Who Got In? 2005

Carnegie Mellon University
In 2004, our freshman class of 1,353 students was the same as in 2003. The class was selected from 14,115 applications, fewer than in 2003. We accepted 5,870 students, more than in 2003. We placed about 2,709 students on our wait list, fewer than in 2003, and admitted 75 students, fewer than in 2003. Our 2004 yield of accepted students who actually enrolled was about 24 percent, the same compared to 2003.

We admitted fewer U.S. minority students than in 2003. The student body is comprised of 4 percent African American students, 4 percent Hispanic students, 23 percent Asian American students, and less than 1 percent Native American students. Our retention rate for minority students is about 91 percent from freshman to sophomore year; 70 percent in five years. About 81 percent of all our students graduate in five years.

EARLY AND ELECTRONIC ADMISSIONS
We received 467 Early Decision/Early Action applications, the same as in 2003. About 10 percent of our 2004 first-year class was accepted ED/EA.

About 3,079 students applied electronically in 2004, more than in 2003. We accepted 637 international students in 2004, fewer than in 2003.

We do plan to use the SAT II Writing test in our 2005 admissions.

FINANCIAL AID AND PROGRAMS
About 59 percent of our students receive financial aid. The average aid package is $23,920. Our 2004-2005 tuition is $31,225.

The most popular majors or programs on our campus are: Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering. Among 2005 applicants, we seek the following special skills or talents: "Those who engage outside the classroom; students wanting to make a difference." We do give advantage to legacy applicants; "no more or less than in the past."

ADVICE AND TRENDS
The most important thing we want prospective students to know about our school is: "Great balance between the technical, fine arts, and liberal and professional studies." In 2004, we spotted the following admission trends: "Less interest in computer sciences."

We found that more students are not taking advantage of the "gap year." We do give deferments. High schools can help prepare students for college by "helping students develop a better sense of self."

We advise 2005 applicants to "work hard, pursue and develop a passion, be comfortable in your skin." The number one problem our admissions office faced in 2004 was "the parents' high expectations versus reality. Huge sense of entitlement."

DEADLINES
Our deadline for 2005 admissions is November 15 for Early Admission and January 1 for Regular Admission.

Michael Steidel, Director of Admission, completed the survey. Carnegie Mellon University, 500 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213; (412) 268-2082; E-mail address, ms44@andrew.cmu.edu; Web address, www.cmu.edu/admissions.

Duke University
In 2004, our freshman class of 1,638 students was smaller than in 2003. The class was selected from 16,741 applications, more than in 2003. We accepted 3,806 students, fewer than in 2003. Our 2004 yield of accepted students who actually enrolled was about 43 percent, the same compared to 2003.

We admitted the same number of U.S. minority students as in 2003. The student body is comprised of 11 percent African American students, 7 percent Hispanic students, 13 percent Asian American students, and 1 percent Native American students. Our retention rate for minority students is about 97 percent from freshman to sophomore year; 99 percent in five years. About 97 percent of all our students graduate in five years.

EARLY AND ELECTRONIC ADMISSIONS
We received 1,385 Early Decision/Early Action applications, fewer than in 2003. About 30 percent of our 2004 first-year class was accepted ED/EA.

About 6,000 students applied electronically in 2004, more than in 2003. We accepted the same number of international students in 2004 as in 2003. Our international students come from 130 different countries.

In 2004, the middle 50 percent of our freshman test scores were 1390-1530 combined SAT, 29-34 ACT. We do not plan to use the SAT II Writing test in our 2005 admissions "unless students submit scores using the elder SAT-I that doesn't include writing."

FINANCIAL AID AND PROGRAMS
About 42 percent of our students receive financial aid. Our 2004-2005 tuition is $29,770.

The most popular majors or programs on our campus are: English, Biology, Economics, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, and Public Polity. Among 2005 applicants, we seek the following special skills or talents: "Students who are intellectually engaged; those who are not afraid to challenge themselves or their professors, those who are active in the arts and/or research."

ADVICE AND TRENDS
The most important thing we want prospective students to know about our school is: "Duke creates an environment in which students can pursue any intellectual interest, including creating their own majors, as well as rich selections of extracurricular activities." In 2004, we spotted the following admission trends: "Continued increase in the overall academic quality of applicants."

We found that more students are not taking advantage of the "gap year." We do occasionally give deferments.

We advise 2005 applicants "that the short answer and essay questions are students' primary opportunity to speak to the Admissions Committee in their own voices, and they give the Admissions Committee insight into the students' interests and aspirations."

DEADLINES
Our deadline for 2005 admissions is November 1 for Early Admission and January 2 for Regular Admission.

Patty Courtright, Public Relations Specialist, completed the survey. Duke University, 2138 Campus Dr., Box 60586, Durham, NC 27708-0586; E-mail address, patty.courtright@duke.edu; Web address, www.admissions.duke.edu.

The Evergreen State College
In 2004, our freshman class of 401 students was larger than in 2003. The class was selected from 3,609 applications, more than in 2003. We accepted 3,028 students, more than in 2003. Our 2004 yield of accepted students who actually enrolled was about 48 percent, the same compared to 2003.

We admitted 491 U.S. minority undergraduate students in 2004, more than in 2003. The student body is comprised of 5 percent African American students, 5 percent Hispanic students, 5 percent Asian American students, and 5 percent Native American students. Our retention rate for minority students is about 74 percent from freshman to sophomore year.

EARLY AND ELECTRONIC ADMISSIONS
About 2,158 students applied electronically in 2004, more than in 2003. We accepted 20 international students in 2004, the same as in 2003.

In 2004, our average freshman test scores were 1130 combined SAT, 23 ACT.

FINANCIAL AID AND PROGRAMS
In fall 2003 to end of summer 2004, 66 percent of all our undergraduate and graduate students receive financial aid. The average aid package is $9,376. Our 2004-2005 tuition is $3,907 for in-state and $14,532 for out-of-state.

The most popular majors or programs on our campus are: Environmental Studies, Expressive Arts, Computer Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. We do not give advantage to legacy applicants.

ADVICE AND TRENDS
We want prospective students to know about our "Learning communities, Narrative evaluations, and Integrated/Coordinated studies."

We found that more students are not taking advantage of the "gap year." We give one-year deferments only. High schools can help prepare students for college by providing more "writing and critical thinking."

We advise 2005 applicants to "plan early for admission, scholarships, financial aid and housing." The number one problem our admissions office faced in 2004 was "yield to enroll for nonresident freshman."

DEADLINES
Our deadline for 2005 admissions is March 1 for Regular Admission.

Diane H. Kahaumia, Special Assistant Enrollment Management, completed the survey. The Evergreen State College, 2700 Parkway Northwest M/SL 1208, Olympia, WA 98505; (360) 867-6497; E-mail address, kahaumid@evergreen.edu; Web address, www.evergreen.edu.