How exactly are acceptance rates calculated? I’ve gotten into six schools so far, and the letters all state how many applicants there were and the incoming class size. For example, UVM claims to have gotten 25,000 applications, and only accepted 2,500 new students. If my simple math is correct that’s a 10% acceptance rate, near Ivy rates, yet do a google search and it comes up that UVM has around a 77% acceptance rate. This happened with other schools too…I’ve got be missing something. Could anyone explain how the whole thing works??
I think the “2,500” figure is the size of their entering class. In reality they will accept more than 2,500 students out of the 25,000 applications because of predicted yield rates (these are randomly pulled numbers, but let’s say they predict 50% of accepted students will actually enroll; then they would admit 5,000 students to get an entering class of 2,500)
This should help you understand how a very high acceptance rate combined with a very low yield works. It is the exact OPPOSITE of the Ivy League. It is typical for non competitive public universities.
Students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled (full- or part-time) in Fall 2014. Include early decision, early action, and students who began studies during summer in this cohort. Applicants should include only those students who fulfilled the requirements for consideration for admission (i.e., who completed actionable applications) and who have been notified of one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution). Admitted applicants should include wait-listed students
Total first-time, first-year (freshman) men who applied
10588
Total first-time, first-year (freshman) women who applied
13643
Total first-time, first-year (freshman) men who were admitted
7253
Total first-time, first-year (freshman) women who were admitted
10543
Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men who enrolled
998
Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women who enrolled
1288
For a long time, college yields (% who accept the offer if extended) was factored into the US News college ratings. Bob Morse has taken that out of the formula.
Some people felt gamesmanship by colleges was linked to protecting the yield. For example, all Early Decisions students pledge to attend. So a higher % of ED yields a higher yield. There was concern some schools were increasing the proportion of ED students in the final class to improve yield to improve ratings. Likewise, with the waiting list. Schools like Tufts, Wash U and C Mellon were suspected of wait listing students who seemed significantly stronger than their enrollment profile. Students were offered slots on the waiting list. If it was a safety for that student, they would not work hard to get off the waiting list. If it was desired, they would work hard to get off the waiting list by showing interest and sometimes stating overtly that they would come if given an offer. Offers would only go to those the school was nearly certain they’d accept. In some ways they were suspected of creating a Late Decision-with offers extended only to those who pledged (or showed signs) they’d come. There is compelling research to support the idea that at least some schools did this.
Showing interest and pledging to go if given an offer still help students get off waiting lists.