The Economy: What Will Happen At Colleges Next Year?

<p>While I don't know of increased enrollments as a way to stop the bleeding, it only works if you're not "need blind" in admissions. However, the deferring building and renovations seem to be on the top of everyone's lists. That, and freezing hiring and not replacing lost positions due to retirement etc. The need to reassess endowments is surely here, but now is also a relative savvy time to reinvest.</p>

<p>Frankly, I think the media contributes to the lack of confidence out there more so than anyone else. Every single show I watch, every news cycle I watch they talk about failing business, job loss, and how to save a buck. It certainly is a reality, but that there are literally 200+ channels talking about it surely doesn't help.</p>

<p>I think about my husband's Grandfather who was at Yale at the time the depression finally hit his family interests very hard. He never finished college. And I don't think a transition of power, peaceful or not, is going to magically fix anything.</p>

<p>Again, our GC said that beyond certain applications being down at some schools, almost all of the financial aid offices he has talked to has more applications for Aid than ever before and a lot from existing students who hadn't had any aid this year. </p>

<p>And there's the rub. As anyone whose ever even looked at the steps to file for financial aid, it's not for the faint of heart. They require a lot of paperwork and a great deal of planning (filing early taxes etc). And some people who grew up not asking for a dime are very very hesitant to start asking now. It just isn't in their DNA to their own detriment sometimes.</p>

<p>Consolation -- I assume you mean 50 Freshmen, 50 Softs, etc. I dont know many schools that admit many students as seniors, there are residency requirements.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Consolation -- I assume you mean 50 Freshmen, 50 Softs, etc. I dont know many schools that admit many students as seniors, there are residency requirements.

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</p>

<p>What I initially assumed they meant was that they would add 50 more students by increasing the freshman class by that amount. Thinking about it, they might accomplish the same thing with a combination of freshmen and transfers.</p>

<p>But I don't know for certain.</p>

<p>my brother, a high school senior, has applied to 6 private LAC's(top 40, but not top 10). He has low end average stats for those schools(GPA 3.5, SAT 1230/1600, 1890/2400). He expected only to be accepted by 2-3. He was accepted by 3 in the past week, and one offered a $5K merit scholarship. Being deluged with emails, "PLEASE COME HERE, now that you are accepted", I strongly suspect that his success is related to the fact that he attends a private prep school and is clearly a 'full-freight' payer to the adcoms. His prep school friends are having similar success(unexpected acceptances despite having low average stats for the school that they are applying to). The economy is helping the students in this category-those applying to good(but not the super elite, although it may be happening there as well) private colleges who can pay full costs and need no aid. The colleges appear to be trying to lock in as many of these students as possible this year. In what normally would have been a tough year for admissions(2009 with largest high school graduating class in history), turning out to help some who can afford it.</p>

<p>If you do not mind the question, what LAC's are providing admission decisions in January for non ED candidates?</p>

<p>they were Early Action, not ED</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>

<p>Hubbel, yes we are in same position, not private school, but address is pretty clear. And yes, we are getting same. My fellow parents and I suspect it will get brutal in May when Adcoms see final numbers on who is putting down deposit vs. who is going to state schools.</p>

<p>In response to Consolation, who wrote "Bowdoin just announced yesterday that they are taking steps to adjust to endowment losses, including planning to add 50 more students. (I'm assuming it is 50 students per class.)" </p>

<p>Bowdoin plans to increase enrollment by a total of 50 students, 10 per year for the next five years.</p>

<p>I think elemenope is being insightful:

[quote]
maybe colleges will keep the waitlists open much longer than usual, like all the way up to the start of school or take more full pay mid-year transfer students

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Watch for more mid year transfers to private schools next January.</p>

<p>Unless my man Barack has everything turned around by then. He might. But I'm willing to accept that it will take him a little bit longer. :)</p>

<p>I think that living at home and commuting to school has always been there for those who can't afford dorms, and it's still out there. For many, many people (just not here on CC), it's about taking classes and getting a job, not the "college experience."</p>

<p>Hey, HM5, what was that (#9) about?</p>

<p>Hubbell and Kayf: if it is not revealing too much info, could you be forthcoming about the type of LAC's we are talking about here for us private-prep parents of 2010/2011 students? It would be really great to know where a white girl from NJ can actually be '"wanted" at a school....LOL....but, really, I'm serious.....</p>

<p>to quote ellenmope in post #8: "This generation's scholarship/financial aid kids will be the next generation's full pay parents, through planning and some luck!" My parents both went through college on full military scholarships and my father attended medical school on another one, and they were successful enough to pay for private colleges without any aid for both sons without blinking an eye. Plus, as an added bonus, they are paying my way through medical school and have told brother they will pay his way through law school. So, it's true what ellen said.</p>

<p>to Rodney,</p>

<pre><code> so far, Elon, Sewanee, Trinity University(San Antonio). also, expect positive results from Rhodes and Furman as well. He neglected to apply to my alma mater(Davidson), but I suspect he would have gotten in with his legacy status and the fact that I use to date the admissions counselor for his area(one of my classmates)-but he did not want to 'shadow" me as he says.
</code></pre>

<p>I know what'll happen at NYU....the president will send us a 5-6 page email that concludes with "Therefore, we'll be raising tuition by 7% (or some other percentage about twice the rate of inflation) and other fees by 6%."</p>

<p>I just read that UMass will have a 16.5% budget cut (total) for this fiscal year. It already took a 4.5% hit in the fall so I think that this increase will have to result in tuition/fee increases and some amount of attrition where professors don't get replaced. I haven't seen what the hit will be on community colleges but I expect them to be about the same.</p>

<p>BCEagle, With the news from UMASS that means that every college my son is interested in has publically announced being hit hard. </p>

<p>I try to stay positive but it is disheartening. I feel for this group of kids, including mine.</p>

<p>Has anyone seen data on what the economy and new administration mean for ROTC apps? </p>

<p>I suppose the scholarships will become more competitive/selective while money is tight. Add that to a less-hawkish Commander in Chief and I'd bet supply doesn't meet demand. Just my speculation. </p>

<p>Thoughts? Data?</p>

<p>"BCEagle, With the news from UMASS that means that every college my son is interested in has publically announced being hit hard."</p>

<p>I just read a gloomy article talking about Governor Lynch's problems in New Hampshire. It's a consideration for our daughter in the future. The problems are nationwide. We'll be waiting for the increase amounts for next year. There aren't a lot of options for reducing costs short of going to community colleges.</p>