Increased applications. Increased stress. As admissions numbers start to roll in for 2020, the findings are a bit overwhelming. Sure, when we consider the fact that nearly 1,700 colleges went test optional for the class of 2020, it stands to reason that many students “threw their hat” into the ring and applied to schools that previously seemed entirely out of reach. Result? Many, many more applications, deferrals and denials. And that, my friends, is driving the acceptance rates down, down, down while simultaneously driving the stress up, up, up.
Here are a few high (low) lights:
• overall applications increased 10%
• applications increased for selective schools (MIT – up 62%) NYU received more than 100,000 applications, a record and the most applications received by any private school ever
• UCLA received north of 140,000 applications
• applications increased at large, public universities
• applications decreased for less selective schools
• early applications skyrocketed
• access and equity challenges are growing
So, like everything in college admissions, many perceived the test optional movement as a potential good thing. As the below data indicates, it’s just not that simple.
Many thanks to my colleague, Judi Robinovitz for crowdsourcing and creating this chart.