Fewer first- years enroll

Upperclassmen always whine about the fleet of first-years that arrive each year, but this year there is less to whine about.

Enrollment was down from last year with the College enrolling 620 first-years. The College reported a successful admissions cycle, admitting 63 percent of applicants, up one percentage point from last year. 620 first-years and 60 transfer students from a total of 45 states and 15 foreign countries comprise this year's incoming class, a yield of approximately 30 percent.

The Conservatory took steps to relieve classroom overcrowding this year, admitting only 135 new students, down from last year's total of 167, Director of Conservatory Admissions Mike Manderin said.

Twenty-two percent of incoming students are of color, a figure unchanged from last year. This includes 72 Asian-Americans, up from 49 last year; 62 African-Americans; 34 Latinos and 6 Native Americans.

Directory of Admissions Debra Chermonte reported that more than half of the incoming students were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and over 82 percent were in the top quarter. Chermonte offered a caveat, however, that these figures were not entirely representative of the class because increasing numbers of high schools are abandoning class ranks.

Chermonte also noted that 50 percent of the class performed community service in high school, 48 percent performed instrumental or vocal music, 35 percent were involved in theater and 18 percent were in student government.

College application numbers were down nearly seven percent this admissions cycle, with approximately 3,500 students applying. Chermonte attributed this decrease to an increase of potential Oberlin applicants being accepted early decision to selective universites.

The College continued in its efforts to attain greater economic and social diversity, admitting 100 first-generation College students this year.

Geographically, the largest state contingent came from New York, followed by Ohio and California.

Mean SAT scores rose four points from last year to 1308.

As a result of their attempt to relieve cramped facilities, the Conservatory was able to create its most selective class ever, admitting only 27 percent of 1090 applicants, three percent fewer than in 1997.

"In recent years the incoming classes have been about 25 students over target. Because we aimed to admit 30 or 35 fewer students this year, the students who applied had even more competitive competition," Manderin said.

Despite the smaller class size, this year's crop of new Conservatory students included five bassoonists, three organists, and two tuba players. All three instruments are currently in high demand due to a national shortage of skilled performers.

The Conservatory's chief competitors remain the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University. "In general, the way I judge quality is relative drawing power against similar schools," Manderin said. "We are solidly in the league of top-tier music schools in the U.S."

"If you would be supremely happy at Julliard you probably wouldn't be supremely happy at Oberlin," Manderin explained.

Manderin credits the Conservatory's excellent reputation to efforts over the past decade to attract high-quality instructors.

"This year a considerable number of students were drawn specifically by teachers who have worked with them in the past," Manderin said.