Unfortunately, 2009 is looking like a bad-news trifecta for most families dealing with college admissions:
1. This year’s high school graduating class will be the largest in history.
2. Numbers thus far indicate that students are applying to more colleges and universities.
3. Because of the economic downturn, financial resources have dwindled for both families and colleges.
So: more students, more applications and less money – a tough year all around.
Flagship universities, each state’s jewel in the public university crown appear to be this year’s greatest beneficiary. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received a record 13,692 applicants for its Early Action program which includes a 25% increase in out-of-state applicants. “At most flagship universities as demand goes up acceptance rates will come down unless they are sitting on unused capacity”, according to Nancy McDuff, Associate Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management at the University of Georgia. Staying in-state at UGA becomes a very attractive option because 99% of the accepted in-state students receive the Hope Scholarship that provides free tuition and payment of all mandatory fees. McDuff continues “We are predicting our yield (the number of students that accept the offer of admission) will go up, particularly among in-state students, just like it did during the last recession in 2003.”
And then there’s the trickle down affect whereby admissions decisions become more competitive at each level. Colleges that previously would have been considered a target-school, meaning that the student’s statistics fall within the college’s range of last year’s accepted students, may now become more of a reach-school and the trickle down continues with safety schools no longer being such a sure thing. Consensus among guidance counselors and admissions counselors is that all this uncertainty is leading to seniors applying to more schools than earlier classes and to a greater mix of public colleges and universities.
According the Los Angeles Times, Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, said that he doesn’t expect many students to forgo college or to avoid applying to private colleges. Based on applications submitted thus far, it appears as if families are hedging their bets and waiting until March and April when all the decisions are in to compare financial aid offers, recalculate their own resources and do some serious number-crunching.
MORE INFORMATION
• Charlotte FAFSA Day – Saturday February 21st , in 2 locations:
o Charlotte Main Library – 9:30am – 3pm
o UNCC – Atkins Library – 10am – 2pm
o Register at: www.cfnc.org, 866-866-CFNC
• National College Fair in Charlotte – Sunday March 22nd www.nationalcollegefairs.org
• Next SAT – March 14 – SAT only, no Subject Tests
o Registration deadline: February 10, Late Registration (with Late Fee): February 17, www.collegeboard.com
• Next ACT – April 4
o Registration deadline: February 27, www.act.org
Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to:
lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com; www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
