by Joe Garcia III
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne’s class of 2005 – this year’s freshmen – is the best academic class the University has seen, said ULV Dean of Admissions Lisa Meyer.
That rating is based on the grade point averages and SAT scores, which are higher than ever before, Meyer said.
Half of this year’s freshmen scored 1,000 or better on their SATs – the highest possible score is 1,600. And the average grade point average for incoming freshmen was greater than 3.4.
These numbers have been climbing steadily since 1998 when just over 30 percent of freshmen achieved SAT scores of 1,000 or higher and the average grade point average was 3.2, Meyers said.
Such improvements have to do with a variety of factors.
The University of La Verne is becoming more well-known and more students across the country are applying to and attending college in general, say University officials and outside researchers.
“It’s what we call Tidal Wave II,” said Jonathan Brown, president of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. “Baby Boomers’ children have reached college age,” Brown said. “That’s why so many are applying to college.”
Some experts predict that college enrollment will increase by 20 percent in the next decade.
Here, ULV’s freshman class of 326 students is the third largest in the University’s history. But such high numbers don’t seem to worry admissions administrators, who say they are ready to serve this bigger stronger student body.
Joe Garcia III
