<p>so supposedly this year was a record year in terms of the number of applications sent out to colleges. does anyone have an idea about what kind of effect this will have on admissions this year? is it really going to change my chances of getting accepted very much?</p>
<p>it decreases the percentage of people accepted. who knows what it's going to do to your chances....let's just say that it's not likely going to help them ~_~</p>
<p>Well, it depends on whether those students are competitive or not. I'd say there are many more competitive students applying, but there are also many not-quite-so-competitive students applying, all of whom bring up the figures. Generally, acceptance rate will dip slightly.</p>
<p>Standard deviation can't be too large that it would affect your chance that much. As kyledavid said, my prediction would be acceptance rate will drop a little bit.</p>
<p>OK, the number of applications sent in is up, but aren't the number of "slots", number of applicants and number that will enroll only slightly higher than last year?</p>
<p>Isn't it more applications per applicant? </p>
<p>You can only go to one school regardless of the number of applications you submit.</p>
<p>If everyone had submitted, for example say twice the number of applications per applicant as last year, then wouldn't the schools be flooded with twice as many applications of kids who will not enroll? Wouldn't the schools be forced into accepting a larger number to compensate for the increased number of declines they will get?</p>
<p>I never was any good at crunching numbers.</p>
<p>there should be record number next year too, since class of 2009 is supposedly the biggest class or something</p>
<p>There are application numbers, acceptance numbers and yield numbers. In the past a student would apply to 3 to 5 colleges in handwritten applications. With common application these days a student can apply to 15 easily. So more kids and more ease of application. Acceptances go up in order to obtain the yield. So a student today applys to 10 schools and can only go to one. That student has a yield of 10%.</p>
<p>M predction that the major consequence would be a longer and more painful application prcess. It is harder for colleges to predict the yield, and getting 10-15% more matriculating students will coplicate things on campus. So they will send acceptance letters assuming last year's yield and then make long waitlists. In early May they will start the next round of acceptances from waitlists. Not accept a few pople, but really another major round of acceptances. Then another round in late May-early June.
Since many strong candidates apllied to more than 12 school there will be a lot of kids who will get into more than 10 schools, making yields really unpredictable. Also, colleges will have too many god candiates, and a lot of people will not get into their matches or even safeties, feeding the waitlist craze.
So, farewell to summer!</p>
<p>citymom,</p>
<p>Not pretty picture. Jams up schools, applicants, families and tons of resources. As I read it, much of this trend is blamed on the ease of the common app, fueled by rankings hype & hysteria and maintained by the cloak over the adcom process, all in the name of finding the "best fit" for student/school.
Solution ???
Perhaps more honesty, accuracy and transparency by both the schools and applicants.</p>
<p>Sara</p>
<p>Archkid,
I do nt have a solution, but I would like to see the situation changed to the better by the time my secon child starts applying.
After all, Common App is really convenient and I am 100% in favor of keeping it.
Limiting the number of schools one can apply to is a hard sell due to scholarship issues. I would favor a cap at 12-15 schools, but it will not change the situation. A lower cap - my own DD applied to 12.
Making the process more transparent would be great, but nobody can tell private schools whom to accept. They are pivate. However, a system guranteeing all applicants with certain stats a place in their state school and a certain amount of merit aid could help (but then the level of state schools should be comparable, which i not the case; so it will take a lot of thought to make the system fair).</p>
<p>I say, subsidize the cost of applications, up to 3. You're allowed to send out 3 applications to any school you want, free of charge. Anything and everything upwards of 3 comes at double the original rate.</p>
<p>Even schools that are not on the Common App see their applications go up, such as Brown, MIT and U of Chicago.
I read in the Ben Jones thread that MIT admitted more this year for EA in anticipation of this. Did anybody hear otherwise?</p>
<p>well if the increase in the number of apps is reall due to people applying to more places than thats going to make the whole situation pretty interesting (i cant complain because i applied to 9 schools). but if colleges dont increase the number of acceptances in order to compensate, then that will make the people who were waitlisted much more likelyto be accepted. i guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens</p>