<p>I’ve been watching this thread for a while, still processing it all. Am still relatively new to this realm (one child in) so don’t have enough history to identify a real “trend.” But through numerous conversations with parents and AOs from different schools this year here’s what I’ve come to believe: there ARE more applicants applying more widely than before. And if you’re FA, I’d put money on it (pun intended) that it’s exponentially more difficult. Finally, in the hardest category is if you already have one child attending BS and you are paying near the EFC amount – second child then is placed in the highest need FA category and that’s where it gets most competitive. The difference between perhaps up to 50% need and 90%+ need is the difference that seems to count. Being from a “state that begins with a vowel” only helps IF no one from that state with lesser FA need applies. I do believe that there will be substantial openings after 4/10, but am bracing myself to enter this arena next year with a newly thickened skin.</p>