McCormick Welcomes Class of 2016

They’ve already been here for a week, meeting with advisers, ironing out course schedules, and exploring their new home-away-from-home as part of Northwestern’s Wildcat Welcome orientation activities.

Now the start of classes Thursday morning marks the official beginning of the 2012-13 school year — and the start of an exciting journey for the Class of 2016.

Joining the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science this fall are 401 talented undergraduate students with backgrounds as diverse as their interests. Among them are athletes who will represent Northwestern in sports like football, soccer, and fencing; dual-degree students who will pursue joint studies in engineering and music; and 13 Murphy Scholars, high-achieving McCormick students who are invited to engage in self-directed activities of interest to them, with support from faculty advisers.

The most popular majors so far in McCormick’s Class of 2016 are biomedical engineering (15 percent) and chemical engineering (13 percent), though many students (26 percent) remain undeclared. Eleven percent of the class are international students.

Despite their differences, McCormick Dean Julio M. Ottino emphasized that all the incoming McCormick students have one thing in common: an outstanding record of academic and personal achievement.

“Everyone in this room is used to being the best,” Ottino told the group Friday during his welcoming remarks. “You’ve excelled throughout your education. Now you are among a group of peers, and the competition is much tougher. At times you may not feel like the best individual, but I think you will find advantages to being part of the best group.”

“Within this room,” Ottino continued, “and within our school, you will find collaborators and friends who share both your passion and your talent. The possibilities are endless.”