University expects more diverse incoming class
Next year’s freshman class will be more diverse than last year’s, Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Robert Chernak said at Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
Chernak said there will be an 11 percent increase in both the Hispanic and black population in next year’s freshman class. The complete makeup of the class is not yet determined.
He also reported a 20 percent increase in the enrollment of international students and said the University received applications from all 50 states and the District of Columbia this year, which did not happen last year.
“Increased diversity will increase our stature as a world class institution and show how much GW supports and welcomes all students,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Charles Manatt.
GW received about 19,500 applications and admitted about 37 percent of students. Students who were accepted to GW but chose to go to a different school were most likely to go to New York University or Georgetown University, Chernak said. He added that, so far this year, 118 students have turned down GW to go to NYU and 105 are going to Georgetown after being accepted to GW. The target size of the freshman class is between 2,350 and 2,400 students.
Out of students who already put a deposit down for GW, 67 percent rank in the top 10 percent of their class, Chernak said. He added that the average SAT score of the applicants has dropped by about 10 points since last year, but that GW is following a national trend of lower SAT scores due to the new format of the standardized test, which now includes an essay-writing portion.
SJT honored at other graduation ceremonies
Commencement season is a busy time for University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg.
In addition to presiding over GW’s Commencement ceremony, Trachtenberg also spoke and received an honorary law degree at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. May 6. He will also be delivering the keynote speech May 28 at Touro College’s commencement ceremony in New York.
“I’ve done a couple of these over the years,” Trachtenberg said.
He added, “Usually I get a call or a letter from the president and I try to do one or two every year.”
