This year college admissions are undergoing a change on many fronts. Colleges are admitting fewer applicants, and students are transferring to other colleges in greater numbers. These trends indicate that higher education is changing quickly and the needs of students today are changing rapidly as well. This is why it’s crucial for parents and students to comprehend these changes when planning for their children’s college years.
College Admissions Trend #1 Acceptance rates are falling
One of the most notable aspects of college admissions this year is that acceptance rates have dipped at nearly every school, but the most selective universities (including all Ivy League schools) have seen the biggest declines. These lower admission rates and the larger number of applicants, means that more students are competing for each slot at the top schools. This will likely result in more admitted students being rejected or waiting to be admitted and may cause some colleges to close or reduce programs.
Colleges are now looking at yield to alleviate this downward pressure on enrollment in colleges. This is the percentage of students accepted that actually enroll. In the past, colleges used yield to determine admissions. Now, they are also using it to determine whether merit scholarships will be given. Merit scholarships are awarded to students who show an outstanding academic performance and participation in extracurricular activities. These scholarships can amount to thousands of dollars. Many merit scholarships remain unclaimed in the current climate. More students are being rejected by their top-choice colleges. This trend is expected to continue as colleges place more emphasis on yield and applicants must keep this in mind when deciding where to apply.
Another trend is that more colleges are offering early site link admission, which includes Early Decision and Early Action plans. This allows colleges to boost their revenue by admitting an elite class of students, and it also gives applicants an advantage over other applicants if they’re accepted. It is important to remember that the majority of colleges have low admission rates and that the benefits of applying earlier are usually reduced by the competition.
Furthermore colleges are innovating by offering new programs to attract students, like MIT’s expansion of its interdisciplinary program, which now includes fields like engineering and biology. In addition, more schools are removing traditional academic calendars and instead introducing summer classes, which allows them to serve more students during the peak enrollment season.
Another trend to be on the lookout for is the increase in families that choose to take a gap-year particularly since COVID-19 numbers are decreasing and the availability of vaccines is increasing. This could impact admissions, as it is likely that students who otherwise have enrolled in college in the fall may choose to take a break instead. As the spring semester approaches it is likely that enrollment in colleges will return to normal levels, and many colleges will look for ways to fill their seats.
