Goucher College Welcomes the Class of 2013

Release date: August 25, 2009 |

The 400 members of Goucher’s entering first-year class were chosen from 3,647 applications – the second-largest pool of applications in the college’s 125-year history. Despite the troubling economic climate domestically and abroad, this year’s first-year class is 11 percent larger than last year’s.

Members of the Class of 2013 are coming to Goucher from 350 high schools in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and seven countries. Goucher was a top choice among many of these students, 45 percent of whom applied to the college through the Early Action option. Members of the new first-year class are well qualified and high achieving: Nearly half were in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class; more than a quarter graduated in the top 10 percent of their classes; and 17 students are Advanced Placement scholars. The average SAT (combined critical reading and math) for the first-year class is 1,170, up 28 points from last year, and the average ACT composite score increased from 26 last year to 27 this year. Also notable is the dramatic broadening of ethnic diversity in this year’s first-year class – 21 percent of the Class of 2013 are multicultural students, compared with 15 percent of last year’s class.

These students are also an accomplished group outside of the classroom. While in high school, 55 percent received academic awards; 69 percent were involved in the fine and performing arts; half were involved with athletics; and 70 percent performed community service. Goucher is also pleased to welcome to campus a student sponsored through the Iraqi Student Project and two students who are recipients of benefits provided through Goucher’s participation in the Veteran Administration’s Yellow Ribbon Program.

Goucher’s commitment to helping students and families afford the cost of private higher education remains strong – 81 percent of the first-year class are receiving some form of financial assistance (from all sources), with an average financial aid award of $28,586.

The arrival of the Class of 2013 coincides with the opening of Goucher’s new flagship building, the Athenaeum, and the celebration of the college’s 125th anniversary. The Goucher community welcomes our talented group of new students and their families and looks forward to their continuing achievements over the next four years.