Gettysburg College: Narrative Description

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GETTYSBURG COLLEGE O-16

300 North Washington St.
Gettysburg, PA 17325-1483
Tel: (717)337-6000; 800-431-0803; Admissions: (717)337-6100; Fax: (717)337-6008; E-mail: [email protected]; Web Site: http://www.gettysburg.edu/

Description: Independent, 4-year, coed, affiliated with Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Awards bachelor's degrees. Founded 1832. Setting: 230-acre suburban campus with easy access to Baltimore and Washington, DC. Endowment: $176.2 million. Research spending 2002-03: $557,773. Educational spending 2002-03: $14,316 per student. Total enrollment: 2,597. Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 11:1. 5,017 applied, 46% were admitted. 62% from top 10% of their high school class, 84% from top quarter, 99% from top half. Full-time: 2,584 students, 52% women, 48% men. Part-time: 13 students, 31% women, 69% men. Students come from 40 states and territories, 32 other countries, 72% from out-of-state, 0.04% Native American, 1% Hispanic, 4% black, 1% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 2% international, 1% 25 or older, 84% live on campus, 1% transferred in. Retention: 91% of 2003 full-time freshmen returned. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: social sciences and history; business/marketing; psychology. Core. Calendar: semesters. Advanced placement, self-designed majors, independent study, double major, adult/continuing education programs, internships. Off campus study at 2 members of the Central Pennsylvania Consortium. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army (c).

Entrance Requirements: Options: Common Application, electronic application, early admission, early decision, deferred admission, international baccalaureate accepted. Required: essay, high school transcript, 2 recommendations, SAT I or ACT. Recommended: minimum 3.0 high school GPA, interview, extracurricular activities, SAT II: Subject Tests. Entrance: most difficult. Application deadlines: 2/15, 11/15 for early decision plan 1, 1/15 for early decision plan 2. Notification: 4/1, 12/15 for early decision plan 1, 2/15 for early decision plan 2.

Costs Per Year: Application fee: $45. Comprehensive fee: $35,646 includes full-time tuition ($28,424), mandatory fees ($250), and college room and board ($6972). College room only: $3696. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility. Part-time tuition: $3150 per course.

Collegiate Environment: Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, marching band, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 100 open to all; national fraternities, national sororities; 42% of eligible men and 38% of eligible women are members. Most popular organizations: community service, music, athletics, student government. Major annual events: family weekend programs, Common Hour programs, Snowball. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling, women's center. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, late night transport-escort service, controlled dormitory access. 2,220 college housing spaces available; all were occupied in 2002-03. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required in freshman year. Options: coed, women-only housing available. Mussleman Library with 351,848 books, 62,303 microform titles, 4,778 serials, 21,752 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page.

Community Environment: Historic area of 20,000 with easy access to Harrisburg, PA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD. The college borders the town and the 3800-acre National Park. A wide variety of recreational opportunities are available.