Northwestern admitted its largest and most diverse class in history through early decision this year.
“We received 1,776 applications, and 625 were admitted – both record numbers,” said Christopher Watson, dean of undergraduate admissions. Last year, only 1,498 applied and 572 were admitted.
Though the numbers increased, the acceptance rate did not. This year’s acceptance rate for early decision was 35% compared to last year’s rate of 38%.
Early decision (ED) applicants must enroll in the university if accepted, unless demonstrated financial aid is not satisfied.
While the number of accepted students increased, the average standardized test scores remained constant. “Our average SATs are about the same as last year’s ED group,” Watson commented.
The standardized test scores did not change, but the demographics have become increasingly more diverse. According to Watson, the early decision class accepted this year is the most diverse in Northwestern history and it is due to the efforts of two up in coming organizations: Council of Latin Admission Volunteers for Education (CLAVE) and NUAmbassadors.
CLAVE and NUambassadors are two student organizations designed to reach out to Latin-American and African-American students, respectively. According to NUAmbassador’s website, their goal is to “promote the University to prospective students through assisting in the recruitment, correspondence with, and orientation of African American students to Northwestern.”
One program that both CLAVE and NUambassadors offer is NU Pen Pals, which allows current Latin- and African-American Northwestern students to become pen pals with prospective minority students to aid them in the decision making process.
“I feel the Pen Pal program really impacted the diversity of the new class,” said Veronica Morales, Communication junior and co-chair of CLAVE. “It is something completely new this year. The prospective students, when accepted, didn’t just receive a generic postcard from the college, but one handwritten by a current student.”
Watson deemed this year’s early admissions successful for Northwestern.
“We would not have experienced our most recent success without the help of Northwestern Students, Northwestern alumni, and the two student groups,” he said. “Their continued participation in our recruitment activities is essential to sustaining the momentum we have.”