Early decision applications up




 

 

Despite the continuing uncertainty about the economy, early decision applications have increased at a number of schools this year.

Perhaps the uncertainty is what leads some students to commit to a college early, because when so many things are unpredictable, it’s a relief to know where you’ll be next year. Students who are admitted early decision can relax and enjoy the rest of senior year.

The other big advantage to applying early decision is that acceptance rates are often higher for early applications. Many families are willing and able to give up the opportunity to compare financial aid offers at different colleges in the spring in exchange for the extra consideration students may get by applying early decision.

Colleges like early decision applications because they can lock in a healthy percentage of the freshman class, and that is especially important at a time when families are evaluating colleges and costs more critically.

While early decision provides a certainty which is appreciated by both students and colleges, it also ratchets up the pressure on students to pick a college before November.

Many students have been picking colleges in Washington, D.C. At George Washington University, early decision applications are up 24 percent this year, and that’s after a huge increase last year, so early applications are up 70 percent in just two years. American University offered early decision applicants the option of not submitting standardized test scores this year, and that may be part of the reason for a 46 percent increase in applications.

In nearby Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University had a 10 percent increase in early decision applications. Since the school admitted too many freshmen last year and won’t make that mistake again, it is clear that this will be a very competitive year for admission to Johns Hopkins.

University of Pennsylvania had a 6 percent increase in early decision applications this year. At Brown University, early decision applications were up 21 percent. Early decision applications are up by 33 percent at Duke University. Other colleges reporting increases in early applications include New York University, Pomona College and Dartmouth College.

While it’s not clear how these numbers will impact regular decision applications, it does look like despite, or perhaps because of, concerns about the economy, competition for admission to selective colleges will be stronger than ever.

For students hoping to attend UC or Cal State, the budget crisis means that while more students applied, fewer will be admitted to those schools this year. On the bright side, if they can afford the out-of-state tuition, more students are likely to be admitted to public universities in other states. I’m already seeing students admitted to public colleges that would have been out of reach in previous years. Less selective private colleges might be good possibilities though some may not be able to offer the unusually generous merit scholarships they lured students with last year.

Seniors who were admitted early decision can relax and enjoy the rest of senior year. But for everyone else, it’s worth taking another look at your college list now, while there is still time to add another school. It’s more important than ever to be sure you have at least one “safe” school, both for admission and affordability.

Juniors who are watching their older friends go through the college application process might want to avoid the whole subject, but if they start researching colleges now, they will be prepared to make informed choices about the schools on their list and whether or not to apply early decision next year.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is
a private college admissions coun
selor in West Hills. She can be
reached at (818) 704-7545 or
audrey@audreykahane.com.


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