Contact: Aaron Hoskins
SDSU Marketing & Communications
(619) 594-1119, Pager (619) 620-1184
ahoskins@mail.sdsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kaplan Ranks SDSU Among 31 Hottest and Trendiest Universities

SAN DIEGO, Friday, July 5, 2002 - San Diego State University is among the 31 hottest and trendiest universities in the country according to Kaplan's Annual National High School Guidance Counselor Survey, published in the just-released book, The Unofficial, Unbiased, Insider's Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges.

SDSU is listed 22nd of 31 universities on the Hot & Trendy list, which Kaplan describes as the "dream schools, the ones with the best reputation or location or social scene - the perfect combination of everything!"
SDSU is joined on the list by such universities as: Harvard, Duke University, New York University, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. SDSU is the only local university on the list, which was compiled based on surveys of high school guidance counselors across the U.S.

"This list confirms what my colleagues and I have known for years: that San Diego State is one of the most sought-after universities in the country," said President Stephen L. Weber. "Indeed, competition for admission to San Diego State has never been greater. This year's entering freshmen class is the best academically prepared and most diverse class ever. Those two qualities speak volumes about the quality of education our students receive and the quality of life they experience once they're here.

"It's very gratifying to know that high school guidance counselors across the country - the people who have their fingers on the pulse of the nation's high school graduates - have recognized San Diego State," Weber said.
For fall 2002, San Diego State University received 41,000 undergraduate applications. Of that figure, 6,550 will be enrolled this fall (16 percent of the applicants).

"San Diego State provides the complete university experience for our students: a rigorous academic program, nearly 100 student clubs, a Division I athletics program and one of the country's most desirable economic climates - San Diego," Weber said. "A major part of San Diego State's attractiveness lies in the economic opportunities available to our graduates right here in San Diego and throughout California."

Weber noted that 80 percent of San Diego State University's graduates remain in California after graduation and 50 percent remain in San Diego County. SDSU has more than 200,000 alumni.

Kaplan's complete list, in order, of the top 31 hottest and trendiest universities includes:
Harvard University (MA)
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (NC)
Duke University (NC)
New York University (NY)
University of California - Los Angeles (CA)
Georgetown University (DC)
University of Colorado (CO)
Brown University (RI)
University of Maryland - College Park (MD)
Princeton University (NJ)
Boston College (MA)
Stanford University (CA)
University of Arizona (AZ)
University of Texas - Austin (TX)
Boston University (MA)
Washington University in Saint Louis (MO)
Texas A&M University (TX)
Arizona State University (AZ)
University of Virginia (VA)
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WI)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
San Diego State University (CA)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA)
George Washington University (DC)
Florida State University (FL)
University of California - Santa Barbara (CA)
University of Southern California (CA)
Penn State University - University Park (PA)
University of Florida (FL)
Pepperdine University (CA)
University of Miami (FL)

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 61 areas and doctorates in 13. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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