Jill Barton ’12, Kristin Greenwood ’12
The Class of 2015 features fifty-one new freshmen, accounting for forty percent of the III Form, an unprecedented amount of new students.
According to the online statement by the Admissions Department, there are typically forty openings for enrolling freshman, eleven fewer than those newly enrolled this year. Freshman Form Dean Cheryl McLauchlan attributes this record amount of new students to the reduced numbers of Episcopal’s returning eighth graders. Although there is speculation that the large number of new incoming freshman reflects Episcopal’s goal to increase grade sizes, McLauchlan dispersed this rumor: “After the move from Merion, we increased class sizes from 100 because we have larger facilities that can accommodate more students. Now we maintain an average class size of about 125 to 130 students… and it will remain capped around 130.”
McLauchlan is enthusiastic about the high percentage of new students because “it allows for greater class diversity. They don’t all bring the same strengths or come from the backgrounds… it will keep it interesting and discussions lively.” McLauchlan is confident that “The Class of 2015 will find a good balance and will have a nice cross section of different kinds of kids.”
New incoming freshmen find comfort in the large numbers of peers who will be starting at Episcopal for the first time this September. Zahir Caldwall ’15, who is new to EA, reveals that he feels “more comfortable knowing that other people are in the same situation as me.” Sam Pope ’15, who also started at EA for the first time this September, agrees: “It’s good there are a bunch of new kids because they will all stick together and it will be easier to meet people.”
Although most freshman who were members of Episcopal’s Middle School are excited about the large number of new classmates, many upperclassmen recall the apprehension they initially felt after large numbers of new freshmen joined their grade.
Junior Megan Kilcullen, a “lifer” at Episcopal, recalls her freshman apprehension, stating: “It was overwhelming because there were so many new kids that I felt nervous… so I guess we were kind of in the same situation.”
Kelly McGowan ’14, who also attended Episcopal’s Middle School, recalls that “the new kids made their own clique initially…” However, McGowan reveals that as the year went on, the class became more integrated and by the end of the year, it was difficult to distinguish between the “new and old freshmen.”