I saw that tweet earlier this morning.
For now, I don’t think those highly-selective colleges think it’s a problem. More apps = lower admit rate, which results in more assumed prestige, which will allow them to raise their prices and also drive more endowment donations.
Personally, I don’t think it’s a problem. At some point, we have to stop blaming the colleges, stop blaming the process, and start wondering why people continue to put all their eggs in the T40-or-bust basket.
When applicants/families bemoan admission to high quality schools T70 schools simply because they did not get into one of the 10 top30 schools they applied to, that is not a problem with any specific university or the application process. That reveals a gross misunderstanding of the entire process (and options) by the applicants/families.
We can all see the application numbers skyrocketing. The answer is not to figure out how to PREVENT people from applying. The answer is to realize there is a wealth of great universities in America, and we are all free to apply to any of them.
The answer is to better educate students on all the options available to them. Especially the host of average-excellent students. They and their families are doing these kids a huge disservice by failing to do the research necessary to learn about all their options beyond T40 institutions.