Margaret BauerMany members of the university community have described this year’s freshman class as one of the strongest in the school’s history, citing exceptional talent, organizational skills, and genuine enthusiasm for the University as some of the most positive aspects of the class. Increased national recognition of the University led to the largest applicant pool in the school’s history, with just over 22,000 applications for a freshman class of approximateily 1,385 students.
Chancellor Mark Wrighton commented on the University’s increased status.
“Favorable events like [last year’s presidential debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry] have lifted our visibility. People are coming to know that we have a great environment for students, and people who leave reflect that they’ve had good experiences and tell others about the university.”
Director of Admissions Nanette Tarbouni described the class as intellectually curious, talented, and very involved outside the classroom. She pointed out that the average admitted student in this year’s class was heavily involved in more than five extracurricular activities per year. Members of the class also hail from 47 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 20 countries.
Approximately 33% of the class of 2009 is composed of international or multicultural students, making the class one of the most diverse in the school’s history. Tarbouni also commented on the exceptional organizational skills and efficiency of all of this year’s freshmen, and she expressed her awareness of a strong sense of community within the class.
When questioned about the most difficult aspect of her job in admissions, Tarbouni immediately mentioned the size of the freshman class, saying that there is no way to admit all of the talented students who deserve to be here. Unfortunately, said Tarbouni, some students whom admissions officers become attached to and admit decide to go elsewhere.
Tarbouni also commented on this year’s application essays.
“It’s always humbling and inspiring for those of us in the admissions offices to see what obstacles young people have overcome and how they persevere in spite of it,” said Tarbouni.
Two of the most frequently asked questions regarding admissions in any freshman class are queries about the waitlist admit process and the existence-or lack thereof-of quotas for the number of students admitted from certain high schools or regions of the country.
Tarbouni explained that the process of admitting students from the waitlist is both thorough and holistic. Admissions officers monitor the size of the freshman class from mid-May through the end of June, and conduct admissions committee meetings similar to those held earlier in the year, taking the applications of those who accepted places on the waitlist and reviewing new information, including grades, honors/awards and recommendations received since March.
Tarbouni also stated that even if the class is filled by May, the number of enrolled students can fluctuate for some time after that based on students’ acceptance to other schools at which they were initially wait-listed.
The simple answer to the commonly asked quota question is that there are no quotas for the number of students admitted from a particular high school, city, state, or country, and Tarbouni explained that the first admissions officer to read each application is the one who traveled to that region of the country, who therefore has the most complete understanding of the student’s record within the context of his or her high school. This system seems to foster a geographically diverse class.
“This system of advocacy makes us invested in making sure every student is fairly reviewed in the process,” said Tarbouni.
Though the admissions process is complex, multi-faceted, and, especially in the case of this year’s class, competitive, this year’s freshmen are entering a community filled with diversity, talent, and enthusiasm that will significantly contribute to a memorable experience at WU for all.