The Class of 2012 is shaping up as the strongest, most talented and diverse in Denison University's 177-year history. In another record-setting year, the Office of Admissions received more than 30,000 inquiries from prospective members of the Class of 2012.

With the help of scores of individuals, including DARTers (Denison Alumni Recruiting Teams), faculty, staff and current Denison students, the university was able to convert these inquiries into more than 5,300 applications, representing the largest applicant pool Denison has ever had. In addition, only 38 percent of those applicants received an offer of admission, matching the lowest acceptance rate in Denison's history.

In terms of academic quality, the accepted students for the Class of 2012 are very strong. The mean grade-point average is 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale), and the average combined SAT score set a new record, surging above 1300. Again this year, well over 50 percent of them rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

Academic achievement alone, however, does not define the quality of an entering class. Outside of the classroom, Denison's admitted Class of 2012 is an extremely accomplished group, exhibiting a wide array of talents and skills. It includes leaders in community service; recognized writers, from journalists to novelists to poets; editors of literary journals and student newspapers; independent film producers; mountain climbers and cave explorers; award-winning musical performers and composers; actors and artists; and numerous class presidents.

There are also several standouts in every one of Denison's 23 women's and men's varsity sports, and many of those individuals will, no doubt, be contributing to the college's quest to retain the coveted NCAC All-Sports Trophy, the conference's top award that Denison has claimed for nine of the past ten years.

DU's admitted Class of 2012 includes a higher level of ethnic and geographic diversity, as well. Denison received applications from every state and more than 80 foreign countries. Applications from students of color set an all-time record at 636, which represents a remarkable 80-percent increase over the past five years. During the same time period, the university has seen a 29-percent increase in applications from children or grandchildren of alumni, and siblings of current Denison students and alumni.

It appears as though Denison is on pace to meet its enrollment goal of 585 new students in the Class of 2012, a number that is intentionally small, and therefore more competitive than previous entering classes. As Denison is adding the number of faculty, year by year, it is reducing the size of the student body, allowing for even more personal and meaningful student-faculty interaction in the college's classrooms, studios and laboratories.

Accepted students are required to confirm their intent to enroll by May 1. Even though the Office of Admissions is optimistic about meeting its target for the Class of 2012 with the currently accepted students, an additional 500 applicants were placed on this year's waiting list, a prudent measure to help ensure that the university meets its ultimate enrollment goal with quality candidates.