With early decision admits, Dartmouth explores increasing class size
By Katie Gonzalez , The Dartmouth Staff
Published on Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Web Update
In what Dean of Admissions Maria Laskaris said was partly a result of recent discussions on increasing class size to generate additional revenue, Dartmouth offered early admission to 461 students on Tuesday, 60 more than last year.
“If there was a time — if we are going to grow — this was a great pool to do so with,” Laskaris said.
The College received a record 1,594 early applications, up from 1,571 last year. About 29 percent of students who applied early were accepted to the College.
If College officials ultimately decide not to increase the size of the freshman class, the admissions office will accept fewer students than planned during regular decision, making that process slightly more competitive, Laskaris said.
Students of color represent 26 percent of the admitted group, Laskaris said, versus 27 percent last year.
Of the early-admitted students, 7 percent are from countries other than the United States, a 1-percent increase from last year, Laskaris said.
“[The need-blind financial aid for international students] definitely factored into the increase in international students,” Laskaris said. “We’re one of the only small handful of schools who are now need-blind for financial aid for all of our applicants.”
Average SAT scores for early-admitted students were slightly higher this year than last, with an average total of 2150, up from 2137. About 88 percent of admitted students are in the top 10 percent of their high school class.
“In terms of academic performance, we continue to see academically talented students,” Laskaris said.
The early applicant pool for the Class of 2014 was noticeably committed to social justice and tackling the world’s problems through academic learning, Laskaris said.
“I really began to think as I looked at applications, ‘Wow, I really see a lot of students who embody the qualities [College President Jim Yong Kim] was talking about,’” she said. “They wanted to make an impact, and they wanted to wrestle academically with these challenges.”
About 24 percent of admitted students are from New England, 29 percent are from Mid-Atlantic states, 13 percent are from the South and 18 percent are from the West.
Of the admitted students, 230 are male and 231 are female.
Regular decision applications for the Class of 2014 are due on Jan. 1.
On December 2nd the Dartmouth ran a story admitting that Kim was looking at the POSSIBILITY of increasing enrollment. From that article: “‘The College will not increase the number of students without extensive discussion’, Kim said.”
I guess I missed the discussion… Thanks President Kim!
By Benjamin C. Hemani on Dec 10 | 7:18 pm
Ben, the possibility of increasing enrollment is still up in the air. Note the if:
By Jikun Qian on Dec 13 | 12:04 am
12% of the early admits are not even in the top 10% of their high school class? How can this be?
By rightwingprofessor on Dec 14 | 11:19 am
An increase in class size will hurt the students. It happened at my son’s school and as result teachers are not able to help each student in areas that they need help in. Administrators are not concerned with the cuts they are making they are just worried about balancing the budget or they will be the ones who find themselves jobless. That’s the reason they make the cuts regardless of the impact on the students' education. In my opinion we, the parents, need to be more involved our schools or they are going to be worse than those in developing nations. We are doing our kids a disservice by allowing the politicians and administrators make these cuts. What we need to start doing is find different ways to raise money ourselves. I am not suggesting that we write a check for the difference, but what I do suggest is that we do our part and use, www.mainstreetfair.com this website will make the donation for us and all we have to do is use the site to buy and sell online. They will donate to any school in the U.S., private or public.
By Bill on Dec 21 | 3:21 pm