Dear Colleagues,
I write today to provide an update on our enrollment efforts as we—like all of higher education—seek to navigate these most unusual times. In addition, I want to encourage you to continue to find ways in the weeks ahead to help us yield an extraordinary Class of 2024.
This year, our Admissions team reviewed 6,490 applications. This is the second highest applicant pool in the College’s history, which to me speaks powerfully to the quality of education we offer and the vibrant learning environment we foster here. Our admitted students received their decision letters in mid-March and, collectively, they represent a truly talented, diverse, and academically strong group. These are precisely the caliber of students we want on our campus and in our classrooms—and the people we want as our alumni, leading in times that need students like those we graduate every year.
As you know, our Enrollment team, alongside so many others behind the scenes, works diligently every spring to develop and execute a yield plan that includes many opportunities for admitted students to visit campus, to meet personally with our dedicated faculty and staff, and to witness firsthand why this College is like no other liberal arts institution in the nation. However, given the rapid spread of COVID-19, recent government stay-at-home directives, and the closure of campus, our Admissions staff has been forced to transition to a fully digital yield plan. This new virtual approach aims to engage students and families in a manner that is safe and responsible, while still ensuring our connections with them are as personal and meaningful as we are accustomed.
With this digital plan in place, we are excited to announce the official launch of “Virtual Gettysburg,” which will extend through April. During this time, accepted students will connect with us through a variety of means electronically, and we are communicating with them through emails, social media, and personalized outreach via Zoom, Slate, and other platforms. You can learn more about our virtual visits and our growing list of engagement opportunities, including upcoming academic and student panels, on the Accepted Student webpage of the College website.
While Get Acquainted Day has long been the pinnacle of our yield season, this year, on April 18-19, Virtual Gettysburg will likewise feature a number of events, albeit digitally, that admitted students will be invited to attend and participate in. I look forward to kicking off the weekend with a welcome for the Class of 2024 on Facebook Live. More details will be available soon.
Please note that our deadline for deposits remains May 1. With that said, we are working with students on an individual basis and the College plans to be flexible with this date for students requesting an extension.
As we approach this month with a heightened focus on recruiting yet another exceptional class to Gettysburg College, let me conclude by thanking you all for your help during this challenging time, particularly for anything you will be able to do to help make Virtual Gettysburg a rousing success and for answering questions from our prospective families as they arise. This is such an important moment for our College, and I am confident that our community will rise to this occasion just as it has so many times before. Stay safe and well.
Warm regards,
Bob