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The University extended offers of admission to 8.6 percent of applicants to the class of 2018, marking the lowest percentage of admitted students in University history, said Dean of Admission Jim Miller ’73.

From a pool of 30,432 applicants, the second-largest in University history, there were 2,619 students admitted to the class of 2018, representing all 50 states and 89 nations, according to data provided by the Office of Admission. The office expects the class to end up with around 1,560 students, Miller said.

Applicants were able to log onto Brown’s website Thursday at 5 p.m. EST to check their admission decision.

These admits will join the 583 students who were admitted to the class in December during the early admission cycle.

One hundred students were admitted to the Program in Liberal Medical Education, and 16 students were admitted to the Brown/Rhode Island School of Design Dual Degree Program, according to the data provided by the Admission Office.

“This was the single most challenging year to be admitted to Brown in our history,” Miller said.

The pool of admitted students reached a record-high level of ethnic diversity, with 46 percent of students identifying as students of color. Twenty percent of admits identify as Asian, 13 percent as black or African-American, 13 percent as Hispanic or Latino, 2 percent as American Indian or Alaska Native and 1 percent as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Miller said.

A record 18 percent of admitted students are first-generation college students. Sixty-seven percent applied for financial aid, Miller said.

Sixty-three percent of admitted students attended public high schools, while 30 percent attended private and 7 percent attended parochial.

The sciences were popular among admits, with 37 percent listing areas in the physical sciences as their top academic interest, according to the Admission Office data. Twenty-five percent noted concentrations in the social sciences, 20 percent in the life and medical sciences and 13 percent in the humanities. Five percent of admitted students said they were undecided.

Engineering was the most popular intended concentration for admits, with 332 students listing it as their top choice. Biology, computer science, biochemistry and molecular biology and undecided rounded out the top five. The popularity of science concentrations “reflects a national trend,” Miller said, adding that “a lot of the top students across the country are focusing on sciences … more than they did certainly a decade or so ago.”

The most common home state for admitted students was California, with 396 admits. New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey are home to 298, 205 and 143 admits, respectively. Florida and Texas tied for the fifth spot with 94 students each, according to the Admission Office data.

In total, 394 international students were admitted. China, India, Canada and the United Kingdom were the top four foreign nations for international accepted students with 42, 31, 28 and 28 students admitted, respectively.

Miller did not disclose how many students were offered spots on the waitlist, but he said admission officers “expect maybe 400 or so to stay on the waitlist.” These students will learn if they have been offered a position by “mid-May at the earliest,” he said. No students on the waitlist for the class of 2017 were offered admission, but the number has been as high as 75 within the past five years, he added.

The other Ivy League schools also released their admission decisions Thursday.

Columbia admitted 6.94 percent, Cornell admitted 14 percent, Dartmouth admitted 11.5 percent, Harvard admitted 5.9 percent, Penn admitted 9.9 percent, Princeton admitted 7.28 percent and Yale admitted 6.26 percent.

The Ivies all have fairly consistent admission rates compared to last year, said Michele Hernandez, a college consultant and former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth.

Many admitted students said they were shocked to learn they had been accepted.

Rachel Steppe of Woodstock, Ga., said she checked her decision online during a track practice. “I still can’t believe it. I just feel super fortunate to be included,” she said.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to get it,” said Hailey Winstead of Southport, N.C. She said she screamed in excitement and started singing “I’m the Man” by Aloe Blacc upon reading her acceptance after several minutes of refreshing the website.

Beatriz Garza of Mission, Texas, said she became interested in Brown after talking with current students. “The open curriculum can give me the chance to explore everything I’m interested in,” she added.

Admitted students are invited to A Day on College Hill, which takes place April 22 to 24. They have until May 1 to make enrollment decisions.

http://www.browndailyherald.com/2014/03/27/brown-admits-record-low-8-6-percent/