For the 3rd year in a row, Stanford claims the spot of being the most selective school in the country. For the class of 2020 graduates they accepted only the top 4.69% of students. Out of 43,997 applicants, only 2,063 high school students were offered those coveted spots.
On the other side of this great nation, Harvard offered 2,037 students out 39,041, coming in with the second lowest admit rate of 5.2 percent. This is a historical low admittance for them.
Considering all of this information, you can see that College is becoming increasingly more competitive. With that competition comes associated stresses. Princeton just released a survey noting some very important statistics. You can find the survey http://www.princetonreview.com/press/college-hopes-worries-press-release
On a lighter note, the University of Virginia accepted 9,416 students for the incoming class of 2020. Some schools are welcoming unheard of students.
How does all of this concern you? Knowing the situation will help you keep realistic expectations of yourself. They competition is stiff. Even though you have an excellent GPA and great test scores, it is no guarantee of being admitted into your top choice schools.
If you are a senior who wasn’t accepted into your school of choice, don’t be discouraged. Instead, focus on the schools you were accepted into and see if any of those might be a great fit for you.
If you are a high school student who hasn’t yet applied to college then you can still influence those upcoming decisions.
What can you do to give yourself an advantage?
Making sure you work hard in high school is at the top of the list. Finishing with the best possible GPA is a great place to put your effort.
Doing well on the Tests! SAT / ACT – your choice. Thankfully, most schools super score so taking the tests several times will only work to your advantage.
Resume / This is where you can stand apart. Having a strong resume gives you a chance to show off what makes you different than the others. Look for opportunities to build your resume through activities, community service and volunteering.
To find acceptance rates near you, check here: http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/high-acceptance-rate/
Keep us the great work, I truly believe there is a great college option for every student who desires to go. Having a realistic view when applying will help make the College Admissions Journey easier.
At Imagine College Coaching, we love helping students and families on the College Admissions Journey. Please contact us today and let us help you reach your Education Destinations.
Sherri Graf / Imagine College Coaching
https://imaginescholarships.com/