The entering class that begins school on Thursday, Sept. 28, is one of the smartest groups of freshmen to enroll at UC Davis. About 30 percent of the estimated 3,330 first-year students maintained straight-"A" averages in high school, according to Gary Tudor, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach at UC Davis. Sixty percent will be majoring in science-related programs. Ninety-six percent are from California -- with students coming from every county in the state -- and 4 percent from other states or countries, says Tudor. "We are pleased with the high caliber of academic preparation, the excellent student mix and our statewide appeal," notes Tudor. About 17 percent of the freshman class will be students from underrepresented ethnic minorities, a figure that closely matches last year's entering class numbers. One-half of all new transfer students will have participated in the Transfer Admission Agreement program with 55 community colleges throughout the state, Tudor says. "The transfer agreements are excellent tools for students and parents to ensure that students can enter as juniors and graduate in two years with a bachelor's degree." The transition to college life begins for these students on Sunday, Sept. 24, when families help their children move into residence halls at UC Davis.