U. accepts 4,960 students into Class of 1999

Most selective class in years Only 33 percent of high school applicants were accepted to the University this year, making it one of the most selective classes in recent history, according to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson. This figure is down from 36 percent last year. And regular decision applicants whose acceptance letters were mailed out last Wednesday were accepted at a rate of 25 percent, compared to 32 percent last year. Out of the 15,050 applicants, 4,960 students were admitted, Stetson said. "This was the most challenging selection in my tenure of almost 18 years," he said. The number of admitted students climbed 25 over last year's 4,935 accepted students. "We admitted more because the pool was significantly stronger academically and therefore students will have many options," Stetson said. He added that the Office of Admissions will probably have to make limited use of the waiting list, which contains 300 students this year. Stetson said the applicant pool was "a very strong class academically." The average combined Scholastic Aptitude Test score for the group was 1311 -- 697 in math and 614 in verbal. This total is eight points higher than last year. The average achievement test score was up seven points to 653. And the average applicant ranked in the top three percent of his class versus four percent last year. But Stetson said the attributes are even greater than the numbers indicate. At least one student from every state was admitted to the University, Stetson said. This includes one from Wyoming, two from both North and South Dakota and three from Montana -- the states most at risk of under-representation, he added. Last year the University accepted one student from each Dakota but neither enrolled. Stetson said a fewer number of students were accepted from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions this year. Only 385 were accepted from New England, compared to last year's 449, and 2,173 were accepted from the tri-state region -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York -- which is 68 less than last year. He attributed these low numbers to the stronger yield from those two regions. Stetson said 52 percent of admitted students were from "outreach" states-- all states not in the Mid-Atlantic or New England region and international regions. The number of international students accepted was 463 -- 61 more than last year. Of the students admitted, 3,256 were accepted into the College of Arts and Sciences. Stetson said his goal is to have 1,480 of these students enroll. Wharton accepted 607 students -- up from 571 last year. Stetson attributed this increase to a stronger academic pool, making it necessary to accept more students in order to yield 360 matriculants. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences accepted 1,047 applicants -- up from 1,020 last year. Stetson said he would like to see between 360 and 380 enroll. The Nursing School, which suffered a 25 percent decrease in applications this year, accepted 108 of its applicants. Only eight of these were male. Stetson said he is looking for 80 of these students to enroll. There were 120 students accepted to the Management and Technology program and 51 into the International Studies program. Stetson said he expects to enroll 50 to 60 in the Management and Technology program and 40 into the International Studies program. The University also accepted more females this year. Compared to last year's 48 percent, 49 percent of the accepted students are women this year. Women made up 30 percent of accepted students in the Engineering School and 38 percent of Wharton students. This is up from 26 percent and 32 percent respectively. Stetson said he was pleased with the increased number of women applicants. "I think it is a healthy sign that more women are applying to Wharton and Engineering," he said. The number of minorities accepted to the University dropped this year from last year's 1,911 to 1,864 -- making up 37 percent of the admitted students. In general, the number of accepted minorities was down -- with the exception of the number of Native American students, which doubled to 14 this year -- and the number of Hispanic students, which was up by 33 to 298 students this year. Just like last year, 63 percent of the accepted students are from public schools. The University accepted 193 students from the Philadelphia area -- up two from last year. Stetson said this class is not only talented academically, but also brings in a great deal of involvement, energy and well-roundedness, as well as a significant interest in the University. "Still, now the challenge is to enroll the students," he said. Stetson added that admissions officers, faculty and students will be travelling across the country to talk to admitted students over the next few weeks. In addition, several performing arts groups -- including Counterparts, Quaker Notes and Mask and Wig -- have assisted in selling the school to students around the country, Stetson said. And today is the first day of Penn Preview Weeks, a three-week period of intense information sessions and guided tours for prospective freshmen and their families. "It will be interesting to hear during the next few weeks what our competition really is and where [the students] have been admitted," he said.