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August 27, 2007
Class of 2011 sets record for being most diverse, international in Emory’s history

By beverly clark

Emory College welcomes to campus this week the most selective and diverse freshman class in its history. The Class of 2011 — 1,265 in all — was chosen from a record 15,374 applications, up 8.1 percent from last year’s pool.

Oxford College also saw a record number of applicants, up 20.7 percent from last year, resulting in its most selective class as well. Oxford’s class also is exceptionally diverse: 16 percent African American, 26 percent Asian American, 4 percent Hispanic and 1 percent Native American.

The students represent 31 states and four percent are international students. Oxford was the top choice for a third of the class; 33 percent were early action applicants. Oxford expects to enroll 390 students in its freshman class.

“The first year class successfully competed in the largest overall applicant pool in University history. I expect these students to leave their mark academically as well as in building and shaping our community over the next four years,” said Daniel Walls, associate vice provost for enrollment management.

The Emory College Class of 2011 hails from 43 states and beyond, including the largest international enrollment in school history, with 11 percent of the students representing 40 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 comprise 18 percent of the class.

About 7.6 percent of the first-year Emory and Oxford students qualified for the Emory Advantage Loan Replacement Grants.

“I am very pleased to see the early impact of the Emory Advantage Program. I anticipate and hope that this program will attract more outstanding admission candidates to the University in the years ahead,” Walls said.
The College class also has record minority enrollment. Students of color represent 41 percent of the class (up from 37.6 percent last year). All together, minority and international students make up 53 percent of the College freshman class, an 8 percent increase from last year.

Academically, the incoming College freshman class earned an average GPA of 3.73 in high school, with 90 percent graduating in the top tenth of their class. Their median SAT scores (combined math and critical reading) range from 1300 to 1470. The number of students for whom Emory is top choice also remained high: Nearly 38 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.

“I applaud the efforts of my colleagues in the Emory and Oxford Admission offices, as well as the University Financial Aid Office,” Walls said. “They have worked tirelessly this past year to recruit outstanding students from across the country and the world to the University. The overall success of the enrollment effort could not be accomplished without the passionate support of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.”

Emory Advantage aids new class
The first students to benefit from the Emory Advantage financial aid program are now on campus since the unprecedented initiative was announced last January. Emory Advantage provides meaningful debt relief for families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less who demonstrate a need for financial aid.

About 7.6 percent of first-year students, from both Emory College and Oxford, received Emory Advantage Loan Replacement Grants. The grants replace loans for dependent undergraduate students whose families' annual assessed incomes are $50,000 or less. Grants used to cover expenses (including tuition, room and board) replace need-based loans normally awarded in the financial aid package. In the College, 5.89 percent received the grant; at Oxford, 12.9 percent received it.

"We expect the number of admissions applicants who qualify for Emory Advantage to increase this year as more people become aware of the commitment Emory has made to increase our affordability for outstanding students from middle- and low-income backgrounds," said Dean Bentley, director of financial aid.

Including new and continuing dependent undergraduate students in the College, Oxford, nursing and business, 431 students are receiving Emory Advantage Loan Replacement Grants totaling more than $3 million in additional university funding for the 2007–08 academic year. The average loan replacement award was $7,234.

Additionally, Emory Advantage's Loan Cap Program will assist students from families with assessed income between $50,001 to $100,000 by capping their total need-based loan amount over four years at $15,000. After a student has accrued a total of $15,000 in need-based loans, Emory will provide grants to cover any remaining need-based funding incurred through degree completion. The Loan Cap Program benefits will be realized as the program is phased in over the next two years as qualified students hit their loan caps.

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