response from ajax call within a function

	function get_applications(){
		var application_list = "";
		
		$.ajax({
			url: '../ajax/some_file.php',
			contentType: false,
			processData: false,
			type: 'POST',
			success: function(data){
				application_list = data;
			//	console.log(data);
			},
			error: function() { 
			//	console.log('NOT updated'); 
			}			
		});
		return application_list;
	}