The number of early applications to Yale College has fallen 5 percent compared to last year, the admissions office said today.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions received 5,265 applications this year, down from a record 5,556 in 2008. Jeff Brenzel, dean of undergraduate admissions, declined to speculate on the possible reasons for this year’s dip in application numbers.

“I think speculating about small fluctuations in year to year counts is pointless,” Brenzel said in an e-mail. He added that this year’s application figures are still 6 percent higher than the numbers recorded in 2007, the first year Harvard and Princeton did not offer their early admissions programs.

Last year, Yale admitted a record low 13.4 percent of early applicants. Brenzel said he expects a similar rate for the class of 2014.