The University of Connecticut has become a popular destination for a college degree because the school’s credibility has increased dramatically due to an improvement in SAT scores by incoming freshmen.
According to UConn Today, the incoming freshman class of 2018 out placed last year’s freshman class by one point. This increase in scores has been a reoccurring theme over the past decade.
The positive growth in the SAT scores correlates with the UConn 2000 Infrastructure Improvement Project. This project sought out to improve classrooms, education, and the overall quality of the campus. The improvement of SAT scores has allowed the school to become more credible, and as a result, receive more applications each year.
UConn has over 50 majors and 24 academic departments, the largest major being the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This college has seen an dramatic increase in SAT scores because as the college has become more selective, applicants scores have risen. Both variables have played off of one another. In 2002, the average verbal and math scores were 546 and 559 respectively. In 2012, the averages increased to 594 and 618 respectively.
“I am grateful this trend is developing in CLAS because it will make the college tougher to get into, and as a result, our degrees will look better,” UConn Junior Joanna Addonizio said. “I am also relieved I got into UConn when I did, it is a lot harder to get into now.”
The US News and World Report ranked the University of Connecticut No. 19 in their ranking of the top 20 public universities in the nation. Connecticut has always been recognized as a top public university, but the rise of scores may soon put Connecticut on the national grid.
“I hope the SAT scores rise not only in CLAS, but in all of the colleges,” said UConn senior Jai Patel. “CLAS is becoming more competitive due to the rise of scores. This competitive nature is what school is all about. Students come here to be driven, nothing lights a fire more than healthy competition with the brightest minds around.”