<p>I agree with kayf about the common application adding to the issue. I also think that people are more “brand” conscious than they used to be. Students want to apply to schools with perceived prestige rather than less well known schools. They fail to realize that there are a lot of excellent schools where they could get a great education even if the school is not as well known. Finally, you will notice that the vast majority of these schools are in CA and the northeast where the population is significantly higher. Given that most students attend school within 300 miles of their home, it is going to increase th number of applications to schools in high population areas.</p>