Members of the Class of 2024 are starting the school year during an unprecedented time, but are bringing a belief in better days, a dedication to learning and a determination to get the most out of their time at Rutgers, even from afar.
They are starting their undergraduate education with most classes being delivered remotely and limited in-person instruction as a result of the global pandemic. But many incoming students have already conducted research with Rutgers faculty, participated in university programs to give them a boost in their education and demonstrated their dedication to helping others in difficult times.
Even though many can’t physically be on campus, as of this week Rutgers is welcoming 9,269 first-year students and a record 4,831 transfer students into the university community this fall. Members of the incoming class come from all over New Jersey, 37 states and 60 countries.
Many are trailblazers in their families – the first to come to college and bring a diversity of accomplishments and experiences. Rutgers University-Newark is welcoming the largest class in its history, while at Rutgers University-Camden and universitywide the Class of 2024 is the second largest to enroll.
“Truth be told, I am already in awe of you and all that you will do to make Rutgers, this state, this nation and this world better,” Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said in his convocation message to incoming students, noting they are part of a generation willing to think in new ways about a society and planet starving for solutions.
“As you do this work, it is my hope that you will not hide behind the veil of contrived innocence, that you will grant others the grace that is owed to them as they start to discover experiences and views that are new, and that you will seize the opportunity in this incredibly difficult time to do everything you can to learn, to grow and to imagine,” Holloway said. “This is hard work, but I choose to believe that it is the work that you came to Rutgers to do. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish.”
Ayoko Kessouagni never thought of herself as a “business” person. But after she realized her passion in life is fashion, and that she wants a career in the fashion industry, a business degree started to make sense.
“I was trying to integrate having a set goal in terms of a career path, but also following my passion for what I want to do with my life,” said Kessouagni, a member of the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University-Newark who is enrolled in Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick. “I found out I could integrate being a marketing student with having a concentration in the business of fashion.”
Kessouagni’s business school experience got started earlier in the summer through the B-STAR program, which brings a select group of business students together ahead of the fall semester. Through her growing network and guidance from the group, she has already landed an internship opportunity with a local fashion brand.
When asked if she could describe her outlook as she starts her Rutgers experience, Kessouagni said if she could use one word, it would be “hopeful.”
“These days I try to keep an optimistic mindset, and so all I can feel is hopeful for the next coming years that I do well in school, meet more people, and delve into my career choice even more, and that somehow the world works its way into understanding Black Lives Matter and the issues people of color face,” Kessouagni said.
Class of 2024 Fast Facts
Total New First-Year Student Enrollment:
- Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences:6,962
- Rutgers University–Newark: 1,316
- Rutgers University–Camden: 802
Honors College Enrollment:
- Honors College New Brunswick: 332
- Honors Living-Learning Community in Newark: 80
- Honors College at Rutgers–Camden: 107
Demographic Breakdown Universitywide:
- In-state students: 7,807
- Out-of-state students: 594
- International Students: 868
- Number of countries represented: 60
- Top represented home countries: China, India, South Korea
- African-American, Asian, or Latino students: 53.6%
- Rutgers legacy students: 1,393
- First-generation college students: 2,696
Most Popular Majors Chosen on Admission Applications:
- Business
- Nursing
- Computer Science
- Biological Sciences
- Pre-medicine
