Wheaton welcomes Class of 2012

Wheaton will welcome 420 freshmen representing the Class of 2012 to campus Saturday. Nearly 4,000 high school students applied for admission and 40 percent were accepted.

Over the past few years, admission to Wheaton has become increasingly competitive. ''The Class of 2012 includes smart, dynamic and diverse students," said Gail Berson, dean of admission and financial aid. "We are confident they will contribute to and benefit from everything that Wheaton offers." 

Berson commented on the strength of this year's applicant pool. ''Each year, the process of evaluating and selecting a freshman class becomes more challenging," she said. "Today's students are scholar-athletes, published authors, global travelers, gifted artists and dedicated community service organizers. I am increasingly impressed by their academic and co-curricular credentials. But most of all, their desire to succeed at the highest academic levels propels them to the forefront of a competitive admission process."

Here is a glimpse of the Class of 2012:

• The average grade point average was 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Nearly 60 percent of the Class of 2012 was in the top 10 percent of its high school class.
• The average SAT score of those who submitted results was 1300.
• Students come from more than 350 different secondary schools; 62% are public high schools, 27% are independent schools, and 11% represent independent religious schools.
• The Class of 2012 reflects a diverse applicant pool—17 percent of first-year students identify as Asian, black, Hispanic, native American, Pacific Islander or multiracial.
• First-year students represent 33 states and 32 countries.
• The incoming student body is 39 percent male and 61 percent female.
• 11 percent of the class have relatives who are Wheaton alumnae/i.
• The top five states of origin are Massachusetts, New York, California, Maine, and Connecticut.