<p>Hey guys...i'm an applicant to Notre Dame this year (dream school - have a thread regarding my chances on this board), and I was just wondering if any of you were aware of the connection between our country's economic situation and the amount of students that colleges are accepting. Many people are saying that colleges are accepting a lot more people because most people can't afford it...I know for a fact that I'll be able to afford it, therefore I was just wondering if that will give me a better chance at acceptance.</p>
<p>I think that it seems colleges are accepting more people simply because there are more applicants than, say, 10 years ago. I don’t think a college would accept a person just because they anticipate others not being able to attend–I think colleges will continue accepting kids who will be able to do the work. I don’t really think that the economic situation gives anyone a better chance to get into a need-blind school like Notre Dame.</p>
<p>My guess is that the university will accept about the same percentage of applicants as it did last year, and put more students on the waiting list in anticipation that more admitted applicants than usual may decide to accept another offer because of finances.
Universities hate to over-admit, because it results in overcrowded dorms and classes.</p>
<p>ND did accept a couple of hundred more kids EA this year because of the economy. But these are EA , not ED. 2009 will be the year of the waitlist for the top private colleges. I suspect even parents sending in thier non-refundable deposits in May will be watching the economy before committing in August.</p>
<p>due to the large tuition cost, i would image the retention rate from admitted students to those who enroll will be lower this year than in the past, therefore, ND will have to go further onto their waitlist, but i am not sure if they increased the number of students on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Well, technically ND is need blind, but I have a feeling that they (and plenty of other colleges) have and will be looking at financial stats for admission decisions. Sounds cold, but just like anything else, college is a business, not just an experience. But I don’t know that it’ll effect who they accept too much. Most likely, they’ll accept more students, but that can also be attributed to a higher application pool nation wide (4+ million Seniors applying for college this year).</p>