UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 1, Page 1
September 2, 1993
3,200 strong- Meet the class of 1997

     Meet the University of Delaware's class of 1997-3,200 freshmen,
approximately 200 more than last year, who are arriving at the University's
Newark campus this week to embark on their college careers.
     According to Bruce Walker, associate provost for admissions and
financial aid, the class includes 111 students with 4.0 averages in high
school, 34 valedictorians, 31 salutatorians and 26 National Merit Scholars,
National Achievement Scholars and National Hispanic Scholars. The average
SAT score for the new freshmen is well above the national average.
     The University Honors Program has 319 students enrolled, making it the
largest class in the history of the program.
     Where do the freshman come from? They hail from all parts of the
United States, from California and Texas to Maine and Florida, but mostly
from the East Coast, with 12 freshmen coming from other countries. After
Delaware, New Jersey follows with 725 students or 22 percent of the class.
Pennsylvania ranks third with 533 students (16 percent), with New York next
with 385 (12 percent). There are 303 (9 percent) from Maryland and 103 (3
percent) from Connecticut, with Virginia and Maine each represented by 46
students.
     In addition to the freshmen, 700 transfer students will be on campus,
bringing the total of new students to 3,900. There is a total of 56 foreign
students, representing 25 countries from Bangladesh to Cote d'Ivoire to
Venezuela.
     Of the new students, 323 are African-Americans, Asian, Hispanic or
American Indian, an increase of 11 percent over last year. Of these, 159
are new African-American students, Walker said.
     Incoming students include one set of triplets, five sets of twins, and
eight pairs of siblings who are not twins.
     Of the freshmen, 58 percent are women and 42 percent are men. The most
popular woman's name is Jennifer, and the most popular man's name is
Michael.
     Not all the new students are of traditional college age-162 are over
25 years old, including nine who are over 60. The oldest entering freshman
is 79.
     "The target number for the freshman class was 3,100, and in this time
of demographic decline, with fewer high school graduates, the University
has done well in attracting very qualified students with a high school
grade point average of 3.2," Walker said.
     "We are pleased that the number of Delawareans has increased. Of all
new students, 37 percent are from Delaware," he said.
     As in any school, statistics about the new class are subject to slight
changes, once the academic year gets under way. Official figures will be
available in October.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure