Freshman class among biggest, brightest on record

One of the biggest and brightest freshman classes ever at UW–Madison began its college education last week.

Preliminary figures indicate that about 5,900 freshmen started classes on Sept. 2, the first day of instruction for the 1997-98 academic year. This year’s class is 8.2 percent larger than the 1996 freshman class of 5,455. The last time the incoming freshman class was this large was 1989, when 5,934 students enrolled.

The increase in students reflects Wisconsin’s changing demographics and a higher enrollment rate. The number of high school seniors graduating and seeking access to UW System schools has grown each year since 1994, and the percentage of accepted applicants who enrolled has also increased.

“We’ve known for a long time that there would be more demand for access this year,” says Keith White, acting director of the Office of Admissions. “We feel strongly that UW–Madison should be available to those young people who are the best prepared and highly motivated to continue their education in a competitive and powerful academic environment.”

Total enrollment for fall semester is estimated at about 40,000, up slightly from last year. Final enrollment numbers won’t be available until the fourth week of the semester, as students can register during the first two weeks of classes.

Despite the larger freshman class this fall, “we have done a good job in accommodating our new students,” says Paul Barrows, associate vice chancellor for academic services and campus diversity. Additional class sections have been created, and students who cannot get into classes this fall will be given priority for the spring semester, Barrows says.

Academically, the incoming freshman class ranks as highly as any entering class. Approximately 43 percent of the freshman class graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and the average new freshman graduated in the top 15 percent of his or her high school class and scored in the top 10 percent nationally on ACT and SAT exams. The average UW–Madison freshman has an ACT score of 27 and a combined SAT math/verbal score of 1,230, compared to national averages of 19 for the ACT and 1,016 for the SAT.

Approximately 75 percent of the freshman class earned college credits while attending high school, either by taking college courses while in high school or during summer. And 50 percent of the class earned advanced-standing college credit through the College Board’s Advanced Placement program, the highest number in university history. Roughly 300 first-year students will begin their college careers with sophomore or junior status based on their high school coursework.

“Based on the preliminary data, this is the strongest freshman class ever when you look at rank in class from high school, ACT and SAT scores and the rigor of coursework completed in high school,” White says.

This year’s enrollment figures are expected to be extremely close to the enrollment-management target set by the UW System and the Board of Regents. The target calculates enrollment according to student course loads and is expressed in the number of full-time equivalency (FTE) students. The fall 1997 enrollment-management target is 34,800 FTE students. The fall 1996 target was 34,600 FTE students, and UW–Madison’s actual FTE enrollment last fall was 34,399.

The number of racial and ethnic minority new freshmen increased by 8.2 percent, from 489 in 1996-97 to 529 expected for fall 1997. There are modest increases in African American and Hispanic American students and slight decreases in Native American and Asian students. In terms of the entire freshman class, minorities total 9 percent, the same as last year.

The fall 1997 freshman class represents all 50 states, all U.S. territories and commonwealths and more than 150 countries. Nevertheless, nearly two-thirds of this year’s freshman class – 66.5 percent – come from Wisconsin high schools. Minnesota students taking advantage of the reciprocity agreement between the two states make up 11.1 percent of new freshmen. The remainder of the class – 22.4 percent – comes from outside Wisconsin and Minnesota.