What is really behind the surge in applications to top colleges?

[Anonymous]

What's really behind the surge in applications, it seems, is an unwillingness by both parents and students to accept the new standard of "top student".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Record number of applications seem to be the rule this year.

Boston Univ sees record numbers: https://www.bu.edu/today/2018/six-quick-stats-about-who-applied-to-the-class-of-2022/

Florida State applications rise to 48,000 from 41,000 last year: http://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2018/02/11/fsu-receives-record-breaking-number-applications/326977002/

Even women's colleges are seeing strong increases. Smith College reports record applications: https://www.smith.edu/news/a-new-record-for-the-class-of-2022/

This seems unsustainable...

I think FSU recently started to use the new coalition application. I'm not sure if that's behind the surge, but it's possible that they are benefiting from increased applications from people who otherwise may not have attempted.

[Anonymous]

FSU received more applications this year than UF (usually, it's the opposite). It looks like they are making it easier to wave fees and avoid paying to report test scores until after you are accepted. That might be a factor in the recent surge.

"With an eye toward increased access for underrepresented students, Florida State University is waiving its $30 application fee for prospective students who tell the university they have financial need.

In the past, FSU hopefuls had to jump a few hurdles to get the fee waived. They had to go to their guidance counselor and request paperwork. They had to make sure they tracked down all of the right signatures and materials, then send them by mail or fax to FSU.

Now FSU will take needy students at their word.

"We have a responsibility to increase access for first-generation and underrepresented students in our university community," said admissions director Hege Ferguson in a news release. "We feel obligated to remove as many barriers as possible to the admissions process, which reduces anxiety and increases participation."

The school will also begin letting prospective students self-report SAT and ACT scores, making FSU the first school in the state to offer that option.

Normally, students have to pay testing companies to send scores to universities. But FSU will only require official scores once students start the enrollment process — saving money for many others."

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2017/10/26/have-financial-need-tell-fsu-and-your-application-fee-will-be-waived/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you are already paying thousands for SAT prep, college counselor, essay reviews, etc., another $1,500 for applications is nothing. Takes no effort give the Common App.

If you say so. I don't live in this world. My kid did test prep but that's it. He applied to 10 and I thought that was a lot and maybe too many. Why do you need or want to apply to 30-40? Applying to 40 schools=$3000 if it's $75/school. Also many have specific essay questions in addition to standard essay. The whole thing is absurd.

Most application fees are around $50, not $75. Most if the large state schools do not have the additional essay requirement. Some don’t require any at all.

No they aren’t. My kid applied this year. Most were $65-75. Public and private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FSU received more applications this year than UF (usually, it's the opposite). It looks like they are making it easier to wave fees and avoid paying to report test scores until after you are accepted. That might be a factor in the recent surge.

"With an eye toward increased access for underrepresented students, Florida State University is waiving its $30 application fee for prospective students who tell the university they have financial need.

In the past, FSU hopefuls had to jump a few hurdles to get the fee waived. They had to go to their guidance counselor and request paperwork. They had to make sure they tracked down all of the right signatures and materials, then send them by mail or fax to FSU.

Now FSU will take needy students at their word.

"We have a responsibility to increase access for first-generation and underrepresented students in our university community," said admissions director Hege Ferguson in a news release. "We feel obligated to remove as many barriers as possible to the admissions process, which reduces anxiety and increases participation."

The school will also begin letting prospective students self-report SAT and ACT scores, making FSU the first school in the state to offer that option.

Normally, students have to pay testing companies to send scores to universities. But FSU will only require official scores once students start the enrollment process — saving money for many others."

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2017/10/26/have-financial-need-tell-fsu-and-your-application-fee-will-be-waived/

That’s sort of a good policy , sort of not. Chicago gives a free application to anyone applying for financial aid - that’s another way to do it. But then is the financial aid application separate from the admissions application? Hope so.?

[Anonymous]

Special Snowflake Syndrome.

You’ve spent 17/18 years telling them how amazing they are and how every mundane task they do is extraordinary. They get trophies for everything. And they think they know everything because they grew up with access to all the information in the world at their fingertips just a Google away. Plus, most seem to be some degree of SN and have always been catered to because of this.

Kids in this area are especially bred to believe they are far superior to others and deserve the best and being admitted to the best schools.

Plus, they just have to copy and paste now. Easy peasy to apply to all they schools they want with the same essay on how their mission trip to Katmandu to save the baby goats changed their life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two Asian cousins from Cali put in close to thirty applications each.

I understand. I want my kids to apply to no more then 9 schools but then statistics reveal that as Asians, we have to apply to more schools.

That's because you Asians created your own applications arms race. Haven't you noticed that the elite schools are only taking two kids per high school? And then every top kid in the school is submitting 20-30 applications to those top schools? What the heck do you think is going to happen?

My white kid, strong academics and test scores but meh grades, and meh extracurriculars is 5 for 5 on apps to highly ranked competitive schools, both public and private. 4 were good/stretch fits and 1 safety. Only waiting to hear from one reach school. Start being realistic about the process instead of applying to all reach schools.

What are you talking about? That is not at all accurate. Many top schools are taking 5-8+ kids from small private schools (like St Albans) or magnet schools like TJ or Blair. Subsequently they are then taking zero students from many other schools, not ‘2’. Best to read those college admissions results a little closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special Snowflake Syndrome.

You’ve spent 17/18 years telling them how amazing they are and how every mundane task they do is extraordinary. They get trophies for everything. And they think they know everything because they grew up with access to all the information in the world at their fingertips just a Google away. Plus, most seem to be some degree of SN and have always been catered to because of this.

Kids in this area are especially bred to believe they are far superior to others and deserve the best and being admitted to the best schools.

Plus, they just have to copy and paste now. Easy peasy to apply to all they schools they want with the same essay on how their mission trip to Katmandu to save the baby goats changed their life.

Omg, just go back to your life of watching the TV set all day long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you are already paying thousands for SAT prep, college counselor, essay reviews, etc., another $1,500 for applications is nothing. Takes no effort give the Common App.

If you say so. I don't live in this world. My kid did test prep but that's it. He applied to 10 and I thought that was a lot and maybe too many. Why do you need or want to apply to 30-40? Applying to 40 schools=$3000 if it's $75/school. Also many have specific essay questions in addition to standard essay. The whole thing is absurd.

Most application fees are around $50, not $75. Most if the large state schools do not have the additional essay requirement. Some don’t require any at all.

No they aren’t. My kid applied this year. Most were $65-75. Public and private.

For us, most were around $50. Only UMD and Michigan were $75. Most Florida schools (UF and Florida State) are only $30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Snowflake Syndrome.

You’ve spent 17/18 years telling them how amazing they are and how every mundane task they do is extraordinary. They get trophies for everything. And they think they know everything because they grew up with access to all the information in the world at their fingertips just a Google away. Plus, most seem to be some degree of SN and have always been catered to because of this.

Kids in this area are especially bred to believe they are far superior to others and deserve the best and being admitted to the best schools.

Plus, they just have to copy and paste now. Easy peasy to apply to all they schools they want with the same essay on how their mission trip to Katmandu to save the baby goats changed their life.

Omg, just go back to your life of watching the TV set all day long.

Annnnd helicopter mom has landed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only reasons apps are up is because it is so easy to apply to colleges and click off what you want.

I wish they were hand written and mailed. Cut out a lot of crap admissions just to see if they get in.

But you still have to write essays for them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reasons apps are up is because it is so easy to apply to colleges and click off what you want.

I wish they were hand written and mailed. Cut out a lot of crap admissions just to see if they get in.

But you still have to write essays for them all.

Not really with the Common App. All you do is change the name of the school but the essay prompts are the same.

[Anonymous]

No, most selective schools have their own essays. Some are similar, so it might be possible to modify an essay from another application.

[Anonymous]

At least 75% of gen Y and Z will have a bachelors, parents want their children to have a prestigious credentials to differentiate them from the field. Plus hunt for most generous financial aid. And who are we kidding, top tier prospective spouses.

[Anonymous]

The admissions offices can barely process, let alone read, all these applications. It is really a matter of picking the kids you want to/need to accept rather than putting them through some sort of funnel. I think it is a waste for most unhooked kids --even with top stats -- to apply to the top schools.