The Challenging (and changing) Landscape of the College Application Process

July 4, 2024

The Challenging (and changing) Landscape of the College Application Process

Colleges and Universities saw an unprecedented number of college applications in 2023. Some institutions report up to 20-30% more applicants than in previous years, making the selection process much more difficult for a graduating high school senior. The increase in applications is due to several factors; the ease with which students can apply, such as the Common App and looser requirements in general (waived fees, rolling admissions), as well as an influx of students who took a gap year or delayed their acceptance, all due to Covid.

The increase in schools who became ‘test optional’ and no longer require students to submit SAT and/or ACT standardized test scores all contribute to the staggering number of increased applicants. Today, students are applying to as many as 20 schools, whereas just a couple of years ago a typical student would apply to a maximum of 10 schools. All of which not only makes the acceptance process much more difficult for colleges and universities, it also makes things equally challenging and stressful for you and your child.

Here are a few things I’ve learned in navigating this changing, college application landscape

Start Your College Application Early

Begin the college research process as early as possible, definitely starting in your child’s junior year of high school. By the time your child enters their senior year of high school, you want them to have a list of schools where they want to apply.

Do Your Research

Visit as many schools as you can, even if they are not of strong interest for your child. Doing so enables them to visualize and experience the school so that they begin to get a sense of where they see themselves; do they prefer city campuses or the suburbs? Do they like larger vs. smaller schools? How important are school sports and school spirit? Does your student want Greek life? Does the student body stay on campus on weekends, or is it more of a commuter school? All of this is important in determining the right fit.

It’s important too to note that some schools look for what they call ‘demonstrated interest’. Demonstrated interest involves showing the school your level of interest in attending. Register for a visit or information session, follow the school’s social media channels (both the school’s AND student sites). This is another way for universities to process applications. Colleges and universities report on how many applicants who are accepted to the university actually attend. They want to increase the probability of all accepted students choosing their school.

One great resource is the Fiske Guide to Colleges, by Edward B. Fiske which is published each year. It’s an independent guide on 320+ 4-year colleges that includes quotes from real students, academic, social and quality of life ratings, and a list of ‘overlap schools’, along with all the basics such as acceptance rates, graduation rates, etc. This guide is a must have, which you can get from your local bookstore, public library or through Amazon.

Undecided Major or Intended Area of Study? No Problem!

The best advice I was given in the college application process is, ‘Don’t confuse a major with a career’. Not every area of study leads directly to a career or job. Identify the subjects and areas of study your child is most interested in. Does your child like science or excel in math? Do they prefer working with computers or writing? Other good advice given to me is have your student look at the course offerings for a particular major on a college’s website. Do they find the courses interesting? Again, do your research. And, it would be wise to do some ‘internal research’.

There are many assessments and questionnaires available that your student can take to help them determine the types of careers or jobs most interesting to them. These assessments ask questions such as, do you like routine work, or do you prefer a new challenge everyday? Do you like working with people? Do you prefer long term projects or do you need a sense of completion each day? All of these things help your child learn more about themselves. Which brings me to the most important thing to keep in mind:

The Goal of College is to help your child discover who they are.

This is important to keep in mind, especially for those who can get caught up in what becomes a very competitive process. It is about finding the right fit for your student, and arriving at a place where your child will thrive. It is not about getting into the ‘best’ school possible.

Encourage your student to apply to a variety of schools

The list of schools your child wants to apply to should include what are called both target and reach schools. Target schools are colleges that typically accept students similar to your child’s academic standing, and reach schools are the more competitive universities requiring higher GPA’s and test scores and are more selective.

Unfortunately, I have seen really bright students who are at the top of their graduating class who apply to mostly all reach schools, and did not get into any. Pick and apply to a wide range, because now with increased applications, all schools are reporting incredibly low acceptance rates. (And don’t be surprised if a college or university suddenly appears on your child’s list of schools to apply to because ‘a fellow student’ is applying there. It’s part of the process.)

If your student is focused on getting into a more recognized and competitive school, they will need to show their work and achievements to set them apart. I recommend the following:

Research and understand the school’s application and requirements. If in the past the school required high SAT or ACT test scores, even if the school is now test optional, encourage your student to work on their test scores. Unfortunately, the newer ‘test optional’ environment has only driven school’s reported test scores higher. (Students will share with schools their test scores only if they are high. Colleges and universities can only show what accepted students report to them. Thus these test scores are higher than in previous years).

Apply Early Decision. Some universities select up to 50% of their freshman class in the early decision process. If you wait until the general admission pool, your student’s chances of acceptance become much smaller.

If your child didn’t get into the school of their dreams, see if the college is accepting students for their spring semester. This process is becoming more utilized and practiced. I know several students who did not get into their school of choice for the fall, but the university has a spot for them come the spring.

Finally, keep grounded in the fact that there are many colleges and universities where your child will both fit and thrive, and with a little bit of trust in the process, they will end up in a great place.