Important Trends From This Year’s Admissions Cycle

Application numbers and admissions rates have shifted a bit in this cycle. Some colleges saw growth in the number of applicants while other colleges saw declines. However, admission rates at super selective colleges continue to be around 6%. For current high school students, there are several trends to keep in mind.

The Common App reported a 5% growth in the number of applications from last cycle and a large increase of 2.1 million more applications compared to 4 years ago. International applications are down about 9% this cycle. The South is the region with the most applicants, and Texas just passed New York as the state with the most applicants.

Many Ivy League and other super selective colleges had larger application pools and lower admission rates. Yale recorded its second largest applicant pool with almost 48,000 applications. Columbia University had its largest applicant pool this year (up over 1,400 applications from last year). Brown, Columbia, Duke, MIT, Vanderbilt, and Yale all reported admission rates under 5%. Many other selective colleges are reporting admissions rates at or below 7% including Amherst (7%), Bowdoin (6.5%), Northwestern (7%), and Williams (7%).

At many selective colleges, there was a large difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision admissions rates. For example, this year Vanderbilt accepted about 12% of the students who applied ED1 and ED2 and only 2.8% of the students who applied in the regular decision round. Tulane had a 53% acceptance rate in ED1 but an overall acceptance rate of 15% this year. It is wise to be realistic when choosing a school to apply to Early Decision.

More colleges are reinstating the requirement of standardized testing. Even at colleges that are still test optional, many accept a higher percentage of students who submit test scores. Juniors and sophomores should make sure that they have a plan to take standardized tests if they are applying to selective colleges.

GPA is a central factor in admissions, but the rigor of a student’s courses is also very important. With many applicants reporting a high school GPA in the A range, admissions officers are looking closely at students’ classes. Generally, applicants to selective colleges need to take the 5 core academic courses all 4 years of high school. Students who are interested in STEM should be sure to take advanced science classes and calculus. Undergraduate business applicants should take calculus and (if possible) statistics.

Students’ activities are also very important in admissions. Colleges tend to favor sustained involvement in authentic interests which results in a leadership role and/or significant impact in that area. Applicants interested in STEM should try to find research opportunities in high school.

Majors matter! The major that a student indicates on their application can affect their chances of admission. Business, engineering, and STEM majors can be more selective, depending on the college. For colleges that admit by major, it is essential for students to show a commitment to and experience in the specific academic area.

Optional videos are becoming a part of admissions materials at several colleges. Brown, Case Western, Claremont McKenna, Duke, University of Chicago, Wake Forest, and Washington University in St Louis (among others) allow students to submit a short video introducing themselves to the admissions officers. Students should use this as an opportunity to highlight one of their interests or strengths.

Institutional priorities continue to add to uncertainty in the college admissions process, especially at selective schools. Some colleges have higher admissions rates for male students as they try to create balance in the gender ratios in the incoming class. Others are trying to boost enrollment in specific majors. Researching colleges’ strategic plans can often offer insight into their institutional priorities. Also, creating a balanced college list, made up of reach, target, and likely schools is the best way for applicants to ensure a successful process.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about college admissions, please visit Excelsioradmissions.com or click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn how I can help with your college admissions process.