,944 were Asian American, 1,989 were African American, 2,025 were Hispanic and 87 were Native American.

However, with the University’s increasing international and out-of-state admissions, many in-state students are worried that although the University continues to be a public state school, their chances of being admitted are growing smaller.

“When I applied last year, I was very afraid of losing my spot in this year’s freshman class,” said Ahmed Maki, freshman in LAS. “Even though Illinois taxpayers’ money goes toward state schools like U of I, our admission is not guaranteed against non-Illinois applicants.”

While the amount of undergraduate non-Illinois residents continues to increase, in-state applicants to the University still have odds in their favor, as the University continues to welcome a primarily Illinois-based student body. The University hosts 3,716 out-of-state U.S. students.

Some racial groups are still disappointed in the amount of minority students that eventually attend the University.

“We see an increase in the participation within our own cultural center,” said Nameka Bates, acting director of the African American Cultural Center. “But the amount of admitted African-American students who have attended the University has remained around 500 to 600 each year over the past five years.”

Some international students say that the University’s many appealing academic and cultural opportunities are what peaked their interest in applying overseas and are the likely cause of the international boom on campus.

“I came to U of I because I had heard that they had such a great engineering program,” said Jun Yoon, freshman in Engineering. “I think it was a great choice. I started adapting to a new culture and learned about it; it’s been a pretty fun experience.”