Norwich becomes more exclusive

It's getting harder to become a Norwich student.

Last year, Norwich accepted just 57 percent of students who applied, compared to 67 percent just a year ago. This year's freshmen class is smaller than in past years. The number of students who enrolled in the corps of cadets is 482 and 203 civilian students showed up at the end of August. 

Norwich accepts a wide range of students, including cadets, civilians, athletes, transfers and international students, according to Karen McGrath, vice president of enrollment.

 "Norwich provides our students a quality private education, but also focuses on their leadership and character development," said McGrath.

According to the admissions office, the average SAT scores for entering freshmen are up 20 points. The freshmen class is 77 percent male; 8 percent of the class has secured a three or four year ROTC scholarship and 3 percent of the class is enrolled in the new honors program.

Students come to Norwich from many states as well as a variety of countries around the globe. International students include 15 freshmen from Thailand, China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Canada and Mexico, according to McGrath.

The top state for students is Massachusetts, followed by New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. But there is also a large contingent from out of the northeast, with students from California, Texas and Florida traveling to Vermont to attend Norwich.

Almost 40 percent of the students are enrolled in the social sciences; 22.5 percent in mathematics and sciences, 15.7 percent in business and management, 14 percent in engineering, 5 percent in humanities and 3.3 percent in architecture and art.

Many students who choose to come here for the military find a great fit at Norwich. "You're able to go to school, but also get the chance to commission as an officer through a four-year commitment," said Vincent Teodoro, a freshman from Frankfurt, Ill. The 18-year-old is part of the corps of cadets and in the Army ROTC.

Norwich has 2,100 undergraduate students and approximately 1,200 graduate students, according to Norwich.edu.

"We look at seeing what a student has to bring to Norwich," said McGrath. "I believe that every student has an academic story to tell and because we pride ourselves in talking an individualized approach to an admissions file we take the time to hear the academic student's story; there is no cookie-cutter admissions."

The number of civilian students has increased since the merger of Vermont College and Norwich in 1972, according to the NU website.

Brandon Metz, a 19-year-old freshman majoring in business management from Coral Springs, Fla., said, "I chose Norwich because of the great business program here." Metz plays on the NU football team as a wide receiver.

Roughly 80-85 percent of freshmen have played a varsity sport in high school and 25 percent of them will play at the varsity level at NU, according to McGrath.

According to Metz, he has seen a lot of diversity throughout the school since he has got here.

"One reason I chose Norwich was because of the scenery central Vermont provides. I love the outdoor activities here in Northfield," said Zach Schobell, a freshman from Litchfield County, Conn.

 NU is constantly expanding to meet the needs of the academic curriculum and the athletic facilities due to the high rise in student athletes here.

"Norwich provides our students with a quality private education that also focuses in on leadership and their character development. I think that's our special niche in the market. I think our students really feel part of something bigger than themselves," McGrath said. "I talked to current students and alums all over the country; they feel like Norwich is very much a community a true family, that sense of comradery bonds for life."