Dean's Letter to Prospective Students and Your Parents
I am delighted that you have visited the Emory University website. You will find here a wealth of information on admission, financial aid and academic programs. Please review the site carefully. This information will be an excellent supplement to the variety of printed material on the University.
During my many years of admission work, I have been amazed at the volume of information on selecting a college that gets disseminated each year. Walk in any bookstore and discover entire sections devoted to the topic. Pick up any periodical or newspaper and the latest "insider" information is in the headlines. The college selection process continues to be a daunting challenge for most students and parents alike, shrouded in mystery and myth. We hope to provide information that will help you find what you're looking for in a college.
In the same vein, we want to let you know what we're looking for too. Emory seeks an outstanding first-year class in much the same way as other highly selective colleges and universities. The Admission Committee values objective information, such as curriculum, grades and test scores. Academic information is critical in assessing a student's potential for success in our demanding academic program. We also carefully evaluate subjective material, such as extracurricular activities, writing samples and letters of recommendation. All of this valuable information paints a picture of who you are to the Admission Committee.
Here are some important aspects of our review at Emory:
Time Commitments outside of Class What will this candidate add to the Emory community? Our undergraduate student body of approximately 5,300 students is small in comparison to many other national universities. Despite our size, Emory has a campus life program comparable to much larger institutions. We seek students who will contribute to the life of the campus. You should make contact with an Emory athletic coach, debate coach or music director if you have an interest in continuing your activity in college. You may use the Emory website to locate these individuals, or call the Office of Admission at 800.727.6036.
Need-Blind Admission It is important for you and your parents to know that Emory practices need-blind admission. Whether you apply for need-based aid or not has no bearing on admission decisions. Each fall approximately 60 percent of the incoming first year class receives some form of assistance to attend.
Early Decision I encourage you to carefully evaluate the terms and conditions of Early Decision before making a commitment. Approximately one third of our entering class enrolls via Early Decision. Choosing this option is serious business!
Demonstrated Interest in Emory I encourage you to take advantage of as many aspects of our admission program as possible. You may meet with an admission officer at your high school or at an Evening with Emory program, visit campus, view our Video Visit, or call, write or email us for additional information. A student who has shown a strong interest in the University becomes a higher priority in our review than the student interested only in collecting admission letters.
Information from Other Key Figures There are many individuals in your high school and community who know you well. They can assist the Admission Committee by adding to your application. Teachers, coaches, employers, members of the clergy - each will have a unique point of view on your potential for college. Carefully select individuals who will add a unique perspective to your file, one that others don¿t provide.
With so many outstanding colleges and universities to choose from, the obvious question may be "Why Emory?" This is a good question with a variety of answers. Our research indicates many recurring themes among prospective and enrolling students. These include our rigorous academic program, size, location, resources, facilities, diversity and campus life programs. The University has emerged in the past two decades as one of the premier private universities in the nation. As we look to the new century, there continues to be a thirst for excellence in all that we do. For the past twenty years, I have assured prospective students that Emory will be a better place the day they graduate than the day they enroll. This is the defining quality of Emory University. I encourage you to join this exceptional community.
Sincerely,
Dean of Admission