Westminster College has launched a waiting list due to a record number of students wanting to enroll at the 156-year-old, private, liberal arts college in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

Westminster reached maximum capacity for its incoming class last week with 450 students paying deposits to enroll as freshmen next August. Westminster received over 3,000 applications, which doubled the previous record, and the incoming students boast a 3.5 high school grade point average in college preparatory core subjects.

Dean of Admissions Brad Tokar said Westminster would honor any extensions to the May 1 deadline that were granted by Westminster admissions counselors and accepted students placed on the waiting list would be contacted in chronological order if positions would open in the class.

Westminster traditionally limits its incoming classes to 350 freshmen and 25 transfers, but the renovation of residence halls and construction of the Berlin Village student townhouses has provided flexibility to accommodate additional students. Westminster's enrollment includes over 1,500 undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning program students.

Westminster President R. Thomas Williamson said the large incoming freshmen class will not change Westminster's mission. "Westminster is small by choice. We strive to keep class sizes level each year and becoming an impersonal mega-university is not part of the Westminster plan," Williamson said.

Tokar credits the collaborative efforts of the Westminster community for their response to the record number of students. "Our Admissions staff has done an outstanding job and worked extra hours to serve our prospective students and their families. We receive tremendous support from our alumni, faculty, staff, and coaches."

Contact Tokar at (724) 946-7109 or e-mail tokarbp@westminster.edu for more information.

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