2008 Woodie Awards
Class of 2011 breaks admissions records
Kim O'Brien
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The College has once again surpassed records for freshmen admission applications. This year's total applicant number of 4,701 is up by 8.1% compared to last year's total of 4,347 applicants.
Christopher Hooker-Haring, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, noted the increase in applications that the College has seen in recent years. "Last year's admittance total of 615, was well above target from past years," stated Hooker-Haring. "There was an unexpected jump in regular admissions. When it came down to final college decisions, a lot more students said 'yes' to Muhlenberg." The College is striving to cap the Class of 2011 admittance at 550 to ensure that enrollment continues to focus on quality, not quantity.
Hooker-Haring explained that new campus facilities and a strong sense of community have helped to attract more prospective students. Structures such as the New Science Building, as well as recent renovations to Seegers Union and the Life Sports Center have added to the campus environment. "The new facilities have really impressed parents and students. They are impressed with the general cleanliness and a sense that campus is treated with respect," he stated.
Most striking to Haring, and to many students visiting campus, is the strong sense of community on campus. "Students are very connected to each other. Students and faculty are connected," said Hooker-Haring. "Upon visiting, they feel a difference. This is a place that really feels like a community."
Matt Fishman '10, described what was most appealing when he first visited the College. He said, "I was initially drawn to the pre-med program. Obviously, seeing that a new science building was being constructed was a plus. During the tour, though, I realized that the campus just seemed nicer. People held open doors; they were friendlier, more polite. I couldn't say the same thing for other schools I visited."
According to Hooker-Haring, at this point of admission, the top majors of prospective students are Biology, Business, Theater/Arts, Psychology, Media and Communication and English, demonstrating the wide range of academic interests on campus. Also notable is the increase in diversity in the incoming pool of prospective Class of 2011 students. "We had 100 more applications from students of color this year," observed Haring. "The Multicultural Center sends an important message to prospective students that the College takes diversity seriously."
Haring also noted the increase of "statistical quality" in recent application years, showing stronger class rank and higher SAT scores. With the increased interest in the College, admissions has grown more competitive and only 36% of applicants have been offered admission to the class of 2011. The College recently has been ranked as 74 on the U.S. News 2007 edition list of "Best Liberal Arts Colleges," citing its admission status as "more selective."
Christopher Hooker-Haring, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, noted the increase in applications that the College has seen in recent years. "Last year's admittance total of 615, was well above target from past years," stated Hooker-Haring. "There was an unexpected jump in regular admissions. When it came down to final college decisions, a lot more students said 'yes' to Muhlenberg." The College is striving to cap the Class of 2011 admittance at 550 to ensure that enrollment continues to focus on quality, not quantity.
Hooker-Haring explained that new campus facilities and a strong sense of community have helped to attract more prospective students. Structures such as the New Science Building, as well as recent renovations to Seegers Union and the Life Sports Center have added to the campus environment. "The new facilities have really impressed parents and students. They are impressed with the general cleanliness and a sense that campus is treated with respect," he stated.
Most striking to Haring, and to many students visiting campus, is the strong sense of community on campus. "Students are very connected to each other. Students and faculty are connected," said Hooker-Haring. "Upon visiting, they feel a difference. This is a place that really feels like a community."
Matt Fishman '10, described what was most appealing when he first visited the College. He said, "I was initially drawn to the pre-med program. Obviously, seeing that a new science building was being constructed was a plus. During the tour, though, I realized that the campus just seemed nicer. People held open doors; they were friendlier, more polite. I couldn't say the same thing for other schools I visited."
According to Hooker-Haring, at this point of admission, the top majors of prospective students are Biology, Business, Theater/Arts, Psychology, Media and Communication and English, demonstrating the wide range of academic interests on campus. Also notable is the increase in diversity in the incoming pool of prospective Class of 2011 students. "We had 100 more applications from students of color this year," observed Haring. "The Multicultural Center sends an important message to prospective students that the College takes diversity seriously."
Haring also noted the increase of "statistical quality" in recent application years, showing stronger class rank and higher SAT scores. With the increased interest in the College, admissions has grown more competitive and only 36% of applicants have been offered admission to the class of 2011. The College recently has been ranked as 74 on the U.S. News 2007 edition list of "Best Liberal Arts Colleges," citing its admission status as "more selective."