College Application 101.com

Location: On the Internet.

Prerequisites: The motivation to learn.

Required Text: None.

Objectives:

1. Learn how competitive the college admissions process is and what you can do about it.
2. Learn about early admissions and if it's worth it.
3. Select a college which fits your unique preferences.
4. Learn what to do if a college places you on their waitlist.

Statistics show that the already highly competitive college admissions process is becoming even more competitive with each passing year. For the 2005-2006 application season, more than half of U.S. colleges received more early admissions applications than the previous year. Numbers from the Ivy League schools, as well as many other elite colleges and universities around the country, support these statistics. The University of Pennsylvania received 21 percent more early admissions applications in the fall of 2005 than it did the previous year. Brown reported a 16 percent increase, and Dartmouth reported a 12 percent increase.

Not only are more high school students applying for early admission, but at the same time, the Ivy League schools are reporting a continuing decline in their acceptance rates and record-setting numbers of applicants. For the fall 2005 admissions, Harvard and Yale accepted less than 10 percent of applicants, and Princeton and Columbia both accepted fewer than 11 percent. To give a better idea of hard numbers, Harvard accepted roughly 2,000 of the 22,276 people who applied.

All these numbers create an intimidating picture of how hard and competitive getting into a top college is—with no relief in sight for the near future. But why are applications increasing so much and acceptance rates declining so steadily? Several factors are creating this highly competitive environment.

One reason is simple demographics. The number of college-aged people in the country is higher than ever. More than four million babies were born in 1990. In addition, families immigrating into the U.S. are bringing children with them. As a result, there are more and more 17- and 18-year-olds in the country every year, and that number will likely grow for at least several more years. And of those college-aged people, an increasing number are going to college. Every year since 1970, the number of high school graduates pursuing continuing education has increased.

Meanwhile, colleges are accepting the same number of students they were ten or even 20 years ago. That means more people competing for the same amount of acceptance letters from the top schools.

Another factor affecting the lower acceptance rate is that those people applying to college are applying to more schools than in the past. The National Association for College Admission Counseling reported that 32 percent of applicants applied to seven or more schools two years ago, compared to nine percent of students who applied to six or more schools a decade ago.

All these numbers amount to an increase in high school seniors, an increase in those seniors applying to college, and an increase in the number of college applications they are submitting. The only number that’s not increasing is the number of students schools are accepting into their freshman classes.

So, what can the high school senior do to improve his chances of getting into the school of his choice amid all this competition? Get as much information and advice as possible on everything including admissions essays, school selection, early admissions options, SAT preparation, financial aid, and more. Then dedicate as much time and effort to the process as you think your future is worth.