ILR Class of 2012 members among top students nationally
Selected from the largest applicant pool in ILR School history, the Class of 2012 began classes Thursday.
The 150 freshmen were among 957 applicants, up eight percent from the previous year.
ILR freshmen have a mean average SAT score of 1372; they are among the top performers of the more than three million students who graduated from American high schools this year. Nationally, the average SAT score was 1073 in 2007, according to the College Board.
"They're all superstars. They are amazingly talented," said ILR Undergraduate Admissions Director Mary G. Van Arsdale.
Seven are international students, including a Royal Thai Scholar sponsored by the Thai government.
More than half of the freshmen are New York state residents. Out-of-state enrollees come from New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, Vermont, District of Columbia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and Michigan.
Seventy-four members of the class are women and 76 are men. Twenty percent of the students are from underrepresented minority groups.
In addition to a student from Thailand, international students include three from South Korea, two from Canada, one from Singapore, and a student from China.
One outstanding scholar in the Class of 2012 received the Hunter Rawlings Presidential Research Scholars award and 12 students received the Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars scholarship for their dedication to academic achievement and commitment to excellence in leadership.
Eighteen students received a Cornell Tradition fellowship, which recognizes students who exemplify a strong work ethic, dedication to public service, and academic excellence. Students are nominated for these scholarships by the admissions selection committee and are selected by senior staff and faculty.
About a third of the freshman class was accepted through the early admissions program. "ILR saw a 20 percent increase this year in early admissions applications," Van Arsdale said.
The 150 entering freshmen will be joined by 123 incoming transfer students this fall. ILR received 237 applications for transfer admissions, up 2 percent from 2007.
Five transfer students entering this year arrive on campus as part of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program. The Jack Kent Cooke scholars are transferring from Monroe Community College and Morrisville State College.