This year’s freshman class represents one of the largest, smartest and most diverse groups of students to be admitted to DU, according to statistics released by the DU Office of Admissions.

This year, the Admissions Office fielded nearly 8,400 applications, of which only 1,151 new students were admitted and enrolled.

The class of 2008 holds a GPA of 3.66 on a 4.0 scale, which is 0.9 higher than this year’s graduating class. The average first year SAT score is a full 30 points higher than that achieved by the senior class.

“We want to build a student body that can handle the rigor of college. We were looking for people who will contribute to our campus and be active in the community,” said Vice Chancellor and Director of Admissions Todd Rinehart.

However, there continues to be a growing gender gap. The freshman class has 131 more women than men.

This year’s senior class began with 126 more women than men. The most dramatic change this year was in the number of applications received by the school.

The number increased by almost 3,200 applications between 2005 and 2008.

The increase in interest in the university can be attributed to DU’s growing national reputation, the recent beautification of campus and the growing number of capable faculty in addition to a strategic marketing plan created by the school, according to Rinehart.

“For current students, [the increased desirability of DU] means that their degree is becoming more valuable. Also, every year brings in academically higher achieving classes that enhance classes, residence halls and the academic atmosphere at DU,” Rinehart said.

The increase in GPA and standardized test score averages this year from previous years also reflects the goals of the university as a whole, Rinehart said.

“We want to become more national with our reputation. Continuing to increase the number of applications allows us to become more selective and allows us to recruit the best people out there.”

Admissions in the future will also focus on bringing in more out-of-state students, students of color and a better balance of men and women.

However, while Rinehart does expect applications to pass the 10,000 mark in the next few years, he said that the university will cap admissions so that enrollment stays at about 1,150 students.

This will allow DU’s class sizes to stay small and ensure that campus resources are not overwhelmed.