Increase in Applications May Not Be a Sign of a College's Popularity

Parents Forum
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<p>New article in the Chronicle of Higher Education today. </p>

<p>Tuesday, July 24, 2007</p>

<p>Bond-Rating Agency Says Increase in Applications May Not Be a Sign of a College's Popularity
By MARTIN VAN DER WERF</p>

<p>The college-application frenzy is beginning to have some unexpected side effects. </p>

<p>A large bond-rating agency, Standard & Poor's, announced on Monday that it would start looking more skeptically at the application numbers being reported by colleges and universities. </p>

<p>"We are questioning whether the increases reported are genuinely reflective of the popularity of a particular institution," said Gwendolyn Shufro, a higher-education analyst with Standard & Poor's....</p>

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2

<p>Isn't the rise in applications also related to the increase in the size of graduating classes...</p>

3

<p>"As applications rise and selectivity increases, we will evaluate whether matriculation rates remain constant or increase, rather than decrease," the report says. If a college reports an increase in applicants at the same time it has a decrease in the number of accepted students who matriculate, it "may just reflect the nationwide trend toward an increase in applications rather than demand for a specific institution." </p>

<p>My prediction...demonstrated interest will become more and more important. To the point where visitations, chatroom participation, phone interviews/Q&As, etc. will be almost necessary for acceptance.</p>