2005 freshman class includes 426 students ranked No. 1

UW–Madison continually attracts freshman classes made up of talented scholars, athletes, musicians and activists.

Of those, the incoming Class of 2009 is one of the most distinguished in the institution’s history.

Of the 6,142 enrolled freshmen, a record number – 426 – were honored as first, or tied for first academically in their graduating high school classes. Three of those students received perfect scores on their standardized tests. The size of the overall class is also a record.

In addition, the freshman class is the most diverse, with the largest number of students of color in the university’s history.

“We couldn’t be more proud of this group of incoming freshmen,” says Admissions Director Rob Seltzer. “With an option to attend almost any college or university in the country, we’re honored to have those 426 students here. We hope to build on this success by continuing to enroll even more top students and students of color.”

Of the No. 1 students, 373 are Wisconsin residents, including Suchita Shah from Holmen High School in Holmen (near La Crosse). She comes to the university with a perfect ACT score.

“I chose Madison over Harvard for a variety of reasons, including cost, distance, campus atmosphere and because I was accepted into the Medical Scholars Program,” she says. “The program is perfect for me since I am very confident that I will pursue a career in neurosurgery.”

Michael Jason Diedrich, a first-in-class student from Century High School in Rochester, Minn., made his decision based on the large number of opportunities to become involved outside the classroom. He scored perfectly on the SAT and plans to double-major in communications and economics.

“I came to Madison because, of all the places to which I applied, the students were the most engaged in the community and world around them,” he says. “I was very much looking for an institution with that high level of involvement.”

Of the overall freshman class, more than half (53 percent) of new freshmen graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

Wisconsin residents make up roughly 59 percent of the new class. Roughly 5 percent of the 66,500 graduating Wisconsin high school seniors will be on campus at UW–Madison this fall.

The group enters the university with just about the highest average class rank, grade point average and test scores of any class in the history of the institution.

Although the size of the freshman class is above average, the total number of undergraduates on campus (28,462) is almost identical to last year’s enrollment. The university’s total student body is 41,169 students.

The university received 21,511 applications for freshman admission, a record number. More than 68 percent of these applicants were admitted, and 43 percent of admitted students enrolled.

The incoming freshman class is comprised of 778 students of color, an 8 percent increase over one year ago and a 24 percent increase over 2003. Seltzer attributes some of the gains to enhanced outreach by his office. The Office of Admissions held 163 on- and off-campus recruitment events geared toward students of color.

Although the class has extremely impressive academic credentials, a wide range of qualities such as leadership, service, extracurricular activities, athletics and service are all weighed in considering applicants, Seltzer says.

Prospective students should not be deterred from applying on their academics alone, he stresses. Access to UW–Madison continues to be high for students from a wide range of backgrounds and academic preparation.

“Our comprehensive approach to admissions continues to afford us the opportunity to consider multiple measures of achievement, such as leadership, talent, potential and life experience, in addition to the traditional academic measures” Seltzer says. “We’re always looking for students who will make a contribution to our campus community.”

Additional facts on the Class of 2009 include:

• Almost 5,000 students of the incoming class submitted Advanced Placement scores for credit, the largest number on record for the university;
• The class also tested strongly, averaging an ACT composite was 27.5. The national average was 20.9;
• The average SAT score was 1,261, compared to the national average of 1,029;
• 53 percent received an award for leadership, 52 percent performed with a school musical group and 62 percent earned a varsity letter;
• 23 percent received an award for community service;
• The class includes students from virtually every Wisconsin county, most of the 50 states and more than 100 countries.