Swarthmore College Admits 977 Students to Class of 2015
Swarthmore College Admits
977 Students to Class of 2015
Fifteen Percent Accepted from Record Pool of 6,547 Applications
by Stacey Kutish
4/4/11
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Swarthmore College has sent letters of admission to 977 prospective members of the Class of 2015. Fifteen percent of the 6,547 students who applied were offered a position in the first year class. Based on previous admissions patterns, Swarthmore expects this group of admitted students to yield a first-year class of about 383 for next fall.
"The talent, motivation, commitment, and intellectual curiosity exhibited by the admitted class is outstanding, and we look forward to the contributions they will make on our campus," says Jim Bock '90, dean of admissions and financial aid. The 6,547 applications mark the highest number the College has ever received, with the largest increases coming from California, New York, and from international students.
Of the admitted students attending high schools reporting class rank, 31 percent are valedictorians or salutatorians. Fifty-eight percent are in the top two percent of their high school class and 91 percent are in the top decile.
The admitted students come from six continents, 64 nations, and 50 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. California is the most highly represented home state of members in the newly admitted class. Following, in order, are New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, and Washington.
South Korea, with 11 students, is the most represented nation among international students in the admitted class. Nine are from China. Five each are from Canada and India. Three each are from Nepal, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Two each are from Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, and Kenya. One each is from Australia, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Macedonia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Additionally, there are many students who carry dual citizenships with the U.S. or who have permanent residency whose nationalities are not included in this summary.
Fifty-nine percent of the admitted students come from public high schools, twenty-six percent from private independent schools, six percent from parochial schools, and nine percent from schools overseas. Fourteen percent of the admitted students are among the first generation in their family to attend college.
"Undecided" is the most popular intended major among the admitted students. Next, in order, are engineering, political science, biology, English, economics, mathematics, history, physics, and psychology.