Pure joy! Watch these future Panthers react to getting into FIU
Class of 2029 prospects set an historically high academic bar, and yesterday thousands of them celebrated their admission to FIU.
At 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday, high schoolers across the state got ready for the news.
Some sat in parked cars looking expectantly at phones. Others waited in bedrooms in front of laptops with friends or gathered in kitchens with family, all in excited anticipation and ready to capture video.
FIU’s first-ever “Early Action” decision day culminated in thousands of high school seniors celebrating their admission to Miami’s R1 public university. Prioritizing Florida residents, the first of three rounds of admissions options attracted both a historically high number of prospective students as well as a record number of high achievers.
“This year we are seeing more applicants with a higher academic profile,” said Jody Glassman, assistant vice president for Enrollment & University Admissions. “More students with Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate diplomas and Cambridge diplomas, more students with dual enrollment beyond the required basic English courses, more students who understand that the benefits of an FIU education are the connections we make to careers, internships and research opportunities.”
Also for the first time: Selected students received an immediate invitation into the Honors College. The Honors College draws from among the best students across the university to create an intimate, interdisciplinary experience that challenges them to think innovatively and collaboratively. The one-step admission recognizes top high schoolers’ compatibility with the Honors College’s dynamic curriculum and high expectations.
Glassman noted a nearly 20% increase in fall applications over last year, with a marked rise in interest from high schoolers in the Orlando, Tampa, Naples and Jacksonville areas. The admission cycle continues into the spring, with two more decision days to come, and those deferred will have a second opportunity for review.
Changes in the recruitment process, the university’s rising national reputation and the greater visibility of alumni in virtually every field have together attracted both more and better students, Glassman adds.
“At FIU, we provide so many opportunities for experiential learning, and strong academics which lead to a career, that we can demonstrate in real time the value of an FIU education,” she said, “and people see the results in our graduates.”
By evening, several hundred students had already formally accepted a seat in FIU’s Class of 2029, and all those admitted were primed to receive mailed welcome packages that include an FIU pennant and information about campus life, housing and much more. Would-be Panthers are encouraged to continue sharing their good news online.