News Release

The newest flock of Blue Jays will start building its nest on the Homewood campus when the class of 2011 moves in Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1. Move-in is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Tradition dictates that the 1,212 freshmen will start their move-in weekend with a warm welcome from President William R. Brody and his wife, Wendy: As the caravan of family cars and SUVs winds its way onto campus toward the students' ultimate destination — the residence halls — the Brodys will ride alongside on their folding bikes, greeting the newcomers.

The red-carpet welcome continues when a contingent of helpful upperclassmen whisks the necessities of college life from the car to the students' new homes. While the freshmen settle in, parents are treated to refreshments and a have a chance to meet faculty, staff and students, as well as their fellow freshmen parents.

The parents will have a lot to crow about over coffee and doughnuts: The class of 2011 was chosen from a record-breaking applicant pool of 14,851 freshman applicants, an increase of 7 percent over the total for 2006 and 30 percent over the total for 2005. Only 24 percent of this year's applicants were admitted; two years ago, that rate was 35 percent. The numbers show that the university has simultaneously become more popular and more selective over the course of the past decade: By contrast, in 1998, 8,540 students applied and 42 percent were admitted.

Some facts and figures about the class of 2011 (as of July 18, 2007):

Reporters are welcome to visit the Homewood campus for this annual rite-of-passage. To arrange your visit, contact Amy Lunday at 443-287-9960 or [email protected].