After a two-step application process, the VUceptors for the Class of 2013 were announced Friday night and Saturday morning.

Roughly 400 students applied to be VUceptors this year, a 10 percent increase from last year when approximately 360 students applied. Of the applicants, about half received interviews and 92 students were accepted - 27 from the Class of 2010, 27 from the Class of 2011 and 38 from the Class of 2012.

The rise in applicants from last year can be attributed to the rise in popularity of the VUcept program and the inaugural year of The Commons, explained junior Emilie Strom, president of VUcept.

"The Commons has been such a success, and students want to be a part of it even more," Strom said. "Every first year we talked to was so excited about The Commons."

Junior and Vice President of VUcept Bobby Falconer also attributes the popularity to the improvements that have been made to the program and students' desire to help first-year students transition into life at Vanderbilt.

"It's something about the first year-experience," said junior Matt Grimes, co-chair of the selection committee. "VUcept is a memory students will have for the rest of their four years at Vanderbilt. Being a VUceptor is a way to go back and connect with the part of themselves that almost wishes they were a first-year student again."

According to Falconer, a significantly large number of first-year students applied which is why 40 percent of VUceptors were accepted from the Class of 2012. Grimes said that in his opinion first-year students were especially attracted to the program because of their desire to maintain a connection with The Commons.

Despite the surge in applications and the changes that have been implemented over the years, the committee was still looking for the same qualifications they have in the past.

Falconer said the selection committee was looking for leaders on campus who would facilitate small group discussion and engage first-year students both intellectually and socially.

"We're looking for candidates who show and exhibit a passion for Vanderbilt and individuals who exhibit what it is to be a Vanderbilt student," Grimes said.

In addition, the committee sought candidates who showed an understanding of the program and a desire to dedicate themselves to VUcept and its mission. Strom also said the committee looked for open, approachable candidates who could help facilitate the transition between high school and college.

Both Strom and Falconer emphasized the diversity and variety of candidates.

"We like to have candidates with a broad range of experiences," Falconer said.

"One great thing about VUcept and our VUceptors is that we have such different types of people," Strom said.

This year the selection committee extended the reading period of the applications.

"The main change was an internal decision to spend more time on the overall selections process to give a more examined look at the applications," Grimes said. The larger turnover period created more flexibility for the committee and allowed them to take a closer look at applicants.

Both Falconer and Grimes said their biggest challenge during the selection process was to select only 92 students from the large pool of qualified applicants.

"But in the end, it's a numbers game," Grimes said.