<p>So, I'm just curious, why do schools like Chicago (42%) and Brown and others have such large applicant pools compared to last years? Perhaps its internationals, or people applying to more places, but I'm just curious (and worried), because the projected acceptance rates are even lower now! What's the reason?</p>
<p>Emma Watson.</p>
<p>hahaha perfect answer</p>
<p>Also, financial aid opportunities.</p>
<p>I think its more marketing strategies. I don’t know if U of C always sent out so many mailings, but I easily got more from U of C than any other college (including the usual suspects like WUSTL). Perhaps the mailings really were effective? Or maybe more people wanted to take advantage of a nonbinding early action</p>
<p>There are lots of threads about the increase of Chicago applications, and along with the increased publicity, people may have seen the high ranking as well as the supposedly “high” admit rate. And yeah a lot of people are applying early now.</p>
<p>do you think that the applicant pool is stronger then?</p>
<p>People have this ridiculous idea that they need to apply to every Ivy + Ivy equivalent. It all boils down to a whole lot of arrogance (especially when they refuse to apply to a safety)</p>
<p>Study after study shows the higher your educational level, the greater your income level. Due to the Great Recession and it’s lingering, I do think on a subliminal level students and parents are anxious to get going on the best education they can, and for many, on graduate school thereafter.</p>
<p>Otoh, some are not cut out for college by their own analysis and rightfully turn to trade schools etc. so as not to incur excessive college expenses. </p>
<p>I don’t see realistic fear of future income as a motivating factor mentioned much for the increase in college applications, but it seems logical. And with one’s choice of college of course, comes consideration of networking as a subsequent earned and valuable safety net.</p>
<p>Good luck to you all.</p>
<p>I’m amazed at how much applications are up this year (across the board, not just at Chicago) versus year ago, which was up substantially versus the prior year. I don’t think there are more h.s. graduates this year. It must be that students are applying to alot more colleges (which does not bode well for getting into your target schools). What do you think result of this application surge will be? More waitlists, but better chance of getting in off the wait list?</p>
<p>I know that University of Chicago switched to the common app for this year and if I’m not mistaken, Brown did as well. So it’s easier to apply to the schools if you don’t have to fill out an entire application again. Although…I didn’t apply to either. 
So I guess all of U Chicago’s clever mailings could not take away my laziness.</p>
<p>I think it has to do with their strong financial aid programs.</p>
<p>Here are a few of the factors:</p>
<p>*more “marketing” to a wider audience. Brown and UChicago, this year, teamed up with other schools (Rice, Chicago, and Cornell) and gave group presentations at hotels across the country.</p>
<p>*Rice’s goal is to expand awareness (Was this UChicago’s goal too?)</p>
<p>*Brown’s goal s to expand diversity</p>
<p>*Brown and UChicago used the common app for the first time this year</p>
<p>*Brown is need-blind (not sure about UChicago). That’s a big factor for many.</p>
<p>*Many more applicants are applying to numerous schools in order to compare the financial package.</p>
<p>I’m sure that U Chicago’s rank as #1 (above Harvard) in one ranking was one factor</p>