BRYN MAWR WELCOMES CLASS OF 2008!

This year, the Bryn Mawr Admissions Office received a record-breaking 1,926 applications — an increase of 10 percent over last year's record-breaking total. On Wednesday, Aug. 25, College administrators and student leaders saw the fruits of Admissions' labors as they offered a warm welcome to a standing-room-only crowd of new students and their families in Goodhart Auditorium.

Jackney Prioly '06 and Katie Campbell '06, the leaders of the student-run Customs Week orientation program, greeted the new Bryn Mawr women. President Nancy J. Vickers reassured parents: "you are not losing a daughter; you're gaining a college," and encouraged students to take advantage of all the resources, academic and otherwise, that Bryn Mawr has to offer. Dean of the Undergraduate College Karen Tidmarsh introduced key student-services personnel and offered the support of the Dean's Office in what she acknowledged was a difficult, albeit exciting, time for students who were leaving behind parents, lifelong friends and beloved pets.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jenny Rickard gave her traditional annual address on the topic of perhaps the greatest interest to the Class of 2008: themselves. As a brief introduction to the new Mawrters, the text of Rickard's speech is reproduced below.

Welcome to the members of Bryn Mawr's Class of 2008 and their friends and family. This day is always a highlight for me as I get to see all of you actually here. I had the good fortune to meet you all individually — either in person, on paper, or both throughout the course of last year — so it is a particular pleasure for me to see you all together now. As you are no doubt aware, we like to say that Bryn Mawr women (that's you!) share a rare combination of personal characteristics:

An intense intellectual commitment;

A self-directed and purposeful vision of their lives; and

A desire to make a meaningful contribution to the world.

I'd like to share with you now some of the other interesting characteristics that you all have in common as the Bryn Mawr Class of 2008:

• First of all, there are 359 of you. You are the 2nd largest class in Bryn Mawr's history — or as I like to say — the 2nd largest Bryn Mawr class in a million years! Both are true.

• You are all very smart and very impressive women.

• You come from 38 states and 27 countries.

• The most popular majors of this illustrious group are English, biology, psychology and our world-renowned "undecided" major.

• The most common first name is "Elizabeth."

• Can anyone guess the most common middle name? Also, " Elizabeth."

• And the most common last name is "Lee."

• Shockingly, there is no Elizabeth Elizabeth Lee in the Class of 2008.

• And now, to the statistic that I'm sure you have been wondering most about — I know I have. The most common astrological sign is … Cancer. I thought it might be helpful to offer you a composite of the weekly horoscopes developed by several very famous astrologers:

Here goes:

"You still have all the luck on your side, so any changes you make turn out to be successful. A Jupiter-sun alliance ensures that major successes in the week and month ahead come through communications — something you Moonchildren manage well on many levels. Friendships and community contacts are a positive source of outlet for you at this time. Go out. Enjoy others. Short travels or educational ventures are favored. Be who you are and you will attract help from the atmosphere."

• Finally, today is August 25th. With 359 of you, odds are it is probably someone's birthday. And it is! Please join me in wishing Margaret Miller, a Virgo, from Lake Bluff, Illinois a very happy birthday.

So, those are just some of the interesting facts about the Class of 2008. I very much look forward to continuing to get to know you in the years to come. Welcome.

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