about puget sound
Established in 1888, Puget Sound is one of the few highly selective liberal arts colleges in the
Pacific Northwest. Located where the waters of Commencement Bay and peaks of the Cascade
and Olympic mountain ranges meet in the region’s cultural center, Puget Sound’s 97-acre TudorGothic campus is home to a community tied to the realities of urban life and drawn by the stunning
beauty of the outdoors. Students choose from 1,200 courses spanning the arts, humanities,
sciences, and social sciences, and inspired professors push the traditional academic boundaries
giving students an intellectual foundation grounded in contemplative and critical thinking,
impassioned and informed debate, and exceptional oral and written communication skills.
Our 2,600 students come from 49 states and 13 countries, graduating to become Rhodes and
Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders
in business and finance. One of only five independent colleges in the Northwest granted a charter
by Phi Beta Kappa, Puget Sound is committed to providing fruitful student-faculty interaction
and combining rigorous academics with community and global engagement in a distinctly
interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum. A Puget Sound education stretches, bends, and reshapes
habits of mind, producing graduates who are capable of adapting to a changing world—and
prepared to change it.
the class of 2016
We are excited to welcome the members of the Class of 2016
to Puget Sound, and we have high expectations for their
successes in the next four years. See the other side for more
information about the Class of 2016.
Number of applicants: 6,872
Number admitted: 3,694
Class size: 636
Office of Admission
George Mills Jr. ‘68
Vice President
for Enrollment
HI
Fumio Sugihara
Director of Admission
NJ, NY, PA
Robin Aijian ’04
CA
Audra de Laveaga ’11
WA, CA
Kyle Haugen ’97
South Atlantic states
Carolyn Johnson ’99
AK, OR
Andrew Marshall ’12
OR, Midwest
Elizabeth Orr
CA, OK, TX,
Southern states
Ruth Schauble ’05
CA
Music admission
Chelsea Noble
WA, New England
Chris Sheppard ’08
CA, WA
Sam Riggs ’08
AZ, CO, NM, NV, UT
Sally Sprenger
International
Mike Rottersman ’99
CA, HI
Martha Wilson
ID, MT, WA, WY
Visit www.pugetsound.edu/admissioncounselors to see who will be visiting your area.
www.pugetsound.edu/admission
1500 N. Warner St. #1062 • Tacoma, WA 98416-1062 • 253.879.3211 • 800.396.7191
applying to puget sound
All applications for admission to Puget Sound are reviewed by the admission staff
in a process designed to assess the applicant’s academic preparation and potential
to contribute to the life of the college. The admission committee considers each
application holistically to understand the applicant as an individual. One factor alone
will not sustain a successful application. If you have questions about applying to
Puget Sound, please contact the Office of Admission.
Class of 2016
Number of applicants: 6,872
Number admitted: 3,694
Class size: 636
geography
high school type
Number of high schools
represented: 443
New England
and
mid-atlantic
P r ivate
California
other
25.9%
30.2%
15.7%
Public
74.1%
3.0%
Hawai i
4.2%
Washington
midwest
21.1%
5.3%
Reflects the national trend
of college-bound students
oregon
14.5%
colorado
6.0%
gender
Men
47.0%
• 32 states and multiple countries represented
• Out-of-state percentage has increased in recent years from 44.4% (1985) to
57.7% (1990) to 78.9% (2012)
Women
53.0%
sat i scores
ethnic background
Middle 50% ranges
Critical
Reading
Math
Writing
Combined
2012
570–688
580–660
560–670
1740–1990
2011
570–680
560–660
570–670
1730–1990
2010
570–680
560–660
560–670
1730–1980
2009
570–680
560–660
550–663
1700–1980
2008
570–675
570–665
560–660
1740–1970
A f r i can A m e r i can....................................................................................4 %
A s i an.................................................................................................................... 14 %
C a u ca s i an......................................................................................................69 %
H i s p an i c...............................................................................................................8 %
N a t i v e A m e r i can........................................................................................4 %
Inc l u d e s A l a s k a N a t i v e an d N a t i v e H a w a i i an
O t h e r & Un k no w n....................................................................................2 %
Grade point on a 4.0 scale
high school grade point average
Pre-professional includes those
interested in pre-law, pre-medicine,
pre-veterinary, pre-dentistry,
occupational and/or physical
therapy, and education.
social sciences
19.3%
music
4.2%
3.6
3.52
3.5
3.52
3.51
3.52
3.4
arts/
5.3%
3.2
business
3.1
6.1%
2008
2009
2010
2011
humanities
not indicated
3.3
3.0
Math / Science
30.2%
3.7
3.5
intended majors
2012
— f or c l ass o f 2 0 1 6 as o f au g ust 1 , 2 0 1 2 —
preprofessional
15.7%
19.0%