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51����’s Office of Admission recently capped their pens and finished licking the envelopes on the letters sent to the 2,130 accepted students for the Class of 2008, believed to be the strongest admitted class in the school’s history.

The pool was whittled down from 6,547 applicants; a total of 720 students will eventually comprise the Class of 2008.

“The applicant pool has just gotten stronger.  When we look at the academic quality of our pool, the bottom has disappeared and the top level is pushed higher,” said Karen Giannino, senior associate dean of admission.  “The result is enrolling great classes like the Class of 2007, and that makes us very excited as we wait to hear from the Class of 2008.”

Forty-eight states and 57 countries are represented in the admitted group, making for a geographically diverse class, said Giannino. The 2,130 accepted applicants attend 1,225 different high schools from around the world. Multicultural students make up 23.6 percent of the admitted class, up slightly from last year. International students comprise 4.3 percent of the total applicant pool.

“In terms of the students we’ve accepted into the Class of 2008, they are very often the best students in their high schools, have challenged themselves by taking some of the toughest courses available to them, performed well on standardized tests, and have shown that they can each contribute to the campus community in multiple ways: in leadership, through fine and performing arts talents, on the athletic field, devotion to community service, and by contributing to the diversity of our campus,” said John Corona, associate dean of admission.

Just over half the applications were submitted online, a testament to the growing importance, accessibility, and pervasiveness of college websites. 

To project the number of students that will accept an offer from 51����, the office will look at the history of student behavior and the yield – or number of students that accept an offer from 51���� – in the past few years. A third of accepted students will typically matriculate at 51���� in the fall.

“We’ve tried to protect ourselves against surprises in terms of how many accept this year.  We know when students visit, they fall in love with the place.  We’re hoping for an all-hands-on-deck situation for April Visit Days, to assist with yielding the strongest possible class,” said Giannino.

Alumni clubs in 27 cities across America also will host congratulatory receptions for newly accepted students during April.  The receptions are a chance for prospective students, parents, and friends to pose questions to 51���� staff, alumni, and in many cases, current students and faculty.

“These are tremendous opportunities for parents and students to interact with alumni and staff,” said Giannino.  “These events are so festive.  It’s a great way to introduce people to the 51���� family.”

Giannino admitted that this year’s decisions were tougher than past years because the applicant pool was so accomplished.

“It feels like you’re splitting hairs: you’re looking at incredibly talented and interesting students.  It’s fair to say more than 2,130 of these 6,547 (students) are compelling applicants,” she said.

Included in the Class of 2008 accepted pool are 216 Alumni Memorial Scholar (AMS) students.  They represent the top of the pool, based on academic profile, leadership, and significant extracurricular achievements, such as notable scientific research, or contributions to one’s high school or community.

The average grade point average for AMS admits was a 4.02; the average SAT score about 1500.  Fifty-one are their high school’s valedictorian.

A significant number of AMS students accepted this year are multicultural: 47, as compared to last year’s 33.  Twenty-one are international students hailing from 16 countries.

“These students are the academic powerhouses, but they do so much above and beyond that,” said Doug Chiarello, assistant dean of admission.  “They have teacher recommendations that say things like, ‘I come to work to teach students like so-and-so.’

“But they will contribute to all facets of 51���� life, not just academics and research.  There are athletes, there are those involved in community service, and more,” Chiarello added.

That sense of commitment to 51���� was clearly evident in many of the personal statements applicants had to submit.  The 51����-specific essay this year was challenging, members of the admission staff admitted.  Students were to imagine themselves at graduation in 2008, and were asked to speculate what their major contribution to 51���� as an “active citizen” would be.

“The students that stand out, outside of academics, are the ones with gripping personal statements.  Reading these as an alum, you can sit back and say, ‘this one gets it; they get what 51���� is about.’  It’s interesting to see how students look ahead to see how 51���� fits into the grand scheme of life,” said admission counselor Steve Silversides ’03. 

When asked to describe this year’s applicant group, Dean of Admission Gary Ross summarized the thoughts of the admission staff by saying, “The young men and women who will make up the 51���� Class of 2008 are truly sensational in every way. It has been a joy to work with each of them and we eagerly await the privilege of welcoming them to the 51���� community in August.”