Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

Welcome Stevens Class of 2015

First Days on Campus: Sunny with a Chance of Fun... Despite Irene!

Stevens is excited to welcome its largest group of incoming freshmen ever, as members of the Class of 2015 officially begin classes this week.  

New students had much to see and do in their first days as Ducks. Undergraduate Orientation kicked off Wednesday, August 24, and those who participated in Pre-Orientation activities arrived the previous weekend for exciting activities included in the Outdoor Adventure, City Life, Sports and Fitness, and Performing Arts experiences that Stevens offers.

Orientation included a jam-packed schedule of events - the family BBQ and information fair, President's dinner, Freshmen Summer Games, and Stevens Luau were highlights among an exciting lineup of celebrations.     

 Hurricane Irene proved a slight challenge, but, on the flip side, the storm created a unique opportunity for new students to get a more immediate sense of the welcoming and socially conscious culture at Stevens. 

In the early morning of Saturday, August 27, the day of the storm's expected arrival - and four days into Student Orientation - over two dozen freshmen and their orientation leaders chipped in to help the mayor of Hoboken, Dawn Zimmer, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members distribute critical information about evacuation and preparedness to city residents.

"We initially expected to be making calls from City Hall, but, instead, we set out on foot. We were given fliers in English and Spanish of the precautions everyone in Hoboken was to take during the storm," said Juliet Turalski, Stevens student and Orientation Leader.  "Those living in the basement of an apartment building had a mandatory evacuation notice, and all others who chose to stay in Hoboken during the storm had to be notified about how severe the storm was going to be and what they needed to do to prepare. It was tiring, and every volunteer stayed in it - doing the job without complaint. In my eyes, that showed a lot of integrity. It was a community service not many would do in such a critical time. I know Stevens students made a difference in Hoboken that day."

Originally designed as a park, waterfront, and community center painting and cleanup event (a new community service component of Student Orientation), Saturday morning's activity was modified to provide critical assistance to the city during the crisis. "The experience showed me how Hoboken, despite being a major city, is still a close-knit community where people look out for each other," said Robert Hale, incoming civil engineering student and one of the community service volunteers. "I don't feel like an interloper. I feel like a Hoboken resident."

Robert is one of 620 incoming students selected from more than 4,000 applicants this spring. These exceptional students not only make up the largest class, they enter Stevens as the most competitive and selective class in the University's history.  They will all soon learn that collaboration and benevolence are simply part of the mix here at Stevens.  

As always, Stevens' returning students played a significant role in welcoming the incoming class with open arms, cheers, and an outpouring of guidance and support. "Everyone here has been nice, and I've felt very welcome," said Terrance White, a freshman from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. "It's so comfortable and peaceful, which is especially remarkable with New York City only steps away."

Stevens Welcomes Class of 2015

This past Sunday was a bright, sunny (and windy!) day for welcoming the Stevens Class of 2015 to campus. 

Approximately 1,500 people -- high school seniors and their family members -- attended the annual Accepted Students Reception, a day-long event to give accepted students the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishment and mingle with faculty, staff and current Stevens students to get a feel for all the opportunities that await them here in Hoboken.  For half the accepted students attending, it was a chance to give Stevens a closer examination before confirming their decision to attend. The other half had, indeed, made Stevens their final choice. 

In the morning, representatives from Career Development, Cooperative Education, Financial Aid, Health Services, Perfoming Arts, Residence Life & Dining Services, ROTC, Student Life, Athletics and Recreation, and Undergraduate Admissions were available to meet with accepted students and their families to answer questions and gather information.

The crowd filled the Canavan Arena to be welcomed by Dr. Maureen P. Weatherall, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. She gave the official "kick-off" to the day, giving special thanks to the students, faculty and staff who  came out in full force to represent the University at the event and detailing to the families of the Class of 2015 the excellent return on investment they will receive as graduates of Stevens.  She then turned the floor over to student speakers who spoke to attendees about their personal experiences at Stevens. Freshman Hannah Gasper and seniors Abel Alvarez and Julia Reilly (pictured L to R) shared their stories and helped paint a picture for the incoming freshmen of the opportunities that await them at Stevens. 

Accepted students and their families also toured the campus and Stevens' first-class facilities and had the opportunity to speak with faculty in their programs about curricula and research. Faculty from every academic department represented all undergraduate programs, and the foot traffic through the Babbio Center did not let up for the entire two hours devoted to this part of the day. In addition to faculty interaction, specific points of interest during this "open tour of campus" were state-of-the-art labs, such as the Laboratory for Multiscale Imaging, the Davidson Lab, the Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy and Communication Lab, and the Media Arts Center (MAC) Lab, as well as our Victorian-style theater, the DeBaun Auditorium, located in the iconic Edwin A. Stevens building. Varsity coaches were on-hand to meet with their recruited athletes, and more than 60 student clubs and organizations showcased their offerings and activities on Palmer Lawn as part of the Student Activities Fair. In addition, Stevens' women’s lacrosse and men's tennis teams were home on Sunday, allowing reception attendees to check out a game and cheer on the Ducks.

At the closing reception, Stevens students stole the show as the Stevens Jazz Band performed a great set. Stevens staff mingled with families and answered final questions as everyone enjoyed festive sweets and snacks. Many current students even turned out to welcome next year's class.

It was a beautiful day with a very impressive turn-out. Everyone at Stevens looks forward to welcoming the Class of 2015 to campus once again in the fall -- this time as official Ducks!

Meet Stevens' New Student Government Leaders

Fast-approaching the 100^th senate of Stevens’ Student Government Association (SGA), Nick Catania and Abhay Sampath take the helm as newly elected (2011-2012) president and vice president, respectively.  Assuming top position on their agenda is a concerted effort to increase the already robust and diverse representation of clubs and organizations on campus - something that makes Stevens distinct. They aim to position the SGA as a central point of information for extracurricular activities and inspire students to come up with ways to make the Stevens experience even better.

“With almost 100 student-run organizations on campus, there are so many ways to get involved.  You can join media organizations, ethnic and professional societies, sports, Greek life, and so much more.  Students are always starting new clubs and finding new ways to explore their interest," Catania said.  "The funds for these organizations are in the hands of students, and everyone is determined to be successful. There is clearly a great advantage for students here.”

Both Catania and Sampath will be entering their final year as Stevens undergraduates, and they are very excited to be holding their new leadership positions.   These are students who have taken full advantage of opportunities for student involvement at Stevens.  Catania is a double major – engineering physics and music & technology (with a concentration in music composition).  He is also a member of Gear and Triangle, Stevens Jazz Band, Stevens Dramatic Society, and he was on the winning team of the Northeast Regional Ethics Bowl.  Sampath is a Stevens Scholar who will earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering when he graduates in 2012.  He is a former member of the Stevens Honor Board and a member of a number of extracurricular clubs. In addition, this past fall semester (2010), he studied abroad at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“My study abroad experience was amazing,” Sampath said. “It was one of those college experiences that gets you out of your comfort zone and opens your eyes to different environments, outside of what you learn in the classroom.  This was the first time I had the opportunity to experience new cultures and travel to such remarkable destinations as Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I’m happy that Stevens was able to connect me to other parts of the world.”

With most of their undergrad years behind them, Catania - a graduate of Marlboro High School (Marlboro, NY) - and Sampath - a graduate of Middlesex County Academy (Edison, NJ) - look back on their transformation and credit Stevens with helping them become campus leaders.  Stevens’ close-knit community engages students in ways other larger universities cannot.  They say everyone at Stevens is motivated to work together, take on new challenges and make things happen.

Their message to incoming freshmen?  Take advantage of the available opportunities to get involved.  Freshmen, for example, eager to take on new leadership roles, can run for the SGA Senate positions early on in their first semester.  And Pre-Orientation is a great way to be introduced into the community before the school year begins.  It helps many students get a jump start on making new friends and building relations that will last through, and well-beyond, their careers at Stevens.  “We can’t wait to see you at Stevens this fall, and we’re looking forward to getting you started on your new adventure!” Catania said.

Affordable Education

Stevens is committed to making a quality education as affordable as possible. About 90% of our students receive some form of Stevens aid. Information about financing your education at Stevens is available by Clicking Here, and our admissions staff is available to answer any and all of your questions.

We are proud to offer a wide range of scholarships to our incoming students. You may want to consider applying for the DeBaun Performing Arts scholarship, the FIRST (Robotics Competition or Tech Challenge team) scholarship, or the Science and Technology Center Volunteer scholarship.

A college education is an investment. Stevens has a notable history of preparing students for challenges in engineering, the sciences, business, and the arts. Consider all that Stevens offers, and you will see your investment as a springboard to future successes.

ATTENTION: Our Admissions Application deadline is February 1^st.  You can Apply Online today!

If you have applied, be sure to submit any missing documents and complete your interview if you have not already done so. The deadline for submitting your supporting documents is March 15!

 

An Eye on Student Success

In a time of declining graduation rates throughout many US four-year colleges, Stevens Institute of Technology has once again set itself apart by bucking the trend. In a recent analysis released by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Stevens was ranked third for most improved graduation rate.

The Chronicle analyzed changes in graduation rates reported by more than 1,000, four-year public and private nonprofit colleges and universities. Stevens’ average increased by 13 percentage points, at the same time becoming more selective in admissions decisions, during the six-year period analyzed in this report.

For the full rankings: http://chronicle.com/article/Graduation-Rates-2010-Private/125589/

Welcome Students!

There’s always a palpable buzz of excitement as our 55-acre campus fills with new and returning students each fall. Stevens is excited to welcome its largest freshman class ever as the Class of 2014 joins us on campus. We can’t wait to help each one feel at home here.

From more than 3,500 applicants, 615 students comprise the diverse incoming class. These exceptional students not only make up the largest entering class in Stevens history, but they were also elected from an application pool larger than all previous years. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is confident that the new class is full of extremely talented and well-rounded students, each one combining academic excellence, extracurricular participation and a commitment to community.

Overall, the Class of 2014 has expressed an increased interest in majors such as environmental engineering, biomedical engineering and cybersecurity. Forty percent of the class comes from out-of-state, and 28% of the class is female. The selectivity rate this year is 45%, marking the Class of 2014 as the most selective class ever as well.

The Admissions staff is preparing to hit the road again in the coming weeks as school starts across the country, recruiting for the Class of 2015. In addition to international travel, college fair, and high school visits, we will also be hosting Fall Visit Days here on our campus in Hoboken, NJ (recently ranked as the 12th best College Town in the Nation by The Princeton Review). Visit Days are a great opportunity for prospective students to learn about the opportunities available at Stevens, speak with counselors, get an insider’s perspective from current students, and tour our remarkable campus. Register for a Fall Visit Day today!

Class of 2014: Your Enrollment Pack is on the way!

Congratulations and welcome to the Class of 2014!

All students who have confirmed their spot in Stevens’ incoming class should be receiving their Enrollment Packs in the very near future. These packs include everything you need to get you started as you prepare for your arrival on campus this fall.

Keep an eye out in the mail for this helpful packet of information, which includes:

• Enrollment Checklist and Timeline
• Stevens Campus Pipeline Information Letter
• Housing Selection Instructions
• Major Confirmation with Honor System Agreement Sheet
• Advanced Placement Credit Information
• Credit transfer information
• Health and Immunization Forms and Letter
• Pre-Orientation flyer
• An Athletic Health Form (only for students intending to participate in varsity athletics)

Important deadlines – like housing, which is June 1! – and registration information for activities like pre-orientation is included. You’ll also learn how to gain access to your new Stevens email account, and get started on health and athletic forms that need to be returned this summer.

Congratulations again! We look forward to seeing you on campus in the fall. Don’t forget to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with any questions at 800-458-5323 or admissions@stevens.edu.

You can also join us on Facebook: Class of 2014 or Stevens Institute of Technology.

Class of 2013 Accepted Students Reception

This past Sunday, the Stevens community welcomed the Class of 2013 to campus for the annual Accepted Students Reception. Approximately 1200 students and families attended the day-long event, where they mingled with faculty, staff and current students, learning about Stevens and experiencing life on campus.

Many of Stevens administrative departments were on-hand to provide information about all that Stevens has to offer, including more than 60 clubs and organizations. Dr. Maureen P. Weatherall, VP of University Enrollment and Administration, kicked the day off with a welcome to all families, and then turned the floor over to Dr. Harold J. Raveché, president of Stevens, who addressed the crowd. Following Dr. Weatherall and Dr. Raveché, three current students spoke to attendees about their personal experiences at Stevens, giving accepted students real-life perspective (audio of all the speakers available below). Campus tours were offered throughout the afternoon, and prospective students were able to speak with our renowned faculty and visit our first-class facilities. Specific points of interest were state-of-the-art labs, such as the Cybersecurity Lab, the Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy and High Speed Communication Lab and the Media Arts Center (MAC) Lab, and our Victorian-style theater, the DeBaun Auditorium, located in the iconic Edwin A. Stevens building. In addition, our women’s lacrosse team was home on Sunday, allowing students to check out a game and cheer on the Ducks.

It was a beautiful day with an impressive turn-out. We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2013 to campus once again in the fall!

Dr. Harold J. Raveché

Dr. Maureen P. Weatherall

Ann DeStefano (’12)

Michael Bertucci (’09)

Matthew Fitzsimmons (’09)

Welcome to the Stevens Institute of Technology Class of 2013!

Stevens has completed the selection process for the Class of 2013 and has extended offers for admission to more than 1400 exceptional students. These students excel in both standardized testing and high school achievements, and have proven dedication to not only their studies but also extracurricular activities.

According to Daniel Gallagher, Dean of University Admissions, Stevens received a record number of applications for the incoming class again this year, with 3,155 students applying for admission. This is a more than 5% increase in applications over last year. A significant increase was seen in students with extremely high interest in Stevens, which was evident by the 29% jump in early decision applications received this year, with more than 240 of those students committed to joining the Class of 2013. This year’s applicants represent 46 states and 52 countries, including Malaysia, Greece, Turkey, China and Canada.

In recognition of the accomplishments of the Class of 2013 accepted students, Stevens is hosting a series of events, including Faculty Luncheons, where students will have one-on-one access to professors in their chosen field of study. This Sunday, the faculty, current students and staff of Stevens will host the Accepted Students Reception, a day-long event dedicated to the newest members of the Stevens community. This event is the perfect opportunity for students and their families to visit campus, interact with faculty, explore our first-class facilities, learn more about clubs and organizations and experience first-hand life at Stevens.

For more information, please visit: www.stevens.edu/sit/admissions/accepted-students.cfm

Student Speeches from the President's Reception [Audio]

As part of the President's Reception for Accepted Students, Dr. Harold Raveché, President, Dr. Maureen Weatherall ’78, Vice President of University Enrollment and Administration, and two current Stevens students told accepted students and their families about the role Stevens will play in their educational and career success.

Dr. Harold Raveché, President

Dr. Maureen Weatherall ’78, Vice President of University Enrollment and Administration

Daniel Ready - a freshman student's perspective

Leigh Shahbazian - a senior student's perspective

Dr. Maureen Weatherall - Closing Remarks