<p>Lower yield this year = less selective next year. That’s what may be happening at a lot of privates this year. And that is of great concern to next year’s applicants.
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<p>Again, this is not necessarily true. If you believe students do track the yield of colleges, you’ll have to accept that students will react by submitting more applications if they believe they stand a better chance. </p>
<p>Also, the assumption that a college that experienced a lower yield would stand still and not ntroduce new recruiting devices seems to be a flawed one. More recruiting + perception of easier admissions = more applications.</p>
<p>All in all, the increased number of applications might in fact allow a school to lower its admissions’ rate the following year and become MORE selective.</p>
<p>^To illustrate xiggi’s point, Princeton 9.7/8% acceptance rate this year caused an outrage on the Princeton magazine’s article about it, as HYS were all in the 7% range. I know from posts on CC that it has sent emails and letters to top students already. It did essentially no recruiting, unlike HYS, this past year (for the class of 2013).</p>
<p>at higher level colleges yield, at least to the applicant, probably has
little significance outside of bragging rights. However, at lower level
LACS it may be significant to a small number of applicants “in the know”
Yield at those schools is often financially manipulated. Colleges know
what finaid packages are likely to yield an enrollee. If yield is significantly
lower this year there may be a tendency to improve aid packages to less
than stellar applicants, preferential packaging may be extended. The Inside
Higher Ed article suggests that has already happened this year. On a personal
level my D was accepted at a school where she was a mid level app. The
fin aid package was ok but not great - she enrolled elsewhere. However,
the school got back to her after the sign-up period and indicated their
willingness to adjust her package significantly. Next year they may adjust
those packages a little earlier to assure themselves of a good yield. Being
50 students short one year is trouble, two years in a row is best avoided, even
at considerable cost.</p>