<p>Article in Elon's student newspaper, The Pendulum, regarding changes to their application. Basically they're not not interested in making it "easy" to apply to Elon, because they only want applicants who are seriously interested in the school. They are trying to ask essay questions that show what kind of global citizens applicants would be.</p>
<p>(I find this to be a refreshing change from those schools that will go the opposite direction and encourage everyone to apply, so they can reject most of them, become more selective and move up in the rankings.)</p>
<p>The article says GPA and test scores make up about 75% of their decision, but in my experience Elon is one of the hardest schools to predict who will get in and who won't. I have a friend who is a college counselor at a private school, and she's had the same experience with Elon being unpredictable. My daughter (sophomore at Elon) knew people with better stats than her who were deferred, then waitlisted, while she was accepted (although she applied ED and had more quality extra-curriculars). She also knows someone who was accepted to Bucknell but waitlisted at Elon, although on paper Bucknell is significantly more selective, and that kid's brother was a current Elon student.</p>
<p>On the plus side, they've announced two new scholarships - one of which is primarily based on the answers to the essay question.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing that article. On one hand - it would have been easier if they participated in the Common App - but on the other hand - I respect what they are trying to do. It seems like so many colleges are simplifying their applications - offering priority or personal apps with no essay questions - as you said - so that they can boast about their increased numbers of applicants and their increasing level of selectivity. Nice to see Elon is not playing that game.</p>
<p>Also, Elon has posted a new Admissions video on You Tube. It’s a 2:45 edited version of their full 9 minute video. The 9 minute video will be shown only in official Admissions sessions, but you can see the 2:45 version by going to YouTube and searching for “Experience Elon.”</p>
<p>You know, when I read the app last week I thought it looked different from Son’s version 2 years ago. But, I didn’t think too hard about it. Thanks for the explanation, Laf. </p>
<p>I’m at work now and don’t dare watch either video lest I head into my next meeting with mascara running down. </p>
<p>Elon is D’s only school not on the common app. It’s also the only app she hasn’t started yet. It has the earliest EA deadline, too. And, yes, if you’re wondering, she IS driving her mother to drink. ;)</p>
<p>DougBetsy - Cheers, clink clink!! I’m right there with you - my S just started the app (name, address, reading the essay prompts, etc) but is nowhere near being finished!! That EA deadline is right around the corner…</p>
<p>D has started the app and has written a VERY rough draft essay. She promises to work on it tomorrow night - I’ve told her that going to a Halloween party on Saturday night is contingent on significant progress on the app. I think that is enough incentive ;)</p>
<p>Glad to hear we’re not the only family stressing over this application! S1 finally hit SEND on his ED app this afternoon! phew…that’s a relief!!</p>
<p>I would think Elon would make it easier to apply- the more students to reject the higher their selectivity goes up. Sent 2 to college - 1 a jr; 1 a freshman - I could not beleive how solicitious schools became with “Priority” appilcations & teaser scholarship letters in a 2 year period. </p>
<p>I would like to see Elon’s acceptance rate decrease. I would also like to see the ratio of male:female become more balanced.</p>
<p>livesinnewjersey - that’s the whole point. Elon loves their rankings, but they’re not playing that “selectivity” game. Why would a college want to wade through a bunch of applications from kids who don’t really want to go there? Elon’s so inclusive by nature they seem to have a hard time rejecting people. I think last year they admitted about 50%, denied about 20% and WAITLISTED the remaining 30%. </p>
<p>The female/male ratio seems to be holding steady at 60/40, which is not at all unusual these days. Especially for a college with very little engineering, but with well-regarded schools of Education and of Communications. I think it’s the very good Business program that helps keep the ratio from getting even more lopsided.</p>