<p>will it be even MORE competitive next year to get into college?</p>
<p>or was this just a very strange year for admissions?</p>
<p>why was admission rate so low this year?</p>
<p>my friend just told me the reason for such a small acceptance rate this year was just because so many unqualified people applied to top-notch colleges just to see if they could get in. is this true? or not?</p>
<p>Yes! (Due to slight increase in birth rate in 1990 vs. 1989.)</p>
<p>But that's for the level of college(s) that are already highly desired. Plenty of (other) colleges are within reach of every capable student with a mastery of his or her high school curriculum.</p>
<p>No i think it is going to be the same theres no reason for it to be more difficult i think that the birth rate dosent really affecty there are ging to be its ups and down undependetly of the birth rate</p>
<p>Ditto epiphany. The competition isn't due to unqualified students vying for spots, it's due to: a larger pool of college bound seniors graduating every year for the next few years until 2009 and students applying to many schools. It will be more competitive next year. Read the boards for suggestions and apply wisely.</p>
<p>When will it stop being so competetive?</p>
<p>No one can give you an answer like that. There are so many factors around college admissions, and ugh just no. No answer, no one knows, and probably not anytime soon, if ever.</p>
<p>It's competitive at the so-called "elites" because so many more people are applying to them due to their rise in prominecy in society's mind (read: USN&WR rankings). However, there is NO competition in order to get everyone a college education. The USA is FAT with higher education opps. It's just everyone feels that they have a shot at the upper tier. While some do, many, many do not. That crowd feels the increased competition. Only 40-50 colleges of the 2000 or so US colleges have admit rates of under 20%. So overall, the competition hasn't increased -- it's just for that bubble of people who are vying for the slots at the top 50 or so schools.</p>
<p>I'm sure Common App has something to do with it. MOstly it's the rankings obsession -- and well known celebs attending these institutions, too.</p>
<p>And why were many schools having almost record low admit rates? Well, it's because their physical ability to admit bodies didn't increase. Therefore lower rates. And again, only for the top two tiers. Look at the "average" state school. I can guarantee you that their rates didn't face downward pressure. The phenomenon you're discussion only applies to the so-called elites and top echelons.</p>
<p>The VAST majority of entering freshmen this fall have skirted the frenzy that the elite-chasers have endured.</p>