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Big, diverse, smart: Class of 2014 takes shape

David Gonnerman '90
May 27, 2010
Elena Miller '14 listens to Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Michael Kyle '85 talk about life at St. Olaf during a recent on-campus event for admitted students.

The first day of May is an important date in the life of a prospective student. Popularly known as "national decision day," it is the deadline for students who have been admitted to one or more colleges to make their college selection.

As enrollment deposits start coming in, Admissions officers are able to anticipate what the entering class will probably look like. For St. Olaf College, the outlook is especially promising as 865 students have made their initial enrollment deposit for next fall. While it is certain there will be some attrition before the class actually arrives on campus in September, what Admissions officers call the summer "melt," the St. Olaf Class of 2014 is shaping up to be the largest and most diverse ever enrolled by the college.

Drawn from more than 4,000 applicants (the second-largest pool in St. Olaf history), this year's group of accepted students represents 43 states and 14 countries that span five continents. They graduated with high school classes ranging in size from seven to 1,418.

The anticipated class is also notable in that it has 128 U.S. multicultural students — at nearly 15 percent it's the most ever in an incoming class — and a nearly "50–50" male–female ratio that is rare in a higher education system that tends to enroll more women than men nationally.

Despite the size and diversity of the incoming students, "They all share one thing in common: an enthusiastic and genuine desire to be a part of the St. Olaf community," says Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Michael Kyle '85.

Academically, the admitted students include five Davis Scholars, 39 National Merit finalists, three National Hispanic Scholars, and 82 Buntrock Scholars. In addition, 70 of the students ranked No. 1 or 2 in their graduating classes.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.