Poised for Greatness
The class of 2006 at a glance

By Leigh Ann Sobehart

Today, the streets of Oakland resemble a Los Angeles freeway as 3,140 students from 45 states and 33 foreign countries converge on the University of Pittsburgh—their new home.

From Alaska to the Virgin Islands to a military state in Africa, these students, collectively, have traveled thousands of hours and millions of miles to come to the University. Here they will add their unique backgrounds and talents to the melting pot of students, past and present.

Pitt proudly welcomes the Class of 2006, one of its most distinguished classes in terms of academic achievement. According to Betsy Porter, director of Admissions and Financial Aid, many at the University put a great deal of effort into recruiting the incoming freshman class.

“The continuing and dramatic improvement in the quality of our undergraduate students is an institutional success story,” said Porter. “Faculty, alumni, students, staff, and the leadership of this University have all been involved in the recruitment and enrollment of the Class of 2006.”

Continued improvements in academic programs, facilities, and service opportunities attracted the largest pool of applicants in Pitt’s history. Nearly 16,000 students applied for admission in 2002-—more than double the number of applicants in 1995. Of these, slightly less than 50 percent were accepted—an extremely impressive acceptance yield.

A decline in its acceptance yield is one of the best indicators of Pitt’s improved institutional status and selectivity. The caliber of students entering Pitt this fall is evident—41 percent ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes, an increase of 20 percent since 1995.

On average, members of the Class of 2006 scored 200 points higher than the national average on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The average combined SAT score for incoming freshmen is 1220, an 81 point increase from the 1995 average.

In addition, 735 students were eligible for admission to the University Honors College, a prestigious distinction requiring an SAT (or equivalent) score of 1300 or above, as well as a class rank in the top 10 percent of one’s high school graduating class. Eight years ago, only 340 freshmen were Honors College-eligible.

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