ELON COLLEGE, N.C. – Elon College welcomes a record 1,156 freshmen as it begins the 2000-2001 academic year with a new student convocation, Saturday, Aug. 26. The total Elon enrollment this year will be approximately 4,100 students, also a record.
Students begin moving onto campus Friday, Aug. 25. Orientation activities also begin on Friday and continue through Sunday, Sept. 3. Saturday’s convocation for new students and their parents will be held at 9 a.m. Under the Oaks. Classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 29.
The entering freshman class is the most academically qualified in Elon history. Fifty-three percent were in the top quarter of their high school classes and seven were class valedictorians.
The average SAT score of entering Elon freshmen has increased every year since 1993. This year’s average score is 1115, 10 points higher than last year, 25 points above the average in 1998 and about 100 points above the national average.
Students entering as Fellows, which recognize excellence in honors, science, business, leadership, journalism/communications and teaching, make up 14 percent of the freshman class. They have an average SAT of 1201 and an average high school grade point average of 3.8. The 365 Presidential Scholars have an average SAT score of 1216 and an average high school GPA of 3.991.
Members of the freshman class come from 37 states and 12 nations. About 28 percent of the students come from North Carolina, an increase of 7 percent from 1998. Fourteen percent are from Maryland, 10 percent from Virginia and another 10 percent from Florida/Georgia. New England states account for 8 percent of Elon’s entering freshmen with 6 percent each from New York/New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio/West Virginia. The 25 international students represent a 40 percent increase from last year’s international student number.
Top intended majors of incoming students are business, communications, elementary education, sports medicine, psychology, biology, computer science, political science, journalism and international business.
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