Aug. 26, 1998
Contact: John Blackburn
              (804) 982-3200


U.Va. Class of 2002 Profile
THE 1998 ENTERING CLASS						

	The University of Virginia's Class of 2002 -- approximately
2,920 strong -- will have a more international flavor than in previous
years. About 131 international students, or approximately 4.5 percent of
the entering class, are expected.
	Last year 109 international students were among the entering
class; 79 international students were among the entering '96 class.
Turkey will have the greatest representation among international
students, with 15 expected from there. Fourteen students are anticipated
from India, eight from the United Kingdom.  
	Slightly more than 65 percent of the entering students will be
Virginians. Among the top states represented by out-of-state students
are New York, with an anticipated 104 students; New Jersey, with 97; and
Pennsylvania, with 83.
	Approximately 79 percent of the entering students were in the
highest tenth of their high school classes -- about the same number as
last year. The entering class includes 199 valedictorians.
	The middle 50 percent of SAT scores is slightly higher than last
year's class.  The middle 50 percent of SAT-verbal scores among the
entering students is 600-700; the middle 50 percent of SAT-math scores
is 610-710, for a combined mid-range of 1210-1410.  Last year the
combined middle 50 percent combined SAT score was 1200-1410.
	The entering class will be approximately 12 percent
Asian-American, 11 percent African American, 2 percent Hispanic and 0.2
percent Native American.
	Reflecting demographics of entering classes nationwide, the new
class will be approximately 56 percent female.  About 11 percent, or 331
students, will be children of alumni.
	The first-year class was selected from 16,560 applications. Last
year the University 
						
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received 16,728 applications. Admission offers were extended to 5,459
applicants, and 2,934 accepted the offers. 
	"Although the number of those applying to the University has not
grown, the entering class is slightly higher in academic quality," said
Dean of Admission John A. Blackburn. 
	Of the Class of 2002, 2,277 are expected to enter the College of
Arts and Sciences; 511, the School of Engineering and Applied Science;
97, the Architecture School; and 49, the Nursing School.
	As of last week, 605 transfer students were expected to enroll.
They were selected from 1,948 applications.
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