College Applications Process in US

Getting into college in the United States does not have to be hard according to the November 2018 Inside Higher Ed article called “New Data on Admissions: Criteria That Matter, Early Decision and More”. The article mentions that “the average four-year college admits nearly two-thirds of those who apply, and this is true from year to year in the study.” However, we are hearing a different story from the media and from many high school students that recently went through the college application process.

Walking down the hallway at most high schools in the US and you will hear stories of high-achieving students not getting into their top choices. The truth is that it is still not hard to get into most colleges in the United States. However, for the students that apply to highly selective colleges (colleges with an acceptance rate lower than 20%), many of them experience unfavorable decisions rather than countless acceptances.

Despite there being fewer students applying to colleges in the US, we are seeing record numbers of applications each year at highly selective schools. We are typically seeing increases in applications at the schools in the top fifty college rankings. I am not a fan of rankings, but for some folks that need a reference point, rankings referred to are US News and World Reports, Niche, etc. To understand these increases you can see in the 2017 – 2018 application season, University of California-Los Angeles hit over 100,000 applications, Emory University had over 19,000 applications, New York University had over 60,000 applications, and Northeastern University had over 50,000. For the 2018-2019 application season, UCLA went up to over 111,000 applications, Emory University hit over 30,000 applications, NYU went over 75,000, and Northeastern hit over 60,000. More applications equal lower acceptance rates.

Years ago, the national average for the number of colleges that students applied to was seven. Now the norm for students applying to US colleges seems to be ten to twenty schools per student. Currently, the strategy that many students use is applying to more means more favorable decisions. Often I hear “I might as well try” or “if I apply to more I will get into somewhere with a big name”. High school and college counselors from all over the world are seeing this strategy backfire leaving many students with a significant number of rejections, few acceptances, a hole in their pocket from expensive application fees, and application burnout. We rarely see applying to more schools result in more favorable decisions rather we see more denies impact student confidence and morale. When students apply to more schools, they lose focus on which schools match their interests best and their message gets diluted. Strategic students select schools that fit them so well that their applications reflect the depth of their interest. They are very specific to why the college is the best fit for them and they are able to stand out more in the applicant pool. When we see students apply to a large number of schools, the quality of the applications are not as strong and the fit is not as clearly seen.

The saying “less is more” definitely applies to the college application process. Even the strongest applicants that have top scores and grades, the most rigorous high school classes, and compelling essays and activities, are getting denied from highly selective schools, so the suggestions below work for students of all academic backgrounds. Every year, the students that have the most success are the ones that are strategic in their college choices, find matches that truly fit who they are, and are happy with their well-balanced list of likely, possible, and reach schools.

When students and families manage their expectations and have excitement around all their college choices rather than on a select few, then students are enthusiastic about their transition into the next stage of life and happy about their future opportunities. Balancing out the college list by having likely, possible, and reach schools and being happy about all choices can help students put their best foot forward and have a success mindset.

When applying to colleges, please keep in mind the best ways to be more successful. It is important to know that having top test scores, grades, and academic rigor does not get you admitted to most schools. It takes a lot more. It can take compelling activities and experiences, proven academic interests in particular areas, strong letters of recommendation and essays, and at times a “hook”. As we are seeing in the media, some of these “hooks” are being a recruited athlete, knowing very influential people such as significant donors, or coming from a first-generation to college background. The essential piece to your application process is your college choices. Make sure to research colleges thoroughly, so you can determine which schools clearly match you academically and socially. Also, learn as much as you can from the admission office at each school to understand what makes for a competitive applicant.

Consider some of these other strategies to make for a more successful application process…

1. If you know financially how you are going to pay for college and you have a clear top choice, then apply Early Decision, not Single-Choice or Restrictive Early Action, since there is a higher acceptance rate.
2. Show significant and compelling involvement and interest in extracurricular activities and in a particular academic field.
3. Participate in fewer but very consistent activities in depth.
4. Write strong essays that reflect your own voice, writing style, ideas, and interests. Write your own essays.
5. Be excited and happy about all choices on your college list from the safety to the reach schools.
6. Make sure your grades, the rigor of your classes, and the types of classes you take reflect what the colleges on your list want to see.
7. Show a strong interest in the schools you are applying to by visiting the campus (if you can), attending college fairs, high school visits, or other local presentations that the college offers, email the colleges’ admissions representatives that represent your state or country with questions you may have, and join their social media pages.
8. Know what a very competitive applicant looks like at each school on your college list. This means networking with colleges and asking the admission office questions in order to know where you would stand in the applicant pool.
9. Consider applying to five to eight colleges rather than ten to twenty. Consider having two to three likely schools, two to three possible schools, and two to three reach or far reach schools on your final college list.

We will have many more blogs about college fit, college choices, and much more to come. Also, check out old blogs at thebestu.net, to see the ones that we have written about the application process, the college list and more.