 | Freshmen who participated in the FOOT orientation program came to campus directly from their days of backpacking in the mountains. |
Yale's newest crop of freshmen -- the Yale College Class of 2009 -- arrived on campus Aug. 26.
The 1,323 freshmen (671 men and 652 women) hail from all 50 states and 42 foreign countries. Students from outside the United States make up 8.4% of the class. Almost one-third (32.8%) of those from the United States are "students of color." Financial aid has been extended to 43% of incoming students, with an average scholarship of $24,000.
Entrance into the Class of 2009 was highly competitive. Applications poured in from 19,451 high school students. The admission rate was 9.7%, the lowest in Yale's history and the lowest in the Ivy League this year. More than 70% of those who were offered admission chose to come to Yale, producing the highest yield in decades and possibly in the history of the college.
Some of the incoming students participated in pre-orientation activities during the week prior to the opening of the dormitories. These programs are Freshman Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT), Cultural Connections (CC), FreshPerson Conference (FPC) and Orientation for International Students (OIS).
FOOT consists of six-day and four-day backpacking trips in the mountains of New York and along the Appalachian Trail. Freshmen of all backgrounds and levels of hiking participate. CC introduces freshmen to Yale's cultural resources, emphasizing the experiences of students of color and issues related to racial identity. FPC, organized by undergraduates and sponsored by the Chaplain's Office, takes place at a camp in Connecticut and includes panels on college life, performances by student groups, campfires and get-acquainted activities. OIS is designed to ease the transition to the United States for international students and to familiarize them with life at Yale.
* a nationally-ranked professional surfer;
* an Eagle Scout who survived a polar bear attack in Alaska;
* an inventor who holds four U.S. patents;
* a student of traditional Inca healing, training to be a shaman;
* an anthropologist who published a book on Iranian tribeswomen;
* the NAACP Teenager of the Year;
* chair of the Youth Council for Amnesty International;
* a professional artist who has worked in orphanages in Nepal and South America and as a coffee picker in Hawaii;
* a member of Cincinnati's professional ballet company; and
* a world-class competitive Irish stepdancer.
President Richard C. Levin and Yale College Dean Peter Salovey formally welcomed the new students on Aug. 27 at the Freshman Assembly in Woolsey Hall.
T H I S
University greets its newest freshmen
The usual hustle and bustle marked the arrival of the 1,323 members of the Class of 2009. Nearly half received financial aid from the University.
More than half the freshmen (55.3%) attended public high schools; the remaining 44.7% went to independent, religious or foreign schools. The median SAT score for entering students was 750 verbal and 740 math.
Upperclassmen used both their muscles and their heads as they helped the new freshmen move their essentials on campus.
Many students have unusual stories to tell and a long list of accomplishments on their resumes. The Class of 2009 includes:
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University greets its newest freshmen
Freshman Address by President Richard C. Levin
Freshman Address by Yale College Dean Peter Salovey
President of China to speak at Yale Sept. 8
New dean to promote 'values' seminars at SOM
Scientists correct key error in measurement of global warming
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
Joel Podolny named Beinecke Professor of Management
Emilie Townes is appointed to Andrew Mellon Professorship
Thomas Troeger is designated as the Cox Lantz ProfessorGrant to support research into reducing pain of pediatric surgery
Invitation to Yale community: Meet the new World Fellows
University celebrates Sterling Library's 75th anniversary
Conference will focus on role of religion in public life
Yale engages in special community projects during 'Days of Caring'
Yale hockey star Helen Resor is picked for U.S. Women's National Team
Descendents of John Davenport to converge on campus
The Cinema at Whitney, a new film society, begins weekly screenings
Heart-attack patients seeking after-hours care . . .
While You Were Away: The Summer's Top Stories Revisited
Cell biologist named Bayer Fellow
IN MEMORIAM
Abraham Goldstein, former dean and criminal law scholar
John-Michael Montias, economist and expert on Vermeer
Drama school hosts a memorial tribute to . . . Benjamin MordecaiCampus Notes
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