LSU President F. King Alexander is touting the performance of the 2018 freshman class, a portion of whom were admitted under the new “holistic admissions” policy where some applicants are admitted despite not meeting the GPA or ACT requirements.
Alexander says opening up the admissions process has not sacrificed performance or achievement.
“It has resulted in a class that was bigger, but it came in with the highest scores we’ve ever had, while being 900 stronger, the biggest freshman class we’ve ever had.”
The average GPA was the same as 2017, at 2.8.
Shifting to holistic admissions sparked some controversy from opponents who argue it would weaken the flagship university’s sterling reputation. Alexander says this move just puts LSU in line with 48 of the nation’s top 50 schools.
“From perseverance, to finding out what their guidance counselors and principles have to say about them, and recommendations. It just gives them more opportunities to prove themselves, right down to their senior year.”
The 2018 class set a record with 92 percent of students maintaining their TOPS eligibility.
Alexander noted that as a whole the retention rate stayed steady at 92 despite adding 900 more freshman, and there was only a slight difference in retention between those who had the traditional scores to get in, and those who did not.
“Even the exception group improved from 86 percent last year, where we didn’t have this process, to 90 percent.”
The class brought in 5,812 freshman, topping a record set in 2012.
