<p>I'm not sure if there is still a thread existing about this topic. Although I always question, I've heard many say the economy may shift college admission somewhat. Mainly major public universities, such as Michigan State University, Ohio State University- Columbus, University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin- Madison etc.... Being admitted may be more competitive than the previous years due to many families in a economic situation affecting salary ( or something) etc.....
Have anyone already seen evidence of this taking place?
Is this mostly just rumors, and there will be little change in lower admission rates due to the economy?
(Anything else you may think I'm interested in knowing base off my question, post)</p>
<p>I can tell you what I saw at my D’s HS (a competitive public in an affluent area that typically sends almost all its graduates to college). It was a really competitive year admissions-wise at the top schools. Even if you were full pay. Kids with GPAs above 4.0 and ACT scores well above 30 were being turned down at the Ivies and the top LACs. They weren’t declining to go because of finances; they were not being accepted. Those kids then headed for UIUC, and kids with the 3.7 GPAs and 29-30 ACT scores were being rejected from UIUC. That’s where the economics seemed to come into play. More kids who didn’t get into the state flagship couldn’t afford private school and headed to 3rd and 4th tier state schools and community college instead. This HS sent more kids to community college ths year than in the last few years put together.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Sounds devastating, I’m sure there were many options OOS before they had to settle for a community college… just would have to search.</p>
<p>At the same time, college applications at many schools are increasing quite a bit. It’s more the norm now for students to apply to say five or six or seven schools instead of two to four. This forces admissions offices to balance a competitive admittance rate with their actual yield (how many students enroll). It’s a tricky business and it works in your favor.</p>
<p>^^I don’t see how that has anything to do with the economy. College selectivity goes up every year, simply because the number of applicants goes up every year.</p>
<p>What I noticed from a two year gap (DD1 graduated in 2007, DD2 in 2009) is that many more students are going to state schools, many fewer to privates. There was a big shift.</p>
<p>A significant factor in students applying to more schools is the need to cultivate multiple options for economic reasons. Basically, a student applies to a slew of schools, some that he or she likes more than others, with the intention of later factoring in financial aide packages and merit scholarships as part of the overall choice. It is also not unheard of for top students to approach their first-choice school with a competitor’s package and be matched. It’s rare, but it depends on the student and the schools.</p>
<p>The number of applicants goes up every year because the average student applies to more schools every year, obviously for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>Actually, I wonder whether the economy will cause more students to shun the state schools and head to lower-tier private colleges that offer good financial aid. As a parent, I don’t know whether states’ budget woes will hinder educational opportunities at public schools even more dramatically than endowment losses will setback private schools.</p>
<p>My kids go to a private high school and enrollment for next year is down for 2 reasons. 1) parents losing jobs and 2) college money lost in the stock market so they plan on saving the private school tuition for the college years. I think just as many kids plan on going to college, but more plan on spending the first couple years at a community or state college.</p>