Meet this year's freshman class
2003 Freshman Class
Ten most popular majors:
1. Biology
2. Elementary Ed.
3. Psychology
4. History
5. Physical Ed.
6. Business Accounting
7. Early Childhood Ed.
8. English
9. Theater
10. Fine Arts (Studio)
Men: 42%
Women: 58%
Increase in applications from:
African-Americans: 19%
Asians: 24%
Hispanics: 11%
We have Faith and Joy but no Hope in this year's freshman class. We’re talking names, that is, and this year's class of 1,631 students covers the entire alphabet from A (Aakash) to Z (Zoe) with Michael being the most popular male name and Jennifer being the frontrunner in female names.
But one thing's for sure: this class has more than your average Tom, Dick and Harry. Each year we tout the biggest and brightest freshman class, and this year is no different. "This year's freshman class is large and strong in every way," President Susan A. Cole told the University Senate last week at its first meeting of the year.
The 2003 freshman cohort has an average SAT score of 1068 with 106 Bloustein Scholars and over 160 New Jersey Outstanding Scholars. Both numbers represent an increase over the previous two years. In addition, 68 freshmen will be part of the Honors Program, and 68 new students will participate in one of the University's fall sports programs.
The record number of freshman applications received this year --8,240--reinforces a recent College Board finding that Montclair State was the second most preferred college by 2003 New Jersey high school seniors taking the SAT. U.S. News and World Report also released its 2003 college rankings, placing Montclair State University in the top 10 of public universities in the North.
Dennis Craig, director of Undergraduate Admissions, reported that applications were up 11 percent over last fall and up more than 18 percent over fall 2001. The University welcomed more than 1,107 transfer students last week, an increase of more than 5 percent over last year. Craig said the University also exceeded its transfer application goal of 2,600.
"We sought to achieve a well-managed enrollment growth in support of the University's strategic plan," he said. "In collaboration with the associate dean for Enrollment Management, the Admissions Office created a recruitment and retention plan that prioritized resources to achieve our enrollment goals of 1,550 freshmen and 1,060 new full-time transfer students."
"We placed special emphasis on tactics that would maintain and increase the academic profile and ethnic diversity of the incoming student body while strengthening the regional image and reputation of the University," Craig said. The growth rate of applications from minority groups exceeded the overall freshman applicant growth rate of 11 percent.
The geographic areas from which applications are received also has increased. "Applications from key counties have increased substantially," Craig said, noting an increase over last fall of 44 percent in Mercer County, 34 percent in Burlington, 21 percent in Middlesex, 29 percent in Union, 27 percent in Monmouth, 31 percent in Atlantic, 36 percent in Camden and 29 percent in Ocean. Out-of-state applications increased by 49 percent. The top out-of-state institutions to which MSU applicants also applied were New York Unversity, Pennsylvania State University, University of Delaware, Temple University, Princeton University, Hofstra University, Fordham University, Boston University, University of Hartford and Drexel University.
Now that you have a picture of the overall class, here's a look at just a few of the individuals who make up this shining group:
• Many students who ranked top in their graduating class put Montclair State on the top of their list: Trenton Central High School's top two students, valedictorian Jessica Saldoval and salutatorian Amaryllis Ortiz; from Belleville High School number one-ranking Therese Dublin, a member of the Environmental, Spanish and World Language clubs who scored 1220 on the SAT; number one in Irvington High School's class of 2003, Crystal Dodson, an Edward J. Bloustein Scholar named in Who's Who Among American High School Students, and involved in many activities and organizations including the New Jersey Science League and the L4L Mentoring Program; top seed in his graduating class at Winslow Township High School Jordan Padams, valedictorian who scored 1280 on the SAT, is a Bloustein Scholar, was a member of his high school's varsity soccer team and will be working with the Admissions Office as a student ambassador.
• Another Bloustein Scholar, Alyssa Zambrana, ranked third in her class at Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School in Woodbridge, where she received academic awards in English, mathematics and history. She also was co-editor of her yearbook and was a member of the National Vocational-Technical Honor Society.
• Kristyn Brandi graduated from Oakcrest High School in Mays Landing in the top 4 percent of her class. The biology major scored 1300 on the SAT and is already a published author.
• Kristina Lee Len of Haledon, who has her sights set on becoming a dentist, was a member of her high school concert choir and choral ensemble, as well as the student council and Interact Club. She is a volunteer for senior citizens groups, churches and animal shelters.
• David Reyes plans on majoring in business. The Kearny High School graduate was named a 2003 Everyday Hero by The Jersey Journal in its 15th annual competition for his work as a mentor in the Excel Program in his hometown. Reyes volunteered as a peer leader for the Responsible Educated Adolescents Can Help program.
You'll read more about outstanding students at Montclair State throughout the year in INSIGHT Online.