Competition may decrease
Admissions
James Beltran
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News
For students currently in high school, there could be some good news concerning college applications. According to an article recently published by the New York Times revealed that college admissions in the United States are expected to lessen in intensity in the coming years.
The March 9 article noted that the number of high school graduates is expected to peak at 2.9 million either this year or next year after 15 years of intense competition.
It is speculated that this change in number of students graduating from high school at one time will be largely the result of changes in demographics. The decline is expected to last until 2015, and "most universities expect this to translate into fewer applications and less selectivity, with most students probably finding it easier to get into college."
The article related that the demographic changes were caused by "sharp geographic, social and economic variations," with the assumption that the number of graduating high school students from poor and working-class families will increase. "In response, colleges and universities are already increasing their recruitment of students in high-growth states and expanding their financial-aid offerings to low-income students with academic potential." Despite this decline, "some admissions deans and independent consultants say the struggle to win entry to the most prestigious universities is likely to continue."
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the College Steve Thomas,explained that the decrease in the number of college applicants could be temporary. "[College admission rates] could change if more or fewer kids graduate," Thomas said. According to Thomas, the number of high school graduates will decline slightly at first. The implications of less high school graduates could be significant, as fewer students in general will apply to college.
The decline of college applications will not distinguish between public and private universities: "Whether people apply to public or private has to do with the perception of that as well as the cost." Thomas related that demographics have gone up and down before, and recounted that when he graduated from high school, one half of the 2.1 million high school graduates went on to college. Today, "of 3.1 million graduates, two-thirds go to college, and they will apply to the top colleges."
The March 9 article noted that the number of high school graduates is expected to peak at 2.9 million either this year or next year after 15 years of intense competition.
It is speculated that this change in number of students graduating from high school at one time will be largely the result of changes in demographics. The decline is expected to last until 2015, and "most universities expect this to translate into fewer applications and less selectivity, with most students probably finding it easier to get into college."
The article related that the demographic changes were caused by "sharp geographic, social and economic variations," with the assumption that the number of graduating high school students from poor and working-class families will increase. "In response, colleges and universities are already increasing their recruitment of students in high-growth states and expanding their financial-aid offerings to low-income students with academic potential." Despite this decline, "some admissions deans and independent consultants say the struggle to win entry to the most prestigious universities is likely to continue."
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the College Steve Thomas,explained that the decrease in the number of college applicants could be temporary. "[College admission rates] could change if more or fewer kids graduate," Thomas said. According to Thomas, the number of high school graduates will decline slightly at first. The implications of less high school graduates could be significant, as fewer students in general will apply to college.
The decline of college applications will not distinguish between public and private universities: "Whether people apply to public or private has to do with the perception of that as well as the cost." Thomas related that demographics have gone up and down before, and recounted that when he graduated from high school, one half of the 2.1 million high school graduates went on to college. Today, "of 3.1 million graduates, two-thirds go to college, and they will apply to the top colleges."
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