Although the average acceptance rate at four-year colleges has remained stable, students are expressing their fears of rejection by applying to more institutions.
I’m concerned about safeties. Or rather the apparent trend of higher stat kids being denied admittance. This has been a thing for a while but it seems to me this is increasing.
Are you saying you’re concerned about high stats kids being denied at their safeties?
All colleges now must pay attention to yield. Look at the first graph: http://qz.com/278128/americans-apply-to-so-many-schools-that-its-messing-up-college-admissions/.
The number of college applications has cumulatively increased by ~46% at publics, and ~68% at privates. Since…2005. The number of college seniors is only up ~8%. It’s been on a downward trajectory since 2010. If the number of applications increases dramatically, but the number of applicants rises only mildly, that means that each applicant is less likely to yield to any particular institution.
There will be more rejections, and more waitlists, because the supply of new college students is finite.
For those who do well on AP’s, and high stats, and have the means, good UK unis like St. Andrew’s/Edinburgh/Durham may be the only true safeties that are also at least matches.
@“beth’s mom” Yes. For instance, my son is considering a lower tier school where his stats will be far above the median. Finding safeties so far has been a challenge. I’ve asked that he choose his safeties carefully and only apply where he is willing to attend, so he’s genuinely interested in this school.
My D has high stats and got accepted to both her safeties and four of five match schools, with one match WL. She visited all (except one match), met with reps for safeties, and interviewed for all matches. You need to express interest.
Thanks @Lindagaf. He’s definitely expressed interest. The other part of this is these schools are also financial safeties.