<p>Holy Cross received record number of applications around 7,000 for a class size of 730. Expect HC's acceptance rate to be in the low 30's% which will place the school in good company among LAC's not named Amherst or Williams. Of interest applications to Wellesley and Tufts were down slightly.</p>
<p>Par72</p>
<p>You are probably one of their best advocates!</p>
<p>How awful! More disappointed applicants, or more applicants throwing surplus applications in, with no intention of attending to begin with, unless they get turned away from places they really want to go. :(</p>
<p>HC's decision to go SAT optional probably atracted lots of new applicants. Bowdoin was one of the of the original SAT optional schools.</p>
<p>I think it's really cool the way a college can improve it's prestige, ranking, perceived overall quality, and just general greatness..... by somehow convincing a few additional students to fill out applications. </p>
<p>Why do they charge application fees anyway? I'm sure I could get many colleges' acceptance rates down into single digits if they would follow my marketing program and pay students $5 to fill out an application. :)</p>
<p>FWIW, raising the selectivity of a school requires more than raising the number of applicants. Raising the selectivity of a school does not ALWAYS contributes to a better USNews rankings. Gaming the way alumni donations are counted pays better dividends, and maybe brings in more money.</p>