秘密研究所

The more than 1,500 first-year and transfer students entering 秘密研究所 of New Jersey this fall were chosen from the largest pool of applicants in the school鈥檚 history.

August 28, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

秘密研究所 of New Jersey welcomed more than 1,500 new students Sunday. The roughly 1,120 first-year and 395 transfer students descended on the college鈥檚 picturesque Mahwah campus for its annual check-in day.

Following a full morning and afternoon of moving into residence halls, getting acquainted with campus, and mingling at the welcome barbeque and carnival, the class of 2029 and transfer students officially kicked off their Ramapo journeys. They participated in the New Student Assembly (NSA) and the college鈥檚 time-honored Arching tradition.

鈥淭oday isn鈥檛 just another day鈥搃t鈥檚 the start of your Ramapo story,鈥� 秘密研究所 President Dr. Cindy Jebb told the newest Roadrunners gathered on the floor of a packed Bradley Center Arena during the NSA, while their families looked on from the stands.

鈥淩amapo is ready for you to jump in. Clubs, teams, internships, research, study abroad, service learning, mentoring, and prestigious scholarships and fellowships鈥攊f you jump into even a few of these, you鈥檒l leave here not just with a degree, but with the confidence, humility, awareness, relationships, and experiences to navigate a complex future and thrive along the way,鈥� Jebb told the students.

SGA President Liz Mendicino ’26 addressed incoming Roadrunners.

They also heard from other college leaders, such as Student Government Association President Liz Mendicino 鈥�26, of Chesterfield, NJ. She encouraged the newest Roadrunners to put themselves out there and try new things.

鈥淐ollege is what you make of it. Get out there, get involved, make a difference, because no one else is going to do it for you. And that鈥檚 the best part,鈥� Mendicino said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e entering a chapter of your life where you get to try, to succeed and fail and grow and learn. It鈥檚 a spectacular thing.鈥�

Arching: A Time-Honored Tradition

Immediately following the NSA, the newest Roadrunners filed out of the Bradley Center, and made their way up the hill of Mansion Road toward the historic Havemeyer Arch.

Family and friends gathered along the sides of the rock-wall lined pathway to cheer, clap and rejoice in the start of their students鈥� undergraduate careers. The students were congratulated at the Arch by President Jebb and college leadership, before walking underneath.

Parents and family lined Mansion Road to cheer for their students.

At Ramapo, Arching ceremonies mark the beginning and the end of a student鈥檚 college experience. When they first become Roadrunners, students walk up the hill of Mansion Road and under the Havemeyer Arch, signifying the beginning of their time at 秘密研究所. Then when it鈥檚 time to graduate, they walk under the Arch, and down the pathway, closing their tenures as Roadrunners.

鈥淚t felt really good,鈥� Katherine Argueta 鈥�29, a nursing major from Moonachie, NJ, said of the Arching ceremony.

It was a proud moment for Jennifer and Ryan Herd of Pompton Plains, NJ. They said their son Riley Herd 鈥�29, a chemistry major, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a 1978 Ramapo alumni who also studied chemistry.

鈥淚t is emotional. It is a big deal for us,鈥� Jennifer Herd said.

鈥淲e have seen him through all the other things in life. Middle school and high school, he was part of the marching band, it was phenomenal. But now you see that next step,鈥� Ryan Herd said looking at the Arch. 鈥淎s he鈥檚 going through here, you鈥檙e also envisioning, wow, in four years we鈥檙e going to be right back here, and see him go the other way. It鈥檚 very exciting. I鈥檓 proud of him.鈥�

Riley Herd ’29 joined his parents Ryan and Jennifer after he participated in the arching ceremony.

By the Numbers

The newest group of Roadrunners was chosen from a 10% larger group of applicants than last year, the most in Ramapo history. They include:

136 students participating in the Educational Opportunity Fund program, the largest group in college history who chose to call Ramapo their #HomeSweetPo.

135 students who will proudly wear the Roadrunner logo as on the field, court, track, diamond, and in the pool, the largest group of incoming athletes in Roadrunner history.

48% are the first to attend college in their families, making this the largest First Generation group of incoming students in college history.

130 students enrolled in Ramapo鈥檚 4+1 programs and joint medical or law school programs.

Students from all 21 counties in New Jersey, as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Spain and Italy.

Rocky took part in the celebration.