Freshman Class Diverse, Smarter Than Before

Numbers estimated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions show that while this year's class is smaller than last year's, minority presence and average test scores have risen.

The total enrollment for this year's freshman class is projected at 3,485, down more than 200 students from last year.

While this seems to go against the University's goal of continuous enrollment growth, the total undergraduate enrollment this year is larger than last year's -- this year's freshmen replace a graduating class of about 3,300 students, officials say.

Out of about 17,500 applicants for this fall, only about 6,000 were accepted, roughly 300 fewer students than last year.

Jerry Lucido, director of undergraduate admissions, said fewer applicants were granted admission because last year's freshman enrollment exceeded expectations by almost 200 students.

"We backed off for the incoming class to make up for last year," Lucido said.

Lucido said the minority proportion of the freshman class has increased because of persistent recruitment efforts by the admissions office and the Office of Minority Affairs.

"We continue to have a goal of increased minority presence," Lucido said, adding that minority recruitment will continue in the foreseeable future.

Although Hispanic and Native American groups saw a slight drop, increases in the black student population and little change in Asian-American numbers compensated.

Black students make up more than 12 percent of the freshmen class, according to projections from June.

Freshmen are not only seeing somewhat of a change in UNC's racial makeup, they also have significantly higher test scores, following an upward trend from the last several years.

The average SAT score for the class of 2006 is projected at 1268, more than 10 points higher than last year's freshmen and almost 40 points higher than the freshmen of 1998.

"Academically, it's the best class UNC has ever enrolled," said Stephen Farmer, senior associate director of undergraduate admissions.

The reputation has some in the freshman class nervous.

Jenny Cox, a freshman from Austin, Texas, said she came here for the academic excellence but said the perception is intimidating. "There's so much more expectation," she said.

But Lucido stressed that incoming students display their excellence in more ways than standardized test scores.

He said they show an ever-growing commitment to community service and to academic pursuits outside of grades and test scores.

"We think the campus will be enhanced by the creativity and intelligence they bring," Lucido said.

Other key numbers changed little from previous years. Out-of-state students make up about 18 percent of the freshman class, the maximum allowed by state law. And men are still outnumbered -- more than 59 percent of the freshmen are female.

Farmer said freshman demographics are not concrete yet because the numbers shift when some students admitted for the semester do not show up in August. The Office of Institutional Research will conduct a formal "snapshot" of the class in early September.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.