Princeton will only offer the Regular Decision deadline, Jan 1, 2021, and will be test-optional https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/06/princeton-drops-sat-act-test-score-requirement
This will end up costing more for the applicants with P as their top choice; now they have to pay and apply many more schools for backups. Previously they may apply for a few T5 colleges at most if already admitted to P. As the end result, more will apply SCEA to other colleges and drive down EA admission rate for H, MIT, S, Y significantly.
Based 2024 admission rate, projecting 5000 Princeton SCEA applicants are distributed to the other colleges, the overall admission rate for P will increase slightly by almost 0.25 percent and other top colleges down slightly by 0.25 percent.
Projection of 2025 distribution of 2024 SCEA P applicant 5000
Brown 3%
Columbia 8%
Cornell 1%
Dartmouth 6%
Harvard 20%
Penn 7%
Princeton
Yale 18%
MIT 18%
Stanford 19%
Class of 2024 Admit Applied % early Admit early Applied early% RD Admit RD Applied RD %
Brown 2,533 36,794 6.88 800 4,562 17.54% 1,733 32,232 5.38%
Columbia 2,465 40,084 6.15 650 4,461 14.57% 1,815 35,623 5.10%
Cornell NA NA NA 1,576 6,615 23.82% NA NA NA
Dartmouth 1,881 21,394 8.79 547 2,069 26.44% 1,334 19,325 6.90%
Harvard 1,980 40,248 4.92 895 6,424 13.93% 1,085 33,824 3.21%
Penn 3,404 42,205 8.07 1,269 6,453 19.67% 2,135 35,752 5.97%
Princeton 1,823 32,836 5.55 791 5,000 15.82% 1,032 27,836 3.71%
Yale 2,304 35,220 6.54 796 5,777 13.78% 1,508 29,443 5.12%
MIT 1,457 20,075 7.26 687 9,291 7.39 770 10,784 7.14
Stanford NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Projection of 2025 Admit Applied % early Admit early Applied early% RD Admit RD Applied RD %
Brown 2,533 36,944 6.86% 800 4,712 16.98% 1,733 32,232 5.38%
Columbia 2,465 40,484 6.09% 650 4,861 13.37% 1,815 35,623 5.10%
Cornell NA NA NA 1,576 6,665 23.65% NA NA NA
Dartmouth 1,881 21,694 8.67% 547 2,369 23.09% 1,334 19,325 6.90%
Harvard 1,980 41,248 4.80% 895 7,424 12.06% 1,085 33,824 3.21%
Penn 3,404 42,555 8.00% 1,269 6,803 18.65% 2,135 35,752 5.97%
Princeton 1,823 31,586 5.77% 0 NA 1,823 31,586 5.77%
Yale 2,304 36,120 6.38% 796 6,677 11.92% 1,508 29,443 5.12%
MIT 1457 20,975 6.95% 687 10,191 6.74% 770 10,784 7.14%
Stanford NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
I wonder whether Princeton going this route will begin a trend for other schools to follow suit and move to a January 1 deadline i.e. regular decision cycle only, for this upcoming cycle?
I think only highly selective schools with a good financial situation would consider this. Other schools are going to try to lock up as many students as they can ED, IMO.
Agree, but if say all the Ivy cousins and MIT and Stanford go that route it makes for an entirely admissions cycle. Also, what are the thoughts on whether schools will continue with binding ED this application cycle since it has long been accused of being elitist and anti those who need to compare FA packages?
Curious.
I am wondering how this benefits Princeton.
Perhaps with TO on the table, they want to be able to compare all their applicants at the same time? Or perhaps they want to know who the full pay students are, before they commit to giving away more FA in the SCEA round than they have to? Traditionally many of those accepted early were athletes and children of alumni, and this would seemingly reduce those influences a bit.
It is shaping up to be a very competitve application season.
Do you think it will be harder to get in to a top school this year relative to others? I tried to develop a strong resume throughout the earlier part of the year by winning state tournaments, becoming an international finalist in various events including the International Science and Engineering Fair, getting officer positions, pursuing my passions, getting a good ACT, and so forth. I thought that going in I would have an advantage since so many people lost opportunities to do things that they wanted to do. Given that I have scores and accomplishments do you still foresee this year being more competitive that others in recent history? I know I wrote a lot and you truly can’t give a definitive answer but any input you have would be much appreciated.
I do think that it is going to be a very competitive year. My opinion.
Having said that, the poor economy is going to affect the number of applicants who can afford to attend. There may be jumps in attendance at community colleges at the expense of the 4-years. That’s in your favor, but, sadly, that boost comes entirely at the expense of lower SES and “donut hole” students.
However, the applicant pool as a whole… well, I have said before there are a lot of teens studying very hard for the SATs this summer because they have little else to do. They’re going to be throwing down some pretty high scores come fall. Yes, many colleges are going test optional, but that only means they will see more applications than usual in the coming year, as students whose scores may have not made the cut will figure they now have a better chance. Also, I believe there was massive and widespread grade inflation this spring as schools took a laid back and forgiving stance in the face of e-learning. Finally, there are many more students taking a gap year than usual. They will probably be throwing their hands in the ring again in hopes of a more normal freshman start in 2021.
So the competition this fall may or may not be smaller, but I think it will be fiercer. I feel as sorry for the rising seniors right now as I do for the rising college freshman who don’t know what to expect in two months. It will work out and everyone will end up where they were meant to be (there will be a spot for everyone who can afford it). But it is going to be an emotional rollercoaster. Buckle up!
More than anything else, I think this will reduce Harvard’s EA admit rate. I created a thread for that here:
I agree, I think the competition for 2021 will be fierce. I have spoken to parents who plan to send their children to community college in the fall. Just yesterday I received an “I’m here for you” correspondence from the local community college.
Those who were admitted to Princeton but decided to defer were informed that depending on circumstances, they may not be able to matriculate in the fall 2021, they may have to wait until the fall of 2022 to matriculate.
In our home we have visited and revisited the various scenarios and whichever way it goes there may be some disappointment involved but we have a plan.