The Class of 2009 begins its undergraduate experience as one of the largest incoming classes in College history.

With 1,067 students, it has approximately 50 students more than anticipated, according to Christopher P. Lydon, associate vice president for admission and enrollment planning. That is 30 students above last year's freshman class—which was the highest total in 15 years.

While the Class of 2009 is "very similar" academically and otherwise to its immediate predecessor, Lydon noted two differences. "This class," he said, "brings an awful lot to Providence College in terms of its geographic background and its diversity, which is quite strong at more than 10 percent."

Geographically, the Class of 2009 is more national in scope. Thirty-eight students—10 more than last year—come from the five-state mid-Atlantic region. The number of students who live in southern and midwestern states increased by five in each region, to 19 and 34, respectively.

Freshmen from as far away as Nepal and Bulgaria comprise the 15 foreign students in the class. This is an increase of five over last year.

In the category of diversity, the percentage of all students of color has risen from 9.6% last year to 10.2% this year.

Academically, the class boasts the second-highest SAT average in school history at 1203, closely following the record-holder, the Class of 2007, whose average was 1206. This year's class also holds a combined unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.42, just like its predecessor.

Other points of note for the class include:

• Biology remains the most popular major among the 543 declared students, with 82 first-year students choosing that discipline.
• The male-to-female ratio stands at 44/56%, compared to 47/53% a year ago.
• A record 8,237 students applied to the College this year—an increase of 410 students over last year's record.

Pointing to Family Day in April and a number of other recruitment initiatives, Lydon stated that the drive to enroll another standout class was the work of constituencies throughout the College community. "Literally hundreds of volunteers contributed to this," he credited.