<p>Interesting just how many CC posters are telling us that perceived "matches" panned while "reach" school came through - all the more reason to do the research and most honest, app. possible and apply. Especially since ad coms view the current situation in terms of increased selectivity driving the move toward holistic admissions. So many choices, maybe even too many choices, coupled with enticing new financial aid initiatives at so many fine schools certainly up the ante. Enough to make my head spin. The "echo boom" admission cycle must also give quite a few migraines to many guidance counselors who must be torn between advising a conservative vs. go for it approach. Conventional wisdom - and the conventional rubric of "reach - "match" - "safety" or "likely" just doesn't seem to cut it for many students - as I posted before, I am beginning to think more in terms of "reach", "target" and "match". </p>
<p>Good article on the admissions fall-out at Emory:</p>
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[quote]
Emory received a record number of applications for its incoming class and accepted a lower percentage of applicants than last year, keeping with the trends at top universities across the country.</p>
<p>Interim Dean of Admissions Jean Jordan could not give an exact acceptance rate for this year, but she wrote in an e-mail to the Wheel that Emory College admitted around 26 percent of applicants for the class of 2011, a 5.5 percent drop from last year.</p>
<p>Applications rose to 15,373 this year, an 8 percent increase from last year's 14,222.</p>
<p>Jordan wrote that the selection process had been "much tougher" than before.</p>
<p>"[We had] a larger group of applicants, an academically stronger group of applicants in every way - geographically, ethnically and in terms of their interests, experiences and backgrounds," she wrote.</p>
<p>Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Daniel Walls, formerly the dean of admissions, wrote that Emory College had an "extraordinary admission year in terms of quality and volume."</p>
<p>Walls wrote that Emory Advantage, the University's newly revamped, need-based financial aid package, had a positive impact on this year's admissions...</p>
<p>Walls wrote that the increased selectivity has led to a more holistic approach when evaluating candidates.</p>
<p>"Subjective information (essays, recommendations, leadership, potential contributions to the Emory community, etc.) have come to play a much more critical role in selection," he wrote. "Each year, there are students offered admission who may not have 'all the numbers,' but who demonstrate other impressive characteristics and who gain admission. Conversely, there are candidates with high test scores and grade point averages who are not offered admission.</p>
<p>"The amount of time the Admission Committee spends carefully evaluating applicants for admission represents a grueling schedule that demands much personal sacrifice," he added.</p>
<p>Walls explained that most applicants to Emory meet the academic requirements and achieve high standardized test scores.</p>
<p>"If [grades and scores] were the only criteria, it would be almost impossible to select a class," he wrote.</p>
<p>But the Admissions Committee evaluates candidates in part on standardized tests because that provides a "nationally normed indicator" not vulnerable to some secondary schools' grade inflation and their "wide variation in rigor," Walls wrote.</p>
<p>"Our research indicates that when test scores, grades and strength of program are all factored together, we have the best indicator of how a student will perform academically at Emory," Walls wrote...
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