Admissions 2023 Round Up and What’s Next
As the 2022-2023 college admission cycles wraps up, we’d like to share some trends we’ve observed, including those from colleagues in the educational consulting world.
Nearly universal is the fact that admission to highly selective schools has become more competitive, with increasingly uncertain outcomes. Students are receiving more deferrals and waitlist decisions than in previous years, especially students pursuing competitive majors in engineering, computer science, or other STEM-related fields. Falling admit rates have resulted in fewer offers of admission – a trend likely to continue in the upcoming year. Furthermore, colleges that used to be “in range” for so many students have become far more selective (Wisconsin and Michigan, for instance). The University of California system universities are also more competitive than in the past for out-of-state students. Of interest to our Florida high schoolers, FSU is also becoming increasingly popular, this year adding an Early Action deadline of October 15. If deferred in this round, applicants may express an interest in FSU’s Pathways programs, giving them another option for admission. The University of Florida remains highly selective, looking for applicants who would bring not only strong academics (GPA and test scores), but also qualities of leadership.
Our takeaway: stay flexible and focus on building a balanced college list. More on that later.
Another area of conversation surrounding this year’s cycle is the relationship between extracurriculars and potential major (again, especially for STEM fields). We’ve written about the value of extracurricular accomplishments before, but now we’re seeing how such activities play an even more nuanced role in college admissions, effectively signaling the applicant’s interest in his or her intended field of study. Of particular note is that seeking out leadership roles within these types of activities reinforces your intent: an aspiring engineer might not only take part in a robotics program but also assume a substantial leadership position in it.
The test-optional trend emerged from the Covid landscape; it’s here to stay. While colleges don’t always disclose the percentage of students admitted with (or without) scores, there’s enough data to indicate that many students continue to take and report their SAT and ACT scores. A strong set of scores – including AP and IB scores − can only strengthen your college application and are another proven way to demonstrate college readiness. We’re also seeing more students choosing to submit scores based on a college’s mid-50% range. For example, an applicant with SAT scores below the University of Maryland’s 1400+ average would likely not submit those results as part of the application..
The college application process is more than numbers and lists. The emotional investment can’t be discounted. Students and their families are notably more stressed and confused this year because of the above-mentioned uncertainties. Plummeting admit rates, coupled with other factors such as campus safety worries for some student populations, make college research more important than ever. Our recommendation: Cast a wide net in your research, carefully selecting a good range of schools where you’ll find yourself happy, no matter the “brand name” or ostensible level of prestige. Give yourself a strong start: consider applying early to colleges with rolling admission – some colleges (like the University of North Florida) open their applications in July! Doing so can significantly alleviate some worry and make for a happier, less stressful college application season.
Need guidance building a college list or planning extracurriculars? Give us a call! Our team of educational experts are here to help.
