Based on responses to the survey, the table below compares Emory freshmen to those at similar universities. The areas of comparison we chose to highlight in this issue are student background characteristics, college choice, and career plans. The highly selective university group included Columbia, Duke, Georgetown, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Washington.
Significant differences exist when parental income and parents' education are considered.
Emory was the first choice for 62 percent of its freshmen, compared to the 70 percent of students at other private highly selective institutions who identify their university as their first choice. Notably, rankings in national magazines are more important for Emory freshmen than for their counterparts at similar universities. As far as career plans are concerned, Emory freshmen are more likely to choose careers in medicine, business, and law than their counterparts.