"You end up with some people having more of a voice than their numbers would merit," said Michael Smith, a freshman majoring in government and politics, who is a plaintiff.

As a freshman majoring in engineering at the Polytechnic University, she took part in demonstrations that helped topple the Shah.

Kris Carde, 18, a freshman majoring in computer engineering at the University of California at Davis, also used the information highway to research colleges.

Less Than Comfortable Scott Yoon, a freshman from Seoul, South Korea, majoring in electrical engineering, recently completed his treatment.

Miss Shah, 18, whose parents are from Gujarat, is a native of Sugarland, Tex., and a freshman majoring in chemical engineering at M.I.T.

David Lynch, a freshman from Burlington, Conn., majoring in chemistry, said the workshops did not help him, since "if you have a problem you can talk to friends or counselors."

The academy will open in fall 2006 with 300 freshmen majoring in mathematics and science, subjects that are short of teachers.

Arlene, his sister, is a freshman majoring in English at nearby William Paterson University.

In 1996, Sense and Drama, then both freshmen majoring in mass communications, met in Brawley Hall, their dorm at Clark Atlanta University.

"The majority of people in my class are older men, up to 70," said Erica, now 19 and a freshman majoring in business at Texas A&M.