I joined my first Clubhouse discussion this week, the purpose of which was to discuss admission trends noticed by college consultants, many of whom are thought leaders in the college admissions world. If you aren’t familiar with Clubhouse, it is a social media app that facilitates auditory discussions in live, virtual rooms. Clubhouse is still in Beta form and requires an “invite” from an existing member in order to join. Thankfully these invites aren’t too hard to come by and I am now in possession of several, so if you happen to need one, drop me a line.
The discussion about 2020-2021 trends in admission was consistent with what we noticed at MCC this year including much greater use of waitlists by colleges to combat uncertainty in yielding students. This unpredictability was caused primarily by increased applications - the average student applied to more colleges this year. On a recent webinar, the Common Application announced students submitted 11% more applications but only 1% more students applied to college through the Common App. The impact was more applications and greater selectivity, especially among selective colleges both public and private. For colleges this meant it was harder to tell which students were going to say yes, so they leveraged the waitlist to buy themselves time to fill potential remaining seats in late spring and summer.
Some students applied to more colleges because of widespread adoption of test optional policies. Many students applied to schools they may not have felt qualified to apply to if scores were required. The uncertainty caused by the pandemic seems to have prompted more applications as well. This led to another trend - greater numbers of denials/deferrals/waitlists among strong students at colleges they might have been accepted to in other years. The Clubhouse discussion addressed the impact on what one consultant dubbed the "4.1" - students who have rigor, strong grades, and strong extracurricular activities, yet were denied to many schools on their overly selective lists. With increased applications, it is harder to stand out. This is not to say strong students were not rewarded in the admission process; it was and is, however, more important than ever to have a balanced list.
Following are some trends I noticed personally, many of which were echoed by colleagues, as well as the actions I recommend students in the class of 2022 take as they finalize college lists and develop applications and essays.
TREND: More unpredictability/selectivity in selective state schools, particularly a few southern schools, which received huge increases in applications.
RESPONSE: Be open to adding 2-3 less selective colleges in a broader geographic region, particularly if you are applying test optional. It was harder for some colleges to pivot to evaluating students without scores. The class of 2022 will benefit from what was learned this year. Hopefully, colleges that are test-optional for a second year will improve their ability to evaluate applicants without scores.
TREND: Greater use of waitlists among elite colleges.
RESPONSE: Rather than applying to a longer list of similar colleges (i.e. 12 East Coast liberal arts colleges), focus on a few and devote time to learn about them, demonstrate interest, connect with admissions, and visit if possible. Prove your fit through your essays and other communication. 5 solid applications will yield better results than 10 random applications to colleges that evaluate students holistically.
TREND: Increased offers of acceptance with provisional terms. This is another response to unpredictability and provides colleges a way to fill seats vacated by transfer students and to admit borderline students without having to report their GPA/test scores for the rankings. Colleges offered conditional admission provided students agreed to spring enrollment, structured/sponsored Gap year or semester programs, or fee-based summer programs.
RESPONSE: While these offers aren’t necessarily what students hope for, I recommend keeping an open mind. Provided the terms of enrollment don’t impose a cost barrier, they can offer a unique experience as well as a path to a college you hope to attend.
TREND: More positive results among students with lower GPAs (and stories to provide context) and students who have faced challenges.
RESPONSE: Do exactly what we did at MCC this year - provide context behind your academic story. The “additional information” section is real estate to help colleges understand the “WHY” behind your track record and what you learned along the way.
TREND: Positive results among students who developed authentic applications.
RESPONSE: College essays should not be overly polished or mechanical (grammar proofing aside), they should reveal personality and meaning, maybe even vulnerability. Be open to digging for that reflection, even a little deeper than feels comfortable at first.
TREND: Positive results among students who showed sensitivity and social awareness. This is not just about awareness of current social issues but colleges view this in terms of college readiness - your ability to absorb, respond to, and demonstrate sensitivity.
RESPONSE: If you participate in marches and social justice causes, share your story and the meaning behind it. If this is not you, know that students contribute to their community in a variety of ways. Think about your actions not just in terms of the hours you spent volunteering or supporting causes but think about the WHY behind your choices. Many colleges have essay prompts asking students to reflect on issues of diversity and discrimination so take the time to consider deeply how your feelings and actions will make a positive contribution to a college campus.
Your WHY is the evidence within your applications that supports your involvement, your academic background, your major, etc. This is demonstrated through your personal statement, supplemental essays, and activity descriptions.
So if you are a rising senior, start thinking about your WHY.