<p>[Applications</a> Surge to Berkeley and Virginia - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/regular-admission-tally-2012/]Applications”>Applications Surge to Berkeley and Virginia - The New York Times)</p>
<p>That’s insane. UVa just took a big leap ahead on the list of selectivity. I wonder if this EA effect will carry on through next year…?</p>
<p>According to recent NY Times articles, some of the most selective universities are starting to see a drop in their applications because so many students are realizing they don’t have a chance.</p>
<p>At many universities, much of the increase in applications has been from overseas. Also, the east coast universities have been seeing more applications from California, in response to funding cutbacks at California public universities.</p>
<p>I read an article where the cost of tuition for Columbia (I think) was 59k per year. Evem out of state Uva smokes that number.</p>
<p>That is a ridiculous sum of money, but only extremely wealthy people will pay that full amount. Ivies are usually pretty generous with their financial aid packages; if they want you, then usually they’ll do what they can to make sure money’s not a serious issue. UVa OOS however is quite stingy when it comes to financial aid because they’re a state school. Or so I hear at least…</p>
<p>"…the east coast universities have been seeing more applications from California, in response to funding cutbacks at California public universities."
A friend of mine who lives in CA applied to 10 schools on the East Coast and none in his own state. It’s crazy how UCLA got 72,000 applicants though… even more crazy that that was an 18% increase from the year before.</p>
<p>UVa meets the full documented financial need of US students, both in-state and out of state. That is rare among public universities. That includes government grants, work study, government loans and UVa funds. </p>
<p>UVa does not directly provide merit grants to first year students. The most selective private universities also often do not provide merit grants. The Jefferson Scholarships are merit grants that are privately funded.</p>
<p>In my opinion, there are 3 BIG reasons that UVA applications have increased:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It’s a GREAT in-state option for Virginians.</p></li>
<li><p>They went to the common app last year.</p></li>
<li><p>They added early action this year, so now kids can hear back from their first choice early or can have an amazing alternative to their first choice.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The use of the common app has artificially inflated applications for everyone, especially those that don’t have an additional essay. That sounds ridiculous, I know, but I’ve had 3 kids go through the process and it does play a role.</p>
<p>^Um…UVa has been using the Common Application for years. I think you are thinking of Columbia.</p>
<p>Totally agree with you on point 1 & 3 though.</p>
<p>I believe that UVA moved to the common app in 2008 not last year.</p>
<p>Yes, UVa joined the Common App in 2008, the first academic cycle being applications coming in fall 2008 (with decisions in 2009).</p>
<p>Among selective universities, UVa’s applications increase was the third largest. UCLA and UNC Chapel Hill had larger increases, and U. Chicago and UC Berkeley were close behind. UNC went to the common app this year, which often increases numbers.</p>
<p>Interesting, charlie. I did not see the UNC figures in the NYT article. Their numbers were actually down for EA. Maybe a lot of those OOS’ers deferred/denied at Harvard and Princeton backed up to apply to UNC. ; )</p>
<p>On the UC schools. Would be interesting to learn the IS/OOS breakdown. If the increases are OOS, might be because word is out the UC schools are opening up more slots to higher-tuition paying OOS’ers to help with the budget cuts.</p>