2009, A Record Year for Select College Applications?

This is an admittedly unscientific sample, but it seems like the selective colleges have received a record number of applications this year -- and in some cases have blown away the prior records (which were probably set last year). To wit:

- Stanford reports an increase of 20% over last year, an all time high, and anticipates a 7.5% acceptance rate

- MIT's applications grew by 2,000 to 15,600, a new record.

- UVA reports "...that applications went up dramatically this year (we're up over 22,000 applications), probably due to our move to the Common App"

- Vanderbilt has "...received a total of 19,244 applications for the Vanderbilt entering class of 2009, the most ever received at Vanderbilt"

In UVA's case adopting the Common App had an impact. There's also the 'baby boom echo' effect. This is the peak year for high school graduates from baby boomer parents. So, lots of ambitious seniors applying for a fixed number of slots in the selective schools. But I'm scratching my head how these two factors, in the midst of the worst recession since the '30's, lead to a 20% increase in applications at Stanford (which has been using the Common Application for awhile).

If you have any theories on why this is, please leave them in the comments.

Have you heard any other 'record applications' stories. Please leave those in the comments as well.