Balter said students are better prepared for college since many are entering DePauw with experience in high school classes involving discussion and research papers. Balter's class included students from the Media and Management Fellows programs. As expected, because more freshmen received higher grades, the number receiving lower averages decreased. Freshman Joy Lotz said that freshmen may indeed be smarter this year, but thinks that the seminars have helped students adjust to the college experience. Even though Lotz was happy with her grades, she said she benefited from her seminar.
Students are very academically-minded.
I think the academic atmosphere contributes to the success of the class. It's a real commitment. The report speculates that the depauw.year 1 program may have helped improve grades. With academic peer assistants and more resident assistants in the dorms, students may have had more people to provide support. Sophomore Justin Kolb, an academic peer assistant, said he saw up to five students each week who had academic concerns last fall.