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The Class of 2012 arrives at UMW by the numbers
UMW freshmen move inDate published: 8/21/2008 BY JEFF BRANSCOME Katharine Wilson caught a Red Sox game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards the night before she moved into her University of Mary Washington dorm. After arriving in Fredericksburg 8:30 yesterday morning, she unpacked Red Sox T-shirts and some Cape Cod posters to remind her of home. Wilson, 18, who's from Exeter, N.H., is one of 237 out-of-state freshmen who moved onto campus yesterday. "No one from my high school has really known about Mary Washington," said Wilson, who learned about the school from the College Board, an association of more than 5,400 high schools and colleges. Almost 700--or 74 percent--of the 918 newcomers are from Virginia. The school also welcomed 242 transfers, most of whom are Virginians. "We target everything from Virginia northward to portions of New England--I would say up as far as southern New Hampshire," said Martin Wilder, vice president for enrollment and communications. Out-of-state freshmen said yesterday they were attracted to UMW's size, price, sports programs, architecture and proximity to Washington. Some, including Wilson, spent the night in UMW's dorms and apartments early this year to get a feel for campus life. Wilson, who stayed with an upperclassman, said she got a taste of Fredericksburg's two worlds--downtown, and Olive Garden and Wal-Mart in Central Park. Laura Mesches of Hurley, N.Y., said she first read about UMW in a book that listed it as a great deal for out-of-state students. She spent the night at a UMW apartment in February and was hooked. "It's always warm," she said. "Everybody's so friendly." The student she stayed with took her to Hyperion Espresso, where she saw plenty of undergraduates using their laptops. "I felt like I could fit in very well," she said. Ironically, her parents lived in Northern Virginia about 20 years ago but never visited Fredericksburg. "It's a really pretty place," said her father, Bruce. Joanna Smith of Saratoga, N.Y., near Albany, said she received UMW promotional materials and spent a couple nights at the school earlier this year. She brought along some "I love New York" bumper stickers but won't have too much time to be homesick. She plans to join the crew team and soak in UMW's small-town atmosphere. "It's cute," she said. Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Date published: 8/21/2008
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