"Forty-seven percent of all high school seniors, and 56 percent of those from low-income families, have not started applying to college, according to a survey of 31,000 seniors by Niche and Tudor Collegiate Strategies. Given that the students were identified through services used for college applications, the news suggests a reason for more colleges to step up outreach to potential students.
Other findings:" …
Fascinating info. How “off” is this from prior years? The article doesn’t mention if this is off-trend a little or a lot (I assume it’s a lot). Thanks for sharing, as we continue to play the waiting game at this end.
This may help explain the application deadline extensions — especially schools in the northeast (Tufts, Villanova & Fordham).
Should bode well for those able to ED. Maybe EA as well?
Strictly anecdotally, but DD has several friends who are high-performing senior students and are struggling with “the pandemic blues”, quarantine fatigue, e-learning in difficult classes, etc. It is now their turn to wonder what their college freshman experience will be like, is it worth it to take a gap year, wondering if they’re applying to the right schools for them without benefits of in-person college visits, etc., etc. They’re “making it work”, but enthusiasm isn’t at its usual level. Several of those high performers intended to apply EA and ED, but as of a month ago, according to DD, they hadn’t even started their applications. I don’t know where those applications stand now, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the EDs switched to RD to buy themselves time in hopes of getting more clarity, seeing if anything changes.
Application season, if not a good part of decision season, was pretty much over by the time this year’s college freshmen faced similar uncertainties. So there is that added stress without much in the way of a beaten path to follow.
On the other hand, as a step or two removed from the situation, I see good reasons to get applications in early (regardless if it is ED or not), e.g. no SAT scores necessary at most places could mean greater numbers of applications at selective colleges, but possibly less competition at other places due to families’ financial situations.
Students may be looking at the college responses to co-vid.