UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 1, Page 1
September 1, 1994
UD's newest class of 3,710 'bright, diverse, energetic'

     The University of Delaware Class of 1998 is a bright, diverse,
energetic and civic-minded group of students who will make a strong
contribution to the campus community," according to Bruce Walker,
associate provost for admissions and student financial aid.
     The University met its goal in new student admissions, Walker
said, despite the fact that the number of 18-year-old high school
graduates in the mid-Atlantic region reached an all-time low after a
decade of steady decline.
     This fall, 3,070 freshmen and 640 transfer students will be on
the Newark campus. The class includes 32 National Merit and National
Achievement finalists, 24 valedictorians, 32 salutatorians and 95
students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
     Average SAT scores are 1065-an increase of seven points over last
year, and high school grade points averaged at 3.2. In the University
Honors Program, 312 students are enrolled with SAT scores averaging
1260 and high school grade points averaging 3.7.
     While the students come from all over the United States-from
Maine to California, from Florida to Texas-most are from the East
Coast. Of the new students, 1,033 freshmen, or 33 percent of the
class, and 255 transfer students are from Delaware. New Jersey is
second with 726 students (24 percent); Pennsylvania ranks third with
488 students (16 percent); New York is fourth with 326 students (11
percent); and Maryland follows with 279 students (9 percent). There
are 81 students from Connecticut and 38 from Virginia.
     The top 10 high schools of members of the Class of 1998 are all
in New Castle County and include St. Mark's (107 students), Newark
(71), Christiana (69), Glasgow (59), William Penn (58), Salesianum
(52), Brandywine (47), Concord (42), Mt. Pleasant (38) and Dickinson
(36).
     There are 45 students coming to Delaware from 22 foreign
countries, including Bulgaria, Canada, Zaire, China, Switzerland,
Venezuela, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, France, Greece, Poland,
Malaysia, Sweden, Turkey and Germany.
     Of the new students, 350 are African American, Asian, Hispanic or
Native American, an increase of 6 percent over last year. Of these,
183 are African Americans, an increase of 12 percent over last year.
     More students answer to Michael or Jennifer than any other first
name, for the second year in a row.
     Incoming students include five sets of twins, seven sets of
siblings who are not twins and two pairs of mothers and daughters. The
oldest entering student is 70 and the youngest is 15; and 151 students
are over the age of 25.
     According to Walker, the class of 1998 is involved in community
service and outside activities. About half have expressed an interest
in volunteer work; three out of four are interested in playing some
sport; and about one quarter say they wish to be involved in student
government. Outside high school activities include working on the
school newspaper or yearbook (25 percent), music (23 percent) and
acting (12 percent). An equal number of students (27 percent) are
interested in academic societies and social clubs.
     Statistics about the incoming class are subject to slight changes
once the academic year gets under way. Official enrollment figures
will be available in October.