<p>"A survey of nearly 204,000 college freshmen who started school in 2011 indicated that only 58 percent of them enrolled at their first-choice college, the lowest percentage to do so since the question was first asked in 1974.</p>
<p>The survey, “The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2011,” is based on the responses of full-time students attending 207 institutions. It showed that first-choice enrollment has been dropping since 2006.</p>
<p>8 percent of students, or nearly 1 in 5, who are accepted to their first-choice school decided not to attend.</p>
<p>“These students who were accepted and are not attending are much more likely to say they are not going because they did not get the financial aid they wanted.”</p>
<p>Of course, the methodology ignores the fact that in 1974 the typical HS senior probably applied to 2 or 3 colleges, one of which was likely to have either open enrollment or be a super safety within commuting distance.</p>
<p>These “dog bits man” stories are very tiresome. I knew very few students in my HS (and I graduated in the mid-70’s) who even HAD a first choice college. You applied to a few, you got into at least one, you were a happy camper.</p>
<p>My dd got lucky and got her first choice with a scholarship but she did not aim as high as most of the kids on CC. </p>
<p>I don’t think it is bad to aim higher and hope that the money will be there. I don’t think it is bad that some students did not get what they wanted. </p>
<p>The Rolling Stones got is right with their song. </p>
<p>No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need</p>
<p>We will be in that percentage if the schools don’t come through with great aid packages. It’s just a fact of life. College costs are huge these days and less aid from the government now then there was in '74. Not many people can afford to pay $50,000+/year for 2 children and still do things like eat.</p>
<p>Also I think that a lot of people apply to farther reaching schools than they would have in '74–meaning places like Ivy League schools for people pretty much anywhere west. Transportation options were a huge factor back then. Flights cost in the $300-400 range on average salaries in the $20,000 range.</p>
<p>Then there is what I call the “Michael Jordan” factor. About the time Michael Jordan started getting his billion dollar basketball contracts the country shifted to needing their children to be “the best” at everything. If your child doesn’t get into Harvard or Yale, you have failed as a parent, unless of course they get that DI 5 year full ride football scholarship somewhere, then you are ok. Back when I was applying to schools I would have loved to go to Harvard but I knew the chances were slim so I didn’t apply. Now, even if you have a remote chance of getting in, kids apply.</p>
<p>There are a lot of factors for this statistic really, none of which are really that important.</p>