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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NESCAC school Bates reported an astounding 45% increase in applications over last year. http://www.bates.edu/news/2018/02/21/bates-college-attracts-record-number-of-applications-for-incoming-class/

Well, no surprise: "Bates has simplified the application process in another way. Effective this year, the college has eliminated the application requirement of a supplemental essay."

It's sad how far so many colleges are going just to push their acceptance rate down.

Right. And Bates has been test optional for awhile now. Now watch Bates regular decision yield plummet into the 20s% range as many of those seniors just threw in a Bates application b/c it required no effort. Bates relies on 2 rounds of Early Decision to admit more than half their class to boost its yield ala UChicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NESCAC school Bates reported an astounding 45% increase in applications over last year. http://www.bates.edu/news/2018/02/21/bates-college-attracts-record-number-of-applications-for-incoming-class/

Well, no surprise: "Bates has simplified the application process in another way. Effective this year, the college has eliminated the application requirement of a supplemental essay."

It's sad how far so many colleges are going just to push their acceptance rate down.

Right. And Bates has been test optional for awhile now. Now watch Bates regular decision yield plummet into the 20s% range as many of those seniors just threw in a Bates application b/c it required no effort. Bates relies on 2 rounds of Early Decision to admit more than half their class to boost its yield ala UChicago.

Sure Bates took away the supplemental essay but it still charges a fee to apply, unlike Colby who has been playing this game for a while now and took out both the essay and the fee (bringing their admit rate way down). I think Bates will definitely be below 20% this year if you look at the number of applicants for the class of 2022 and the number they admitted last year, in fact it would be 15% if my calculations are correct.

That being said, I think Bates has been underrated for a while now and people are starting to recognize that. They have a great president, strong faculty, several new majors/programs they are rolling out and more Fulbright Scholars in 2017 than any other liberal arts college - an impressive 24. Not to mention a lot of great new dorms, an amazing student center and excellent food (all of which appeal to students).

http://www.bates.edu/news/2018/02/19/bates-college-ranks-no-1-in-fulbright-student-awards-for-2017-18/


It's still pretty cold in Maine but lots of people (including my kids) prefer that to hot weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if georgetown went to common app it would probably cut its acceptance rate by a third.

Their yield would likely fall even further though so the net effect on the acceptance rate might be negligible. Switching to the common app would attract even more of the top kids who are looking for some back-up school to their ivy+ choices.

[Anonymous]

I know two people actually who got into Stanford and not a single other school. It really is a crapshoot. And the fact that it is such a crapshoot leads kids and their parents to throw in more and more applications. It really is an swful time to apply to college.

[Anonymous]

Duke reported a record 8% increase in applications over last year as did many of their peer institutions : http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/02/duke-breaks-its-record-for-number-of-applications-received-staying-on-par-with-peer-schools

The Duke Dean of Admissions seems skeptical that #s of applications can keep increasing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke reported a record 8% increase in applications over last year as did many of their peer institutions : http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/02/duke-breaks-its-record-for-number-of-applications-received-staying-on-par-with-peer-schools

The Duke Dean of Admissions seems skeptical that #s of applications can keep increasing...

And they increased their tuition to go along with it. I didn't hear them say they're skeptical that won't keep increasing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if georgetown went to common app it would probably cut its acceptance rate by a third.

Do they still have a party 1 and a part 2 application?

What do they count in their application numbers?

[Anonymous]

To repeat: When UVA wins the NCAA men’s basketball championship, as it surely will, applications will surge (beyond the insanely high numbers already). It will be the hottest school in the country. And to repeat again: Very bad news for marginal applicants from Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke reported a record 8% increase in applications over last year as did many of their peer institutions : http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/02/duke-breaks-its-record-for-number-of-applications-received-staying-on-par-with-peer-schools

The Duke Dean of Admissions seems skeptical that #s of applications can keep increasing...

And they increased their tuition to go along with it. I didn't hear them say they're skeptical that won't keep increasing.

Roger on the tuition hike. Increased by almost 4% and Duke says it was the smallest increase in a decade:

Duke University raised its cost for tuition by 3.9 percent during its board of trustee's planning retreat held Friday and Saturday, bringing the cost for undergraduates to more than $53000. ... The Durham-based school said the bump is the smallest annual percentage increase in the last decade.

[Anonymous]

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.

And a lucky number only in year of dragon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke reported a record 8% increase in applications over last year as did many of their peer institutions : http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/02/duke-breaks-its-record-for-number-of-applications-received-staying-on-par-with-peer-schools

The Duke Dean of Admissions seems skeptical that #s of applications can keep increasing...

And they increased their tuition to go along with it. I didn't hear them say they're skeptical that won't keep increasing.

Roger on the tuition hike. Increased by almost 4% and Duke says it was the smallest increase in a decade:

Duke University raised its cost for tuition by 3.9 percent during its board of trustee's planning retreat held Friday and Saturday, bringing the cost for undergraduates to more than $53000. ... The Durham-based school said the bump is the smallest annual percentage increase in the last decade.

And with room and board, books, etc. a year at Duke is getting awfully close to $75k!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke reported a record 8% increase in applications over last year as did many of their peer institutions : http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/02/duke-breaks-its-record-for-number-of-applications-received-staying-on-par-with-peer-schools

The Duke Dean of Admissions seems skeptical that #s of applications can keep increasing...

And they increased their tuition to go along with it. I didn't hear them say they're skeptical that won't keep increasing.

Roger on the tuition hike. Increased by almost 4% and Duke says it was the smallest increase in a decade:

Duke University raised its cost for tuition by 3.9 percent during its board of trustee's planning retreat held Friday and Saturday, bringing the cost for undergraduates to more than $53000. ... The Durham-based school said the bump is the smallest annual percentage increase in the last decade.

And with room and board, books, etc. a year at Duke is getting awfully close to $75k!

Yet kids are still applying in droves.

[Anonymous]

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.

Have to? In order to do what? If you select appropriate safety schools, they should have no problem gaining admission. Additional applications beyond that are driven by you feeling that those safeties aren't "goo enough".

[Anonymous]

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

SERIOUSLY?!? That's a lot of money, for one thing. Couldn't they whittle down their lists? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

[Anonymous]

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.