There are 6,662 regular decision applicants for the Class of 2011. The number of applications is up nine percent from the previous year, setting a new College record. The previous record for number of applications submitted is 6,262.
"It's a banner year, and it's great for Amherst, in terms of numbers and rankings," said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tom Parker. "We look at it as a vote of confidence from students, who are deciding that Amherst is a good school."
"But as for us admissions officers," said Parker, "We'll have to read 45 files a day before we meet as a committee in March. Ask any of us what we're doing between seven in the morning and eleven o' clock at night, and you'll find us reading files."
The applicant pool includes 2,933 men, a seven-percent increase over last year, and 3,719 women, an 11 percent increase.
"The split between men and women is accelerating," Parker noted. "It's a reflection of higher education. There are more women than men in medical school, law school and Ph.D. programs."
The diversity of applicants also skyrocketed this year. There were 1,887 applications from students of color, up 15 percent from last year.
The number of African American applicants jumped up 24 percent to a total of 364. 693 Asian American students applied, an increase of 16 percent. The Office of Admission received applications from 379 Latino students, an increase of 10 percent. Applications from students of mixed ethnicity were up by 15 percent to 437.
There were also 827 international students, up 11 percent from last year.
"It's even more dramatic when compared to the Class of 2005," said Parker. "There were only 216 African American students and 445 Asian American students who applied six years ago."
This increase of students of color, according to Parker, can be linked to improved recruiting efforts "with DIVOH [Diversity Open House] as the centerpiece," as well as widespread publicity regarding Amherst's stance for socioeconomic and racial diversity.
"We had a great year in the news," said Dean Parker. "Many students regard Amherst as the gold standard for diversity. They've read about us, and they see this is the place where Tony Marx is."
The regular decision pool this year also saw a nine percent increase of children of alumni, with 155 applying. In the previous year, only 142 legacy students applied.
"When Amherst expanded from 1,200 students to 1,600 students, this resulted in more alumni, and we're seeing the children of those alumni," Dean Parker commented.
This diverse group is also academically strong. Standardized test scores for the regular decision pool were solid, with averages of 696 for Critical Reading, 691 for Math and 689 for Writing. ACT scores averaged 31.
With such an increase of high-achieving academic superstars vying for a spot in the Class of 2011, the regular decision pool is shaping up to be a competitive group. "We're past the point where the number of applicants will affect the quality of the incoming class. It's Harvard-like in that way, when we have to start turning people down," said Dean Parker.
According to the College Web site, review of the applications is slated to begin on March 1. Decision letters will be mailed out on or around April 2 with decisions e-mailed to applicants residing outside of the United States.