Brown University received nearly 25,000 applications to the class of 2013, the university announced late last week. Brown received about 22,500 regular applications, compared to Yale’s roughly 20,500 regular applications. Despite a 4.5 percentage point dip in early decision applications, the total number of applications increased 21 percentage points over last year’s total, a proportional increase that outstrips all Ivy League universities that have announced application totals. Brown’s dean of admissions told the Brown Daily Herald that the rise may have been due to the university’s improved financial aid policy.