Saint Louis University’s class of 2008 steps on campus this
week, boasting several impressive distinctions.

For starters, these 1,463 freshmen are the largest incoming
group in the history of SLU.

Additionally, these individuals represent 40 states and 13
countries.

Administration and admission officials alike will gladly inform
anyone and everyone that, statistically, this is the brightest
bunch–averaging a high school grade point average of 3.51.

But these numbers aren’t what have upperclassmen buzzing.

Rumors are flooding through campus, and male students are
beaming with excitement.

And they’re true. At 60 percent, the class of 2008 has the
highest number of female students ever to hit campus.

Shani Lenore, director of undergraduate admissions at SLU, says
that the numbers are of some concern, but schools everywhere are
facing similar problems.

“We’re just in line with the national trend,” Lenore said.

According to the National Association for College Admission
Counseling (NACAC), on campuses across the nation, females now
outnumber males by just over one million.

In fact, among private, four-year universities, with an
enrollment between 5,000 and 9,999, 74 percent of applications are
received from females.

“The trend is likely to persist in the near future, as for the
past two years, 69 percent of colleges and universities report
receiving more applications from females than males,” NACAC
reports.

The pattern is not restricted to the freshman class. According
to the Office of Planning and Decision Resources, of the 4,792
upperclassmen (sophomore, junior, senior and fifth-year students)
attending SLU, 2, 646 or 55 percent of those individuals are
female.

Lenore hopes to increase the number of males on campus, which in
turn will also ease the frustrations of female students.

“We are looking into some things this year that will hopefully
target more males,” she said.