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

[Anonymous]

US HS graduates attending college peaked in 2011. There’s been an uptick in international applicants. Kids are applying to more schools. But, more kids are applying ED which should counter the overall app numbers somewhat. I think we’re at peak crazy right now.......admit rates will go up in the coming years.

[Anonymous]

Many colleges have also done a masterful job of marketing in the internet age w/social media and glitzy brochures. Combine that with more effective outreach to out of the way high schools and higher performing under represented minority kids who would have never thought to apply to those colleges and you have part of the reason for the application surge. Add in the aforementioned application arms race where kids are applying to far more schools and you create this application tidal wave.

My senior at TJ applied to 9 colleges and that is on the very low end for his friend group one of whom applied to 21 colleges and all applied to at least 12. There is a palpable desperation among high achieving kids around here that feeds on itself. Current juniors see what this year's group is going through and will likely apply to even more colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US HS graduates attending college peaked in 2011. There’s been an uptick in international applicants. Kids are applying to more schools. But, more kids are applying ED which should counter the overall app numbers somewhat. I think we’re at peak crazy right now.......admit rates will go up in the coming years.

This even though international applicants are down this year due to the current immigration climate here. But hopefully PP you are right and this admissions craziness dies down over the coming years but then again it probably won't. I hope it does calm down for my HS freshman's sake. He sees what his older brother is going through this year and doesn't want that kind of stress.

[Anonymous]

Lol....I’m fairly certain meh grades and ECs won’t get a kid into a highly competitive school.

DCUM's idea of meh grades and ECs is not the same as the rest of the country. Is admission to 1 school in the top 10 and 2 others in the top 25 of DC's interest area good enough for you? The point is to identify schools that are actually a good fit rather than apply to everything that might possibly be of interest.

http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/virginia/university-of-virginia-main-campus/admission/
http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/maryland/university-of-maryland-college-park/admission/
And let's just say, that looking at the "averages" for these two state schools, an unweighted GPA of 3.5 (this would be the smart child who got a B in PE because of not changing) seemed pretty iffy, but student was accepted to one of these.

[Anonymous]

Application fees have not really increased since my child's HS graduation in 2010. While colleges will state this is to benefit the lower incomes, it also benefits there acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which "highly ranked competitive schools" like white kids with meh grades/ECs and high test scores? Asking for a friend.

When UVA wins the men’s national basketball championship this year, applications are going to SURGE even more. Wouldn’t want to be applying in the next two years.

Are the kids who are choosing a school based on the performance of its basketball team really going to be competitive applicants for UVA?

Basketball success is what made Georgetown a selective school. Probably Duke too. http://georgetownvoice.com/2015/04/09/sports-sermon-thank-you-patrick-ewing/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many colleges have also done a masterful job of marketing in the internet age w/social media and glitzy brochures. Combine that with more effective outreach to out of the way high schools and higher performing under represented minority kids who would have never thought to apply to those colleges and you have part of the reason for the application surge. Add in the aforementioned application arms race where kids are applying to far more schools and you create this application tidal wave.

My senior at TJ applied to 9 colleges and that is on the very low end for his friend group one of whom applied to 21 colleges and all applied to at least 12. There is a palpable desperation among high achieving kids around here that feeds on itself. Current juniors see what this year's group is going through and will likely apply to even more colleges.

Curious, where else did your TJ kid apply?

[Anonymous]

Marketing, in an effort to climb the USNWR ranks.

[Anonymous]

USNWR, college board, and those at the top of elite education have all created a frenzy that has made them all tons of money. They are laughing all the way to the bank as they are greedy and prestige hounds. Most of the top schools admission are fraudulent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:USNWR, college board, and those at the top of elite education have all created a frenzy that has made them all tons of money. They are laughing all the way to the bank as they are greedy and prestige hounds. Most of the top schools admission are fraudulent

That you Donald?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which "highly ranked competitive schools" like white kids with meh grades/ECs and high test scores? Asking for a friend.

When UVA wins the men’s national basketball championship this year, applications are going to SURGE even more. Wouldn’t want to be applying in the next two years.

Are the kids who are choosing a school based on the performance of its basketball team really going to be competitive applicants for UVA?

Some will, some won’t. But the spike in an already astounding number of applications will make it that much more difficult for generic borderline nova drones to sneak in.

[Anonymous]

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...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is reading DCUM and is stressed. I think DCUM is secretly funded by the Russians to undermine our society.

+1.

Only that can explain the education officials we get, from top to bottom, from federal to local.

[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.

Do you also tell your black friends about how your white kid has never been pulled over for driving a nice car in a nice neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Do you also tell your black friends about how your white kid has never been pulled over for driving a nice car in a nice neighborhood?

+1

LOL