If the leaders of tomorrow are bred in the universities of today, the future looks very bright, indeed. UW-Madison is at the forefront of this bright future, enrolling talented and qualified students to fill university ranks.
The statistics are in for the UW-Madison class of 2008, and the group exceeds the academic standards set by the previous class, Admissions Director Rob Seltzer said in a statement.
The class of 2008 enters the university with the highest average grade point average, class rank and composite test scores of any class in the history of the institution, according to the release.
The average ACT composite score among freshmen was 27.6, while the national average was 20.9. The average SAT verbal score was 613, compared to a national average of 507. The average SAT math score was 651, compared to a national average of 519.
The praise does not end there. According to the release, almost 4,500 students submitted Advanced Placement test scores for credit, and 54 percent graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school classes. Fifty-two percent of the class earned a leadership award and 64 percent earned a varsity letter.
The overall competitiveness of the application process is also on the rise. The Admissions Office received 20,285 applications, of which 66 percent were admitted, down from 78 percent just seven years ago, the release said.
According to UW-Madison Acting Assistant Director of Admissions Thomas Reason, such statistics bode well for all students.
\[The statistics increase] the value of a degree for everyone, whether you are an incoming freshman or a graduating senior,"" he said.
An important feature of the enrollment is a higher ratio of minority students; 716 students compared to 629 in the previous class. Plan 2008, a university initiative implemented in 1998, is in part responsible for this increase in diversity, according to UW-Madison relations specialist John Lucas. Through early outreach across the state of Wisconsin, minority students at the middle school and high school levels take enrichment courses through the university with the intent of eventually applying, he said.
""The idea is to build a group of diverse students who are familiar with the institution. The students who started this program five years ago are finally reaching the stage where they're coming,"" Lucas said.
The talented pool of applicants and the high demand for access enhances the reputation of UW-Madison as a top-tier research and learning community, Reason said.
""The nature of the students of the institution is integral to the character of the institution. This class offers some assurance that the nature, reputation and achievements of the university are in good hands,"" Reason said.
