Bailey's Blog

10.29.23

The College Acceptance Rate 

If a college has a national acceptance rate of 20%, a student has a 1 in 5 chance of being admitted to that school, right? Right? 

One of many important parts of a high school counselor's job is helping students (and parents) create and build a balanced list of colleges to apply to. Personally, I have been helping people with this process since 2010 at Ridgewood High School and can say the task is more difficult than it ever has been. It takes individual, honest counseling and research and analysis on data trends, especially with the highly rejective schools (those with an admit rate under 20% of applications). 

Rick Clark, Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech recently wrote a powerful blog titled “College Admission: 3 Messages You Need to Hear”. Rick wrote, “People complain that college admission is not clear or transparent. I disagree. Admission decisions are incredibly easy to explain and understand. They come down to two fundamental driving principles: supply and demand and institutional mission." 

Let's focus on institutional mission - what a school values and their vision for the future. How does a student know what the institutional mission is of a school they are applying to and if they fit into that mission? One way is to listen to what, and who, the school is bragging about. You can ask the question directly when you are visiting campus, sitting in on information sessions, talking to counselors at college fairs or high school visits, or interviews. You can also view the college’s press release and/or profile of the last years’ admitted class and ask yourself two questions. 1. What type of students are they highlighting? 2. Am I like any set of those students? 

Let’s look at Brown University as an example to understand more. For the most recent cycle, the Class of 2027 at Brown (Press Release Example) had an overall admission rate of 5%. Let’s suppose you are a student from a public high school in Bergen County, New Jersey, an immediate suburb of New York City, who is near the top of your high school class with a strong academic transcript, strong test scores (if you choose to send), and overall highly competitive application (extracurricular activities, leadership roles, letters of recommendation, interview, demonstrated interest, etc.). You match the profile of a student at Brown and, all agree, you would be an added value to the school inside and outside of the classroom. Brown University should still be categorized as a “Reach School” for you and ALL students. After all, they will most likely deny more valedictorians than they accept each year. However, reasonably you would think you have a 1 in 20 chance (5%) of admission based on the national average.  

Let’s take a closer look at some of the 2,609 students (5%) accepted last year.

11% International Students - 360 students

9% Division 1 Athletes -  237 students

18% First Generation Students - 589 students

8% From Rural Areas - 270 students

40% Private or Parochial High School - 1174

There is some overlap here. For instance you could be a first generation, division 1 athlete from a rural area who went to a private high school, but it is helpful to see where you may or may not fit in at a particular school. The takeaway here is if you do not fit into one of these categories, than already your chances of admission are less than the 5% acceptance rate. 

Let’s look at a second example.

UNC - Chapel Hill welcomed 4,700 first year students to campus this fall for the Class of 2027. Official data is still not out yet but the admission rate at UNC is approximately 18%. A qualified student applying to UNC could reasonably assume they have a 1 in 5 chance of being admitted. 

However, UNC is a public school in the state of North Carolina, meaning they must abide by the state’s 82/18 rule, mandating that no more than 18% of incoming first-year students can be non North Carolina residents. This policy was created in 1986. Therefore, a student applying to UNC from New Jersey will be in that 18% pool, or 846 accepted students out of 63,217 total applications. UNC on average has a 43% yield rate, meaning how many students accepted actually attend the college. Using the 43% yield, approximately 1,960 students were accepted last year out-of-state. By my numbers, a student applying who is not a resident of North Carolina has an estimated acceptance rate of 3.1%, not the 18% acceptance rate that the public sees. For last year's class of 2026, the overall published acceptance rate was 16.8 percent – 43.1 percent for North Carolina applicants and 8.2 percent for out-of-state applicants. 

Ridgewood High School is considered by most metrics, rankings, and by reputation as one of the top public high schools in the state of New Jersey. Here is how students applying to UNC from RHS have fared since 2016. 159 applications started - 6 students accepted, an acceptance rate of - wait for it - 3.77%.

The takeaway: Be intentional in gathering numerical data and qualitative data (institutional mission) on the schools you are interested in applying to when building your list of schools. Ask questions and find people who can help you with this process. The good news! The majority of colleges in our country accept the majority of applications and this will continue to increase in the next decade. Find a school that has a mission you want to be a part of and who makes you feel like they want you to be an important part of it. 

September 5, 2023

Looking at data of recent years in college admissions can help students build a more balanced list by looking at the facts and taking the emotions and opinions of others out of the process.

Students should read college's announcements on their previous class. Every year each college publicizes a press release announcing the results of their latest class that they post on their website. In these announcements, they talk about the characteristics of the incoming freshman class. What they highlight and brag about in these announcements is what they care about and what they want in future classes. Do you fit what they are looking for?

Let's use Boston College as an example. Below is their most recent announcement on the Class of 2027.

The Class of 2027 saw 36,525 students apply. 5,511 students were offered admission. 15% - the lowest rate in the history of Boston College.

By comparison, The Class of 2026 saw a record 40,477 applications of which 17% were accepted. Four years ago, the Class of 2023 saw 35,500 applications of which 27% were accepted. Just six years ago, the Class of 2021 featured 28,454 applications and 32% of those were offered admission.

In six years the admission rate at Boston College has more than cut in half.

For the Class of 2027, out of the 5,511 students offered admission 9% were international students and 12% are first in their family to attend college. More than half of the students in the Class of 2027 were admitted Early Decision. 94% of students admitted reported ranking in the top 10% of their high school class with the average ACT for students who submitted scores being 34 and the average SAT being 1511.

BC Admits Class of 2027 Announcement

August 8, 2023 

On June 29, 2023, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled (6-3) that colleges/universities can no longer consider the race of a student when making an admission decision.

In the summary of the decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that a student “must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual - not on the basis of race.” He went on to write, “Although both universities (UNC-Chapel Hill & Harvard) contend that an applicant’s race is never a negative factor, college admissions are zero-sum. A benefit provided to some applicants but not to others necessarily advantages the former group at the expense of the latter.” 

Since late June, one of the most common questions we have received is how this decision by the highest court in our country will affect the next college admissions cycle. One area we have noticed a change in already is the common application school specific questions (supplemental essays). 

Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that schools can still consider “an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise” if it can be tied to that student’s courage and determination.

Colleges have adapted quickly, creating different ways for students to give background of who they are instead of simply checking a box under “race”. Here are a few examples of questions that seniors applying to college will be asked this year:

Harvard:

Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?

Elon: What cultural traditions, experiences or celebrations are important to you? How have they influenced your understanding of self?

Notre Dame:  What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc)?  Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community? 

Duke: We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.

Penn State: Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. 

Stanford: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better.*

Michigan: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. *

Boston College: In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimananda Ngozi Aichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you? 

Sarah Lawrence:

In the syllabus of a 2023 majority decision of the Supreme Court written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the author notes: "Nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life, so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can contribute to the university." Drawing upon examples from your life, a quality of your character, and/or a unique ability you possess, describe how you believe your goals for a college education might be impacted, influenced, or affected by the Court's decision.

Did you find this post helpful?

During the month of August, I will be meeting with seniors around northern NJ to ensure they are organized, on schedule, and have a balanced list before they apply to colleges this fall. This session is FREE. I look forward to helping as many students as I can! 

Register below: 

August 23' College Application Process Review

July 9, 2023

School leaders, you should always be reflecting on your mission. Keeping your “Why” at the forefront of your mind allows you to consistently handle the micro decisions, responsibilities, interactions, and curveballs that come your way each day. Recently, I reviewed some notes from the end of my first year as a school administrator (May 2021). 

1. Servant Leadership - Serve others first. It is not about you. It is about the team. I first learned of Servant Leadership during a visit to West Point for a conference in 2013. I met and learned from U.S. Army Colonel, Dr. Len Marrella. I recommend his book “To Lead is to Serve” to any first year school administrator. 

2. Elite > Average - I’ll let Coach Saban explain this one: We Have 5 Choices in Life

3. Relationships Before Results - You cannot teach, help, coach, or lead any person until they trust you and know you care about them. This goes for any industry in the world, but especially for education. You need to reach them before you teach them. 

4. Your Focus = Process > Results.  Control the controllables. The past is in the past. It’s over and you can’t change it. The future is not promised. All you can control is the precious present moment. Devote your energy and focus to what you can control. The results will take care of themselves. 

5. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. When the moment arrives, it’s too late to prepare. I have learned that you cannot plan for everything, however. You must learn to adjust and adapt, especially in emergency situations. This is where it is vital to have your core values and a clear mission defined ahead of time. You then follow that compass. 

6. Only you control your behavior and response in situations. In moments of crisis or conflict where others may be panicking or in a state of high emotion, you have full control and choice on how you will react. This mindset has helped me in difficult meetings or discussions over the past few years as well. You can always control your poise and response. It takes practice. 

June 4, 2023

The Pareto Principle: 80% of outputs are the result of 20% of inputs. Also referred to as the 80-20 rule. Think about this rule with these real life examples below: 

20% of your clients are responsible for 80% of your business.

20% of patients use 80% of healthcare resources.

20% of planning causes 80% of a project’s success. 

20% of a company’s workers are responsible for 80% of a company’s output.

20% of your most focused effort results in 80% of your desired outcome. 

20% of people in your life cause 80% of your problems.

20% of your friends produce 80% of inspiration.

20% of your wardrobe is worn 80% of the time.

20% of your time leads to 80% of your happiness.

3 Takeaways to Consider:

1. Define your 20% (inputs). Make a list for different aspects of your life: job, friendships, marriage, parenting, hobby. Who/What are your 20% (inputs) that positively influences the 80% (your desired outputs). You need to take the time to intentionally take inventory.

2. Define the 80% (your desired outputs). Redefine your objectives and goals. Be specific and don’t hold back! Remember only 20% of people will go for the same goals. The traffic is lighter the further you go. 

3. Once you know the 20% (inputs) that positively influences the 80% (outputs), start trimming the fat. What about the other 80% of inputs that do not positively influence the output. First, define them and then begin eliminating them. It may be scary at first but trust the 80-20 rule and trial it. Less is more. 

April 25, 2023

Did you know that there are many colleges still accepting applications at this time of year with May 1st deposit deadlines just a few days away?

Check out this up to date list from NACAC.

February 25, 2023 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” This quote has been credited to both authors Ernest Hemingway and Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a quote that I keep on a wall in my office, as a reminder to try to live in the present moment. The past is gone, although we can learn from it. The future is not here yet, although we can prepare for it. The present moment is where our feet are right now and all that we can truly control. 

The University of Alabama Head Football Coach, Nick Saban, refers often to the precious, present moment. On the football field he talks about each individual play lasting approximately six seconds and having a life of its own within the overall game. A player must focus only on those six seconds. He cannot control the outcome of the play before or the play that will come next. All he can control and should focus on is the current play he is in. That is where all of his energy and mental focus should be, where his feet are. 

In keeping with the football theme as the Super Bowl approaches next weekend, during Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning’s retirement speech he said “Our children are small now, but as they grow up, we’re going to teach them to enjoy the little things in life, because one day they’ll look back and discover those were really the big things.” Peyton Manning won two Super Bowls and a record five regular season Most Valuable Player awards yet on the day he retired it was the people, the relationships, and the little moments and memories that he made along the journey that left the deepest impression on him. Trophies and awards are great but memories and relationships are more valuable to a human being, in the end. 

So what are the lessons here?

1. Your focus and energy should be on the present moment, what you can control. Be where your feet are. Be and connect with the people in front of you. 

2. The journey is the prize, not the destination or the trophy. The journey and the people you meet along that journey are the ultimate reward.

3. In the end, we realize the little things were really the big things.