UCI Attracts Record Number of Top-Tier Freshman Applicants
2003 Fall Freshman Class will be Largest, Highest Caliber in Campus HistoryIrvine, Calif., April 16, 2003 -- UC Irvine has offered admission to the largest and most academically talented student pool in its history. A record 34,359 high school seniors applied to the university for fall 2003 and slightly more than half (17,926) have been accepted. Admitted students averaged a higher SAT score (1246) and grade point average (3.87) than previous years. Diversity among admitted students also increased. Based on previous enrollment patterns and competition for top-tier students, the campus expects to enroll approximately 4,100 freshmen this fall. "We are proud that UCI is fast becoming a campus of choice for many of the state's most talented and high-achieving students," said Michael Gottfredson, executive vice chancellor. "As we face the challenges of a significantly reduced state budget, we will continue to rely on the support of the UC Regents, the community and private donors to be able to accommodate enrollment increases, expand our academic facilities and programs, and improve the high quality of the UCI educational experience." The number of students admitted to UCI for fall 2003 increased by more than 880 over last year. The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, which recently added two new popular undergraduate degree programs in biomedical engineering, admitted 637 more undergrads than fall 2002. The university turned away 16,433 freshmen applicants, two-thirds of whom met UC eligibility requirements. The number of transfer students admitted also has grown. To date, UCI has seen a nearly 20 percent increase over last year in applications from students enrolled at community colleges, with 3,891 transfer students offered admission for the fall. Admission of transfer students will continue through April. "For the past several years, UCI has strengthened relationships with California's community colleges and encouraged more transfer students to come to the university," said Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student affairs. "More than 90 percent of transfer students admitted to UCI come from California community colleges, and we continue to be pleased with the number and caliber of these students." Fall freshman admission numbers show an increase across most ethnic categories. Of those offered admission for fall 2003: African Americans increased by 1 percent from fall 2002 to fall 2003 (399 to 403); American Indians decreased by 5 percent (78 to 74); Asian Americans increased slightly (7,890 to 7,896); Chicanos increased by 13 percent (1,620 to 1,844), Latinos increased by 9 percent (504 to 553); whites increased by 6 percent (5,111 to 5,441); and the number who declined to state increased by 22 percent (1,148 to 1,410). The freshman applicants have until May 1 to accept UCI's offer. The transfer students have until June 1. |
