‘The best and the brightest’ freshman class comes to IU

Freshman Kylie Hutchinson was a high-achieving high school senior last year.

A schedule full of advanced placement classes and the cross-country team kept her busy. In her free time, she applied for scholarships. Her high test scores and strong GPA guaranteed her enough money to pay for college, with thousands left over.

It’s a big reason she came to IU.

“I have my year paid for,” she said. ”I even get money back for scholarships I received outside of IU.”

As she begins classes at IU, many students with the same dedication to academics join her.

This year’s freshman class is the most academically talented in the history of IU, said Roger Thompson, vice provost for Enrollment Management, in an interview last week.

“We see more students coming in with higher GPAs and test scores than the past,” Thomspon said.

Freshmen are setting the bar high for future student admissions, Thompson said. New automatic, merit-based scholarships encouraged “the best and the brightest” to consider IU, he said.

New students’ average SAT scores for math and critical reading rose 29 points to 1,203 out of 1,600, according to an IU press release.

High school seniors will have to be better prepared for applications and enrollment requirements, he said.

This causes admissions to get more competitive, creating an incoming class with higher standards.

“The 2008 and 2009 classes show strong growth in academic quality, diversity and enrollment,” Thompson said.

Freshman Clarisa Ryan said IU’s communication and culture major caught her attention. When she received the Hudson and Holland scholarship, she made up her mind.

Also a Hudson and Holland Scholar, Hutchinson also received one of the University’s newer scholarships, the IU Recognition Scholarship, along with the Federal Pell Grant and several scholarships from sources outside IU. When Barnard College did not offer her as much money, Hutchinson decided IU was the best choice.

“I love Bloomington,” she said. “I love the people, and I love the culture. Academics are a huge part of my decision, and IU provided that as well.”