3.1 The Student Body

The student body consists of about one-third graduate and professional students and about two-thirds undergraduates. In each case, selective admissions policies are in effect. About 20,000 apply for the graduate and professional schools and about twelve percent of these enroll each year. There are nearly 16,000 applications for undergraduate admissions, from which about 3,000 first-year students and about 600 transfer applicants are selected. The Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies keeps up to date information on student enrollment and other university data.

Demonstrated academic achievement in a challenging secondary school environment is the primary criterion for admission to the first-year undergraduate class. 86 percent rank in the upper tenth of their classes and the average combined score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test is above 1300. About 69 percent are Virginians, 20 percent come from the northeastern states. The remainder come from across the nation and, increasingly, from international sources. In recent years, more than 25 percent of the entering undergraduate class has consisted of African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and international students.

Several specially selected groups are included in the entering class: the Echols Scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences; the Rodman Scholars in the School of Engineering and Applied Science; and the Jefferson Scholars, who are selected by the Alumni Association and supported for four years of undergraduate study and five renewable years of graduate study.

Students coming directly from secondary school enter the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Architecture, or the School of Nursing. The McIntire School of Commerce admits students after two years of undergraduate study, either here or elsewhere. The Curry School of Education admits students to the five-year BA/MT program after at least one year of study. Students in the program earn a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences and a Masters of Teaching from the Curry School of Education.

The tone of undergraduate life is set by great reliance on the capacity of students to govern themselves. Student self-governance is the core of the community. Student Council is a University-wide organization primarily concerned with providing more and better services to students. Each of the schools has its own student organization, as do the residential dormitories and many service organizations. Student discipline has been delegated to students since establishment of the Honor System in 1842 and the Judicial System in 1954.