Greater academic achievement. More diversity and engineering students. Perfect gender balance.
This is a brief snapshot of the Class of 2011.
“We have emerged from a tumultuous market with a strong new class, with exceptional academic and extracurricular credentials,” said Stephen Ciesinski ’70, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “It’s gratifying to know that Union continues to attract such high caliber students as our reputation grows nationally.”
At a time when the competition to gain admission at top schools around the nation remains fierce, Union had its largest applicant pool ever this year.
The College received 4,837 applications for the Class of 2011, 464 more than last year and up 20 percent over the 4,060 students who applied four years ago.
“We’re in very good shape,” said Dan Lundquist, dean of Admissions. “We expect to have just over 570 students this fall. Seventy-eight percent say Union is their first choice and 12 percent say Union was their second choice.”
For the first time in its 212-year history, the College also will have an equal number of men and women.
Noting that the academic quality of Union students continues to rise, Lundquist said 67 percent of the members of the Class of 2011 were in the top 10 percent of their high school class. SAT scores were higher – 1260, compared with 1240 last year. This was the first year Union’s SAT-optional policy was in effect, but most students opted to submit them anyway.
In addition, “admits were the most racially and geographically diverse,” Lundquist said. Students of color comprise 17 percent of the class, up from 14 percent last year.
Engineering students will make up 16 percent of the Class of 2011, up from 11 percent.
Meanwhile, there’s no rest for the staff at Grant Hall. The College’s recent Junior Jump Start, an outreach to members of the Class of 2012, attracted nearly 600 people. And Union’s 2007 Summer Open House, a full day of tours, talks, panels and other activities, is set for Friday, August 10.
“Coming to campus and seeing all that we have to offer is still the way most students end up choosing Union,” Lundquist said.