Another admissions cycle is now behind us and that means … admissions anxiety continues to climb higher. The Ivies accepted 22,735 students into the class of 2021 to fill anticipated freshman enrollment of 14,400. These statistics imply that about 8,000 students receive multiple Ivy league acceptances and/or are accepted but matriculate to non-Ivy schools. The average Ivy acceptance rate was 8%, setting a new record low. Even the “easy Ivies” (Dartmouth, Penn and Cornell) are shades away from a single digit acceptance rate, averaging 10.7% this year - so much for the “easy” ones. Both Penn and Cornell both had over 40,000 applications each.
The admission rates continue to drop across almost all selective schools. Even my alma mater Wake Forest has gone from a 34% acceptance rate to 27% while my current high school junior is slugging it out in high school. At first glance, that may not seem that dramatic, but think of it this way – one out of three or one out of four admitted– which would you prefer?
It’s All About the Math
The real answer to what’s going on is simple math: growth in population + stagnant enrollment openings = lower acceptance rates. Most late baby boomers in the midst of college admissions for their children will inevitably note the three schools to which they applied – and with positive results. The US population growth charts below tell the current story beautifully. You can see the growth in population during the baby boom years (1950s and 1960s) and then the mini boom at the end of the century when baby boomers were having children. These children are our college applicants today. The good news is that population growth rates for this age range will ease in the coming years. The bad news for college acceptances is that the growth rate is still a positive one so while acceptance rates may not decline at as rapid a rate, they will still decline.
Source:http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/
The skeptic in me used to think – isn’t this just the old preschool game of everyone applying to the same schools? After all, when did you not hear of a kid getting into preschool? And when did you hear of a kid not getting into college? Well – I can honestly say, I have now heard of both. That’s why being thoughtful about where to apply is more critical than ever before. Parents might think its easy – just apply to 20 or 25 to cover your bases. I’ve heard that one too – but generally it backfires because high school seniors simply don’t have the free time to write essays for 25 colleges. As soon as all the essays all sound the same, you can be sure you will receive less than desired results.
Frustrations Rise as Expectations Miss Reality
In my role as an independent counselor, I meet with many students – and parents. One common misconception I see is the role of the school guidance counselor. From the parent’s perspective, the assumption is that the guidance counselor role is primarily of helping the student get into the college. That may have been the case at some point, but today’s reality is very different.
I recently spent time in a counselor’s office. Here is the reality of their job responsibilities: student IGPs, AP Testing, Work Key testing, ACT and PSAT testing, Homebound student paperwork, creation of the school handbook and profile, entering all new freshman student information into their systems, writing guidance recommendations for 70 students each year, tracking transcripts and recommendations being sent to colleges, scholarship publicity, scheduling and receiving school admissions visitors, scholarship transcripts and recommendations, suicide prevention program, weekly student anxiety issues, family presentations for juniors, family presentation for seniors, organizing the presentation for incoming students looking to apply to the school and that's all I can remember right now!
The most important thing to ease frustrations through the process is to face the facts. It’s very difficult to spend quality time pondering each student when you have a revolving door of responsibilities! Believe me – most in-school guidance counselors would love the luxury of pondering the college path for your child! Unfortunately, that’s not what the administration has the budget for.
The Role of an Independent Counselor
Ultimately, independent counselors and in-school counselors can work together with the student to make his or her college dreams a reality – without frustration. When you interview an independent counselor, ask these questions:
- How will you get to know my child?
- How do you use parental input through the process?
- How quickly do you respond to questions?
- How often and how do you communicate with my child?
- How will you handle the results?
If the answers are:
- Through one-on-one meetings – as many as we need to get to the story within him/her
- It’s key - parents provide the most insightful thoughts about the child.
- With lightening speed
- As often and as time efficient as possible – no unnecessary meetings and no group sessions
- With balloons to celebrate – “because it’s cool to go to your dream school”
Then you’ve found the right counselor. At The College Sage, this is our model!
Congrats to the Class of 2021 College Sage Clients
Check out www.thecollegesage.com or ask a Class of 2021 College Sage client what they thought about their college admissions process. Hurry and ask before they’re off to: Tulane University, University of Alabama – Honors, The University of Chicago, Sarah Lawrence College, Washington & Lee University, Southern Methodist University (Second Century and Hilltop Scholar), Denison University, and Wake Forest University.
