Emory welcomes most selective freshman class in its history

August 28, 2006
Emory welcomes most selective freshman class in its history

BY Beverly clark

The most selective and diverse first year class in Emory College’s history unpacks its bags and aspirations this week as the University welcomes back students for fall semester. The Class of 2010 – 1,340 strong – was chosen from a record 14,232 applications, up 18 percent from last year’s pool, and is the largest ever.

The Class of 2010 hails from 46 states and beyond, including the largest international enrollment in school history, with 8.2 percent of the students representing 20 different countries. About two-fifths of the class hails from a Southern state, with another fifth from the Mid-Atlantic region and the rest spread among the West, Midwest and New England. Georgia enrollees remained up, matching last year’s record at 21 percent of the class.

The class also includes record minority enrollment. Students of color represent 37.6 percent of the class – including Asian Americans (24.25 percent), African Americans (8.51 percent) and Hispanics (4.02 percent). All together, minority and international students make up 45 percent of the freshman class.

Academically, the incoming freshman class earned an average GPA of 3.7 in high school, with 90 percent graduating in the top tenth of their class. Their median SAT scores range from 1300 to 1470. They come from public high schools and private ones, and they’re a notably well-rounded group – some are debaters and artists, others athletes, volunteers, science enthusiasts and musicians.

“These first-year students bring with them a significant depth of involvement both in their schools and communities. As a group working together with Emory’s great resources, they are sure to accomplish much in the years ahead,” said Jean Jordan, interim dean of admission. “The geographic and cultural diversity present in this year’s class also offers an exceptional learning experience for the students and the entire university community.”

The number of students for whom Emory is top choice also remained high: nearly 35 percent were early decision applicants. Emory offers two rounds of early decision; students accepted in this way commit to withdraw their applications from other schools.

First-year students moved in to their residence halls this past Saturday, and classes for all undergraduates begin this Thursday, Aug. 31. In the meantime, Emory’s newest students are participating in a packed week of orientation activities designed to introduce them to campus life, including the opening convocation ceremony and class tree planting at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Freshman Profile
Official numbers will not be available until the registrar’s date of record Sept. 20, but the preliminary profile of the incoming class is:
• 1,340 (The goal was 1,255)
• 55% female
• 45% male
• 24.25% Asian American
• 8.51% African American
• 8.2 % International
• 4.02 % Hispanic

• Total minority and international freshman enrollment: 45%
• The median range of SAT scores is 1300-1470.
• Among students awarded merit scholarships through national competi- tion the average SAT score is 1500 and average ACT score is 33; the aver- age GPA is 3.96 (unweighted). There are 53 merit scholarship students, or 4 percent of the incoming class.
• There are 46 states represented in the incoming class.

The geographic breakdown of students is:
• 40.86% from the South
• 19.91% from the Middle Atlantic
• 11.85% from the Midwest
• 7.32% from New England
• 6.05% from the West
• 5.36% from the Southwest

The top states represented include:
• 21.3% Georgia
• 9.3% New York
• 8.1% Florida
• 5% Texas
• 4% Maryland
• 4% California
• 4% Massachusetts
• 4% New Jersey
• 3.6% Illinois
• 3% Ohio

There are 107 international first-year students enrolled representing 20 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

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