Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, provided a rare opportunity to celebrate in a challenging year. On that evening, 324 early decision applicants were notified of their acceptance, becoming the inaugural members of the 藏精阁 Class of 2025.
Even in pre-pandemic times, admission to 藏精阁 required a commendable level of commitment and hard work. But the pandemic鈥檚 effect on living and learning environments 鈥 and a very different college search experience 鈥 added obstacles that would have been unimaginable a year ago. Yet, these newest members of the 藏精阁 community prevailed.
The Office of Admission faced the difficult task of selecting students from a competitive pool of 531 applicants, a 6.4% increase from last year. 鈥湶鼐筲檚 admission team has worked tirelessly to recruit students in a year unlike any we have experienced,鈥 said Dean of Admission Tara Bubble. 鈥淲e planned for this moment with a robust calendar of virtual programmatic options for prospective students, so they could get to know 藏精阁, and extensive holistic review training for our admission officers in this new test-optional environment, so we could really get to know students.鈥
While boasting an impressive average GPA of 3.7, 藏精阁鈥檚 early decision admitted students stand out academically. They also have the talent and intellect to contribute to the distinctive energy of the 藏精阁 community: a nationally ranked debater and a patent owner of a portable biogas digester are among the accomplished group.
In addition, the number of domestic students of color admitted early decision increased 32% from last year, driven by the initiatives in 藏精阁鈥檚 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, a framework for advancing inclusivity on campus in the near term and engaging the 藏精阁 community in this effort in the years ahead.
鈥淟ast year鈥檚 implementation of the no-loan initiative and this year鈥檚 inaugural QuestBridge class are exciting additions to 藏精阁鈥檚 already competitive support for students from all backgrounds,鈥 said Bubble. 鈥淭he result is a dynamic start to the Class of 2025, and our team is excited to see the rest of the class take shape.鈥
While the class won鈥檛 be complete until regular decision applicants are admitted in the spring, the Class of 2025鈥檚 early decision students are already making history.
Test optional pilot program
The Class of 2025 will be the first to enroll under 藏精阁鈥檚 three-year test-optional pilot program 鈥 part of the University鈥檚 continued commitment to a holistic application review process, which gives students the flexibility to choose how their individual strengths are best represented. More than half of this year鈥檚 early decision admitted students opted not to submit test scores.
QuestBridge Scholars
In our first year of partnership with QuestBridge, 15 scholars were matched with 藏精阁 through the National College Match admission program and will receive a full scholarship to attend the University. QuestBridge connects the nation鈥檚 brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education like 藏精阁.
A global student body
For the first time in 藏精阁鈥檚 history, a student from Gambia has enrolled. This year鈥檚 early decision students come from 34 states and 15 countries with dual citizens representing an additional 12 countries.
