Villanova - Class of 2023 - Early Action Discussion/Decisions

@familyfromLI I think it might be a good sign that they have a decent chance…I’m not sure the stats went up that much. Let’s see how RD comes in. I think RD will be easier than EA and historically (but maybe not as much since they added ED) I feel like Villanova takes a lot of their deferred kids. But maybe not, every year is different.

From the web site:

Profile of Admitted Students (Class of 2022)
22,727 applications for a targeted class size of 1,670
Acceptance Rate: 28.9%
Mid 50% GPA range: 4.10-4.48 on a weighted 4.00 scale
Mid 50% SAT scores of the recently admitted class: 1380-1490/1600, ACT: 31–34/36

@villanovarising where did you see the average 1385 that you reported?

https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/media/fastfacts.html

Also of interest:

Number of early decision applications received by your institution 688
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan 408

221 is citing admitted students statistics whereas I am citing enrolled students statistics from CDS that posted today.

This data is more accurate and valid.

@villanovarising Does the CDS report an average SAT? I thought they report 25% and 75% separately of Math and English and not a composite.

They took 47 off the waitlist of 2856. (see CDS). [I calculated he average of 1385 based on the 25%/75%]

So this is a 1.6% chance.

@am9799 am I reading that correctly? 408/688? They admitted 59% of ED applicants? Wow. That’s very high. Definitely the way to go if Villanova is your top choice.

@collegemomjam That’s what the CDS says. I think this year they received more ED apps so the number might be lower.

@villanovarising Usually the average SAT is higher than the calculated one because they are a lot of lopsided scorers out there (high math/low English and vice versa). I remember reading numerous post here on CC explaining that with actual data from colleges. So I will not be surprised if the average is closer to 1400.

Right - the median is a better number I agree.

Here is the CDS for people who want to see the link.

https://www1.villanova.edu/content/villanova/enroll/statreports/_jcr_content/pagecontent/download_5/file.res/Common%20Data%20Set%20Fall%202018_v1.pdf

You have to remember the early decision includes athletes and legacy (donor types) so that number is skewed.

For all asking, I received info about applying for St. Augustine today, yet I still cannot find anything about honors on my portal. For those who have heard about honors, was there a status update to the application or did you contact VU and ask? Thanks

@goodjob yes but so do most schools with ED and many of them don’t come close to having a 59% admission rate ED. I think Lehigh is high also. Ivies and the like are probably more in the teens/twenties. This is definitely something that varies by school.

That was the first year that they had ED so interesting to see how it evolves the next couple of years.

It will most definitely be a lot a lower acceptance rate this year as more people are now aware that Villanova has Early Decision.

@FlyingQwerty32 I received an acceptance letter into the Honors College yesterday through mail but there is no update on the status. But my friend found out that she did not get into the honors college by a status update.

For my daughter

Decision: Accepted
SAT: 1430
GPA: 3.99 UW; 4.7W
Applied for FA: yes
Home Stated: KY (HCHS)
Major: Political Science
10 APs; KY Governor Scholar; NHS; lots of ECs and good essays; we did visit last fall

She was Presidential Scholar nominee from her HS. Received email and portal update that Honors college could not be offered at this time

@WineLover Just to get back to you on 'Nova comparisons, my daughter was accepted to Richmond and Northeastern (Northeastern’s Business School). She also received a sizeable merit award from Northeastern as well. From what I can tell 'Nova acceptance rate is 28.8% last year and Richmond was 30.2%. NEU was 27%. This is why a complete denial seemed surprising on our end. It looks like you were equally surprised at 'Nova with your son not getting the Augustine scholarship. And it’s surprising to me too. I noticed Villanova’s ED acceptance rate was 59%, nothing against anyone who was accepted ED, but seems very high and sounds like a money grab! Unfortunately this is all big business. Sounds like your son has a good set up at ND, good luck.

Congrats @tbrixton. Agree about the overinflated ED acceptance rate. But it is what it is! Like you said it is business. Son was invited to apply for merit at ND and also got an invite to their honors program. Feeling the love at ND…not so much at Villanova. Very very strange. Cannot for the life of me figure out how they make these decisions. Son had a really special essay that I feel he wasted on this school. He should have used it for his common app (which is what I tried to get him to do), but he didn’t want to write another one for Villanova. I can’t see any possible reason why he wouldn’t have been invited for the Augustine Scholarship other than the fact that he blew them off on the Presidential Scholarship…that could very well be it. Honestly, although he really loved Villanova when he visited (which happened to be the day after they won the basketball championship), he never would have attended…even with the full ride, which is why he didn’t bother with the essays. ND is just to good to turn down with our financial situation. Good luck to your daughter wherever she ends up!

@tbrixton from what I can tell, you cannot go by acceptance rates they are very deceiving, especially when there are all sorts of application options in the mix such as ED I, ED II, EA, etc. The numbers are very skewed.

The whole ED thing is definitely part of the business, you are right. More and more schools are going to have to add it and jump in the game (BC just announced they will be dropping EA and going to ED I and ED II next year…I’m waiting to see if Georgetown and Notre Dame ever cave in…, they may have to, or at least drop the restrictive part which is what BC did this year and applications went up by 50%).

I can totally see why schools would go to early decision.

They are getting more and more applications as the Common App makes it easier for students to quickly apply. I have seen so many students on this site who applied to 15-20 schools. It makes it really hard for schools to know who actually wants to attend for real.

So, early decision makes it easier for the schools to find students without wading through a pile of candidates who won’t attend if admitted.

And for those worried that ED makes you commit without knowing the financial part, most binding early decision agreements have a clause allowing you to back out for financial reasons. I recommend using a net price calculator and doing some research to see what merit aid you might actually get. If your top choice school is possibly in your financial reach, then go for early decision. It will be your best odds at admission.

I agree @vamom4 with everything you are saying. But, to the applicants’ defense, applying to 15+ schools is now almost necessary if you are trying to get into a more competitive school because the RD odds of admission are so much lower than they used to be. It’s just adding to the frenzy.

I would like to see all schools have the same systems…whether it be ED or EA, one round or two…but I feel like the multiple options at some schools and not others is just making it crazy for everyone.