A New Flock Has Landed: Fall ’23 Edition

Active-duty military? Check. Students from Georgia — the state and the country? Check. Twins? We got ‘em (four sets, to be exact)!

Whatever their back story, Stevens Institute of Technology’s Class of 2027 is writing their next chapter in Hoboken and has already claimed a new record: The 1,085 new undergraduates of the incoming class were selected from 14,170 applicants — a 13% jump from last year’s record-setting number — to be among the most academically distinguished in Stevens history.

But these students are more than their prior academic accomplishments. They bring experiences from 31 states and 25 countries — from Myanmar to Oman to Honduras; they are service-oriented (one veteran and 10 Clark Scholars), entrepreneurial (13 iSTEM@Stevens students) and trailblazers (22% are first-generation college students); and yes, they are motivated (135 Pinnacle Scholars).

“The arrival and presence of our new students marks a new era of innovation, collaboration and boundless potential,” says Dean of Undergraduate Admissions April Chang. “This year’s admissions process was extremely competitive, and each of our students has been chosen for their unique strengths and passions. I look forward to witnessing the incredible contributions they will make during their time at Stevens.”

Not to be outdone, graduate admissions also set a record for applications with 15,593, an increase of 5% over last year, and improved selectivity. As of Aug. 31, Stevens welcomed 1,719 new graduate students, including 85 new Ph.D. students, and facilitated 212 airport pickups for arriving international students.

With 1,984 students moving back to campus this week and total enrollment now standing at 8,915 (subject to change) — 4,094 undergraduate and 4,821 graduate — New Student Orientation and move-in festivities were particularly important. Not only do they provide students with important resources and information, says Vice President of Student Affairs Sara Klein, but they also help ease the social transition and allow students to adjust to their new home turf, and to meet new people and make new friends.

“Orientation is such a special time because everyone is in the same boat. New students can feel anxious or overwhelmed, but it helps to see that everyone is feeling a bit unsure of themselves as they establish themselves independently from their families and away from their home life as an adult,” Klein says. “These first few days on campus allow students the space to explore and make connections in their new environment before classes begin.” 

And, of course, they get to learn the Duck Dance.