Record low admits expected this year at top colleges as their applications top highs

Applying to College
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<p>"The recession appears to have had little impact on the number of applications received by many of the nation’s most competitive colleges, or on an applicant’s overall chances of being admitted to them.</p>

<p>Representatives of Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, among other highly selective institutions, said in telephone and e-mail exchanges in recent days that applications for the Class of 2013 had jumped sharply when compared to the previous year’s class. As a result, the percentage of applicants who will receive good news from the eight colleges of the Ivy League (and a few other top schools that send out decision letters this week) is expected to hover at – or near – record lows.</p>

<p>Bill Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard since 1986, said that the 29,112 applications Harvard received this year represented an all-time high, and a 6-percentage point increase from last year. He said the percentage of applicants admitted would be 7 percent, down from 8 percent a year ago. Dartmouth said that the 18,130 applications it received was the most in its history, too, and that the 12 percent admitted would be its lowest.</p>

<p>Stanford said that the 30,350 applications it received represented a 20 percent increase, and that while it estimated a 7.5-percent admission rate, which would be its lowest, it declined to specify a final figure until later in the week."
For</a> Top Colleges, Economy Has Not Reduced Interest (or Made Getting in Easier) - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com</p>

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<p>“Never before have so many applied to so many and been accepted by so few.”</p>

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<p>I disagree about the economy not affecting the number of applications. One reason they may be increasing is that people want to compare more financial aid offers, because they are more reliant on financial aid than ever.</p>

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<p>Williams’s acceptance rate, in turn, is expected to be about 20 percent, which is higher than in recent years. </p>

<p>Is this an exaggeration? I can’t see Williams acceptance rate rising to 37% but I suppose it’s realistic given their numbers are accurate. Granted, I don’t think this raise in acceptance will hurt the school’s prestige, especially in the view of employers.</p>

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<p>re: the economy’s effect on this: the tippy tops – CHYMPS and a couple more Ivies, are a fantastic bargain with the financial aid they typically give families making under… let’s say, $100,000 per year. For most of these tippy tops, cost of attendance for a family with $95,000 income will be less than attending, for example, UCLA or Cal.</p>

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<p>The acceptance rate is rising to 20%, not rising by 20% from 17% to 27%. That is, it is rising by 3%.</p>

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<p>Ah misread that.</p>

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<p>I believe that demographically the highschool class of 2008 was bigger?</p>

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<p>^^^ No (10 char)</p>

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<p>2009 is the biggest class ever of high school seniors, and the numbers of high school students are predicted to drop after this year.</p>

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<p>It is also the most competitive in recent years, if not ever.</p>

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<p>I think there are a lot of issues - </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Some Kids applying to more schools</p></li>
<li><p>Some schools maximizing ED and Wl acceptances, to increase yield and/or keep down finaid. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Yes 2009 HS class is bigger, but the demography within it is changing, not that it matters to the CC crowd, but increase in % of kids who wont go to college.</p>