At 3:00 this afternoon, the Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid offices crowded onto College Walk to send the first batch of admission letters for the Class of 2019. Despite the cold weather, the officers somehow managed to remain cheerful—along with their sizable array of camerapeople toting DSLRs, point-and-shoots, phones, and iPads. (Bwog estimates there was a camera for every 5 officers.)

According to Undergraduate Admissions, a total of 3,373 students applied, a modest 2.3 percent increase over last year’s ED applicant pool of 3,298. While this year’s increase smaller than last year’s, for the most part, the growth rate has remained steady despite the high-profile campus drama that’s happened over the past year.

Several hours after they mailed the letters, Admissions posted decisions online at 5 pm EST today. Good luck to all who applied—and to the newly admitted Class of 2019, welcome to Columbia!

Here’s the statement from Jessica Marinaccio, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid:

With an array of amazing college options available, we are humbled by the incredible enthusiasm for Columbia demonstrated by the 3,373 students who chose to apply through our Early Decision program this fall. Today, with equal enthusiasm, we welcome the first members of the Class of 2019 into the Columbia family. The admissions staff and I have enjoyed getting to know these students through their applications over the last few weeks, and we know that the entire Columbia community will benefit from the creativity, intellect, questioning spirit, diversity of experience and passion they will bring to campus in the fall.