3 Ways to Increase Acceptance to Top Colleges

The college application process starts the day a student enters high school.  Since admission to Ivy League and other elite colleges has become increasingly competitive, with schools such as Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, and Stanford posting admission rates at 5% or lower, students must realize that their academic and extracurricular endeavors are being evaluated starting in freshman year.

 

In order to have the credentials to be a viable candidate for prestigious colleges once senior year rolls around, students should consider the following strategies:

 

1. Students need to plan a rigorous academic curriculum, focused on the field they may seek to pursue in college.  As freshmen, students should try to enroll in Honors level courses. Then, by demonstrating proficiency, they can move onto AP courses in subsequent years. By mapping out their intended courses for four years, students can ensure they will reach the required level by the end of high school.  For example, students seeking to pursue the field of engineering, architecture, or finance, will want to complete Calculus by the time they graduate. If they are starting their freshman year in Algebra I, they will need to double up on Geometry and Algebra II as sophomores in order to move onto Pre-Calculus and then Calculus. Students should also seek out electives in the area of their potential field. Future business majors, for example, might consider courses in Accounting, Business Law, Entrepreneurship, Economics, and/or Finance.

The Top Colleges with the Highest Average SAT Score

Students aiming to gain acceptance to some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities typically compare their credentials with those of applicants who recently gained admission. One of the most common criteria to compare is SAT scores. According to recent data from U.S. News & World Report, 27 U.S. colleges reported median SAT scores in the range of 1500 to 1550.  A perfect score is 1600.  

The highest median SAT score of 1550 was reported by Duke University (NC), Johns Hopkins University (MD) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  A median SAT score of 1540 was listed by ten institutions: Brown University (RI), Carnegie Mellon University (PA), Dartmouth College (NH), Princeton University (NJ), Rice University (TX), Stanford University (CA), University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University (TN), Washington University of St. Louis (MO), and Yale University (CT).

The Top Myths on FAFSA’s Parent Required Answers

The State of New Jersey has now made the filing of a FAFSA a graduation requirement. This has resulted in the proliferation of myths and undue stress on many families. 

First of all, there is no cost to file a FAFSA. The first “F” stands for “Free.” FAFSA is an acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The State of New Jersey is requiring it because so many graduating students miss out on scholarship money by not filing this form.  (There is the ability to “opt out” for those who refuse to participate.)

 

The FAFSA has been greatly simplified, with the number of questions reduced from 108 to 46. The streamlined version is considered to be user-friendly, and many financial questions can be answered by linking to a previously filed tax return. It is currently available online for the families of students graduating and starting college in 2025.

 

While many states and colleges use the FAFSA to award scholarship funds, it’s also an application for federal student loans. It’s important for families to realize that there is no such thing as having too high an income to file a FAFSA.  Financial need is not a requirement for an unsubsidized student loan or a Parent Plus loan.

Your Real Competition for Admission to Elite Colleges

When strategizing for a major accomplishment – whether a job promotion, athletic event, or elite college admission – it’s vital to know exactly whom you are competing against.  Students seeking acceptance to an Ivy League or other top school may think they are vying with the other 50,000 Harvard applicants, 57,000 Yale applicants, or 65,000 UPenn applicants.  But that’s not exactly what’s happening.

 

Students are actually in competition with those students who are most like them in terms of their high school experience and college and career goals.

 

Initially, college admissions officers weed out those applicants lacking the credentials to be seriously considered.  In the aftermath of Covid, many families interpreted a college’s “test optional” policy as a reduced emphasis on academic rigor.  Thus, the number of applications spiked to colleges where many students had no chance of being admitted. These students are quickly eliminated, with qualified candidates moving onto a holistic assessment of their applications.

 

Here's where it gets a bit complicated. “Admissions officers are not only evaluating individual applications – they are seeking to build a class composed of students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and intended areas of study,” reported Forbes.

Top 5 Red Flags for College Admissions Officers

Students immersed in the college application process often wonder just what admissions officers are looking for when deciding who gets accepted and who gets denied. Of course, there are some basics, such as a high GPA and impressive SAT scores. But there are other criteria that get taken into consideration. 

College admissions officers are turned off by a “lack of course rigor, lack of extracurricular engagement, unrelated extracurricular activities, inappropriate social media presence, and unpolished and unprofessional essays,” according to Forbes.

 

While students may have little control over their freshman year course schedule, they should focus afterwards on taking rigorous courses, including electives, in the field they intend to pursue in college.  Students who plan on majoring in business, engineering or architecture, for example, should find a way to get through Calculus while in high school. This may mean doubling up in Geometry and Algebra II during sophomore year or taking one of these courses in the summer. They should also select relevant electives that will demonstrate an interest in their future academic field.

Passion-Directed Focus On College Applications

Parents who over-schedule their children, with the goal of building a resume to impress college admissions officers, should take a moment to pause.  That’s no longer what they’re looking for, according to recent reports. 

“College admissions is not about what your student achieves during high school. It’s about who they’ve become. College admissions officers are captivated by students who own their stories -- students who connect the dots between their values, experiences, and dreams,” according to a recent Forbes article.

 

The role of curiosity is a powerful predictor of academic success, according to educators. Rather than pack their children’s schedules with an array of activities, parents should take note of their children’s passions and encourage them to pursue those specific paths.

The Top Vo-Tech High School Programs

High school students may have more options than they are aware of when it comes to their education. Students in Somerset and some neighboring counties can seek admission to Somerset County Vocational & Technical School, located at 14 Vogt Drive, Bridgewater.   

While students can certainly seek admission for programs such as Auto Mechanics, Plumbing, Welding, Building Trades, and Electrical Construction, there are so many other options. These include Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Law & Public Safety, Performing Arts, and Health Occupations.

 

Some students attend Vo-Tech under a “shared-time” plan, taking 15 credits of vocational training along with four academic classes at their high school. Other students attend Vo-Tech full time.

Learning Different Students' Admission Strategies

Identifying and applying to “best fit” colleges can be challenging for most college-bound students. But it can be particularly perplexing for students with learning disabilities.   

When these students reach the pivotal point of applying to college, a multitude of questions arise. Should they use accommodations on the SAT? Should they disclose their learning disability on college applications? What accommodations can they expect in college? Which colleges specialize in teaching students with learning disabilities?

 

Often the first step of the college application journey is tackling the SAT. Students with learning disabilities should have their counselor, early on, file an SSD (students with special disabilities) form with College Board, requesting the accommodations which the student uses in high school classes. The most popular accommodation is extended time on tests. Most students who seek this accommodation are granted 50% extended time, but some are granted 100% extended time which allows them to take the test over the course of two days.

“Legacy” Boosts Admission Rates at Elite Colleges

What do all the Ivy League schools, Georgetown, Duke, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and a host of other prestigious institutions have in common?  They all favor “legacy” applicants – those with a parent, grandparent, or sibling who graduated from the university. 

“The most competitive schools tend to be the ones where legacy offers the biggest admissions boost,” according to Forbes. “For these institutions, legacy admissions have historically served as a way to maintain ties with alumni, secure donations, and increase their yield rate, which can be beneficial for rankings and institutional reputation. A family’s commitment to a school across generations can be seen as a reflection of the institution’s selectivity and prestige.”

 

The boost for legacy students varies at different institutions. A civil rights complaint filed last year again Harvard University claimed that donor-related applicants were seven times more likely to gain acceptance to Harvard, while legacy applicants were almost six times more likely to gain acceptance, according to Forbes. “Recruited athletes, legacies, relatives of donors, and children of faculty and staff constitute approximately 30% of those accepted each year.”

Demonstrated Interest Advantage for College Admissions

When college-bound students are filing their applications, they’re likely worrying about whether or not they’ll be accepted to the schools they have selected. But there’s another side of the coin. Colleges, with multi-million-dollar budgets, are concerned about whether or not the students they accept will actually enroll as incoming freshmen. Colleges know that students often apply to eight or more schools, so they need to make an educated guess as to who will sign on as tuition paying students. 

Students can often increase their likelihood of acceptance by showing “demonstrated interest.”  This can be accomplished in a number of ways. A very productive way is by signing up for campus tours and then registering upon arrival. Colleges track student engagement and visiting a school and walking its campus can also give students a very good idea as to whether it’s a good match for their academic and social interests.  Another way to show demonstrated interest is by talking with college reps when they visit high schools or college fairs. These college reps have a specific territory and are often the very same admission people who will ultimately decide on the student’s application.  It’s wise for students to ask these reps for a business card and send a follow-up email, thanking them for their time and expressing genuine interest in their programs.

How To Calculate Your Net Price of College Tuition Online

Parents have an available tool to let them figure out what the likely cost would be for their child to attend a specific college. It’s called a “net price calculator,” and it helps parents estimate what their out-of-pocket cost would be at the various universities under consideration.  

To utilize this resource, parents can access the “net price calculator” on a college’s website and input the required information: student’s dependency status, number of household members, parents’ income and assets, and student’s financial information. At times, the student’s SAT scores and GPA are also required.  

 

Once completed, families are provided with an estimate of what their “out-of-pocket” cost would be if their child attended that particular institution.  The figure provided is the difference between the college’s sticker price and the likely grant and scholarship money that the student could expect to be offered.

How to Choose “Best-Fit” Colleges

College-bound students are often overwhelmed at the task of identifying the “best-fit” school at which to continue their academic journey.  With more than 4,000 colleges in the country, students should turn to available resources to guide their all-important decision.

One tool, that has stood the test of time, is the annual Best Colleges guide by U.S. News & World Report. In its newly released 40^th edition, the guide ranks the “Best National Universities,” from #1 to #300+, with details on such qualities as graduation and retention rate, student/faculty ratio, and financial resources. Even more helpful to students who know what they want to study in college are the specific rankings within the guide on “Best Business Programs,” “Best Engineering Programs,” “Best Computer Science Programs,” and more. U.S. News and World Report also offers an online search tool, College Compass.

 

Students can also turn to College Board, the company that offers the PSAT and SAT exams, to utilize its “Big Future” online search tool.  Students indicate the specific criteria they are seeking in a college, such as preferred size, location, specific major, particular sport or extracurricular activity, and housing options. The database then presents a list of all colleges that meet their requirements.

College Sticker Price May Now Exceed $90,000

The number of students who sought admission to NYU for this year’s freshman class totaled 118,000, according to University statistics.  Of this applicant pool, 22,000 applied “early decision,” with a commitment to attend if accepted. The overall acceptance rate was 8%.  

What some people may find baffling is that the “sticker price” of NYU’s Stern School of Business for the current academic year is $94,914. (Prices vary slightly among NYU’s different colleges.) This covers tuition, food and housing, and estimated costs for books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.  For commuter students, the price is listed at $76,662.

 

NYU is not alone. Other colleges with sticker prices exceeding $90,000 this year include the University of South California at $95,000, The University of Pennsylvania and Brown University (Rhode Island) at $92,000, Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) at $91,000 and Boston University at $90,000, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the competition is fierce to gain acceptance to each of these schools, with an overall acceptance rate between 5% and 11%.

U.S. News Proclaims America’s 2025 Best Colleges

With the arrival of fall, each year, comes a newly released “Best Colleges” guide by U.S. News & World Report that ranks four-year colleges in America. The highly anticipated 2025 edition cites the same “Top 5” Best National Universities from last year: Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard, Stanford and Yale.  In addition, the same institutions from 2024 complete the Top 20 listing for 2025, although the order of some have changed: California Institute of Technology, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, University of Chicago, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, UCLA, UC – Berkeley, Rice, University of Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt.    

While the ranking of a school is not the only criteria that students, and their parents, should assess, it’s a valuable guideline due to the factors that are considered.  A great deal of data is utilized by U.S. News to rank nearly 1,500 four-year institutions that offer bachelor’s degrees. This includes peer assessment, graduation rate, financial resources per student, faculty salaries, student-faculty ratio, and borrower debt.

 

Since the top criteria of students in choosing a college typically revolve around academic reputation, cost of attendance, and return on investment, these are among the matters that U.S. News prioritizes in its rankings.

Top November Break College Tour Tips

November is a month when most New Jersey public school students enjoy several days off for Election Day, Teacher Convention Days, and the Thanksgiving Break. For most of these days, college classes, and the activities that surround them, are in full swing. So, it’s the perfect time for high school students to tour the colleges they’re dreaming of and find out what life would be like on any particular campus.

If parents can take time off work, it’s the ideal opportunity for a road trip. Most students attend college within a few hours of home, so the trip does not have to be to a far-off location.  Colleges in Washington D.C. and Boston are often on students’ list of potential best-fit schools, making these popular cities to visit.  Some Boston favorites are Boston College and Boston, Northeastern, Tufts, and Harvard universities. Washington D.C. favorites are typically American, George Washington, and Georgetown universities.

 

Even if students are on their own for their school break, there are more than two dozen four-year colleges within New Jersey that they can tour on their own, or with friends. Popular options are Princeton, Rutgers, TCNJ, Seton Hall, NJIT and Stevens Institute of Technology.

  

Students should always book a tour in advance, and then sign in upon arrival. Colleges keep records of student visits and look favorably on this data as a sign of “demonstrated interest.” When touring college campuses, students should take notes. Although at the time they think they will remember exactly what they are seeing, after touring a multitude of schools the details tend to get blurred.

(5) Top College Majors For High Paying Salaries

College-bound students dreaming of earning $163,000 to $212,000, on average, after their first decade of work, should choose their major wisely. There are specific STEM fields that do not require advanced degrees and pay particularly high salaries. 

Five college majors with the highest pay potential, according to U.S. News & World Report, are Petroleum Engineering, Operations Research & Industrial Engineering, Interaction Design, Applied Economics & Management, and Building Science.  

 

These five majors “feature specialized STEM skill sets that can result in steady employment where there is more labor demand than supply, creating lucrative career opportunities over time,” according to Payscale data analyst Jackson Gruver.  

 

Petroleum Engineering tops the list, with average annual early career pay of $97,000 and mid-career (at least ten years of experience) pay of $212,000.  Petroleum Engineering is the core of energy transition, the core of renewable energy, and the provider of energy security for our nation, according to Richard Schultz of the College of Engineering & Mines at the University of North Dakota.

The Opportunities of College Geographic Locations

Location should be a major consideration of students looking ahead to their college years. It’s not just how far from home a student wants to move; it’s whether one is seeking an urban environment, a suburban feel, or the quiet countryside.  

Some students choose to recreate the vibe of their hometown, while others seek a whole new environment. Location is a factor that greatly influences one’s college experience, so it should be carefully considered.

 

Students seeking to immerse themselves in the heart of a bustling city often seek schools in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia.  Those favoring a suburban or rural feel may want to check out colleges in the heartlands of Pennsylvania, a state that hosts more than 100 four-year institutions.

 

Location is an important criterion even beyond the feel of a campus.  Often, a particular location is preferable based on a student’s college major. 

Top Colleges for Business Majors in the Northeast

Students considering a future college major often favor business, with its multitude of options. These include Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management/Logistics. Many local students prefer to attend college in the Northeast, allowing for easy transportation between their home and college campus.

The 2024 edition of the “Best Colleges” guide by U.S. News & World Report lists five northeast institutions among the Top 8 ranked business programs in the country. These are University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), New York University (NYU), Carnegie Mellon University, and Cornell University.

 

Additional business programs that are somewhat less competitive, but still rank in the Top 50, are offered at Penn State University, University of Maryland, Boston College, Babson College, Boston University, George Washington University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, Northeastern University, Syracuse University, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and University of Connecticut.

Volunteer Activity Options for College Applications

Throughout their high school days, students are building their “resume” that will, ideally, help them gain acceptance to their college of choice.  While working to achieve high grades and SAT scores is vital, it’s also important to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to a cause or organization through volunteer work. 

Colleges seek to admit students whom they believe will be active, contributing members of their campus community.  The best indication of this is a student’s engagement in volunteer work during their high school years.  Students should choose one or more activities that are important to them – perhaps in the field they intend to pursue in college – and then commit themselves to volunteering over a lengthy period of time with the goal of making an impact.    

 

The options are limitless.  Students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field may want to volunteer at one of the many hospitals in the area.  Even more impressive is to train to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and work a shift or two each week, responding to calls.

Significance of Writing a Captivating College Essay

Students facing the college application process typically dread one component: the Common App essay.  Here, students are presented with six essay prompts, as well as a seventh option, which is “topic of your choice.” Students therefore have limitless possibilities for this essay which will be carefully reviewed by each college to which the student applies.

 

The goal of college admissions officers is to learn about the student who is applying: personal qualities, struggles, ambitions, priorities.  On other parts of the application a student’s “data” is detailed. So, this is not the place to write about one’s SAT scores, GPA, or intended major, or to enumerate one’s activities.  It is the place to write about an event, situation, or life circumstance that has influenced the student’s attitudes, goals, and perceptions of life.

Demonstrated Interest Increases College Acceptances

Colleges nationwide are cognizant of the fact that high school students, utilizing the Common App (which is accepted by more than 1,000 institutions), can easily apply to a multitude of schools.  As high school seniors ultimately will enroll in only one college, it becomes a guessing game as to which school each applicant will choose. 

Since many colleges have multi-billion-dollar budgets, it’s important to them to identify which students would likely enroll, and pay tuition, if accepted. The way for a student to get their attention is to show “demonstrated interest” – indicating that the college is special and is likely to be the applicant’s top choice.

 

There are a multitude of ways to show demonstrated interest. One of the most important is to visit colleges under consideration, signing in at the Admissions Office and taking the official tour. There is a spot on the Common App whereby each college asks if the applicant has visited and, if so, the month and year of the tour. When students apply to colleges within a few hours of home, and never took the time to visit, admissions staff are hesitant to believe that their institution is truly a top choice.

2024 Top Trends in College Admissions

Although the COVID era initiated a “test optional” policy at colleges across the country, eager to attract applicants, the admission process has now gone full circle. The number of students taking the SAT is back to pre-COVID days as many colleges nationwide reinstated test scores as a requirement in the application process. 

“Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants,” stated the Dean of Admissions at MIT, who added that this requirement “is more equitable and transparent than a test-optional policy.”

 

The SAT also serves a multitude of other purposes, such as allowing students to test out of freshman year of college placement exams and making them eligible for many merit scholarships that require test scores.

College Admissions Advantage of Early Decision

High school students with their hearts set on a particular college would do well to employ a time-honored strategy: apply early decision.  By promising a college that they will attend, if accepted, students typically increase the odds that they will get a “You’re accepted!” email or letter. 

At some colleges, the early decision admission advantage is enormous. At The College of New Jersey, one of the highest ranked colleges in the Garden State, the early decision acceptance rate was 97% compared to the regular decision acceptance rate of 64%.

 

At Villanova University, a Pennsylvania school popular with New Jersey students, the early decision rate was 55% compared to 23% for regular applicants.

 

At American University in Washington D.C., the acceptance ratio was 86% to 41%, while at the College of the Holy Cross, located about an hour from Boston, the acceptance ratio was 81% to 36%.

New Jersey Based College Rankings

New Jersey is known for its “brain drain,” with more than half of its college bound students heading out-of-state for their higher education. But these students may be overlooking some key advantages of staying within state boundaries.

First of all, there is the matter of tuition.  New Jersey is home to 18 community colleges that offer more than 1,700 degree and certificate programs. Students can launch their higher education at minimal cost, and then transfer to a four-year college to earn their diploma. At Raritan Valley Community College, for example, the cost of tuition for local residents is $186 per credit, with substantial discounts to students from families with an adjusted gross income below $80,000.

Students can also enroll directly in one of New Jersey’s public four-year colleges and universities and take advantage of a substantially discounted in-state tuition. Rutgers University – New Brunswick is ranked #15 in the Top Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.  Tuition for in-state students at its College of Arts & Sciences has been set at $14,222 (plus fees) for the 2024-25 school year, while out-of-state students will be billed $33,734 (plus fees).

Successful High School Students’ College Timeline

High school years pass by quickly, and before students know it they are working on their college applications.  They are being asked what major they are choosing, what volunteer work they’ve engaged in, why they’re applying to each college, and what they’re likely to contribute to their future college community.  Hopefully, students will have amassed experiences during their first three years of high school to be able to provide meaningful answers.

Freshman year is the ideal time to assess one’s academic strengths and interests. Students should join clubs and activities that will help direct them to their potential college major and career.  If considering pre-med, they might join “Doctors of Tomorrow.” For engineering-related experiences, they should consider “Robotics” and “Engineering Club.”  For business, they could get involved with “Future Business Leaders of America,” or “Young Investors Society.” For computer science, students might join “Quantum Computing Club” or “Computer Science Club.”  By doing so early on, students will be able to assess if this is truly the field they want to pursue.  If it is, they will have time to ultimately earn a leadership position which carries substantial weight on college applications. If it’s not, they have time to “try out” a different field of study.

What to Avoid in College Application Essays

An important part of the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges, is the “personal essay.” Students are given six options as prompts, as well as a seventh option which is to share an essay on a topic of choice.  So, students can write about anything at all.

The essay is an integral part of the application, as it is typically viewed by all the schools to which a student applies.  It is the one section where students have the opportunity to share what is unique about them and what qualities they will bring to their future college community.

 

To make their essay stand out, students should avoid some common pitfalls.

Top Colleges Where “B” Students Are Accepted

High school students facing the college application process typically stress about the record low admission statistics at many of the most prestigious universities.  While institutions including Harvard, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, Brown, University of Chicago, and Yale all have acceptance rates at or below 5%, there are a multitude of universities offering academically vigorous programs in particular majors.  At these schools, “B” students are more than welcome. 

High school students passionate about pursuing a major in Engineering may find MIT, and even Georgia Tech, beyond their reach. But there are other “Top 5” schools in the U.S. for specific engineering specialties, according to statistics by U.S. News & World Report’s Best College guide. 

 

The University of Delaware, with an overall acceptance rate of 74%, is ranked 5^th in the country for Chemical Engineering. Virginia Tech, with an acceptance rate of 57%, is ranked 3^rd in the country for Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach, with an acceptance rate of 65%, is ranked 4^th in the country for Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering. 

 

Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana), with an acceptance rate of 53%, is ranked first in the country for Biological/Agricultural Engineering, second for Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, third for Aerospace/Aeronautical/ Astronautical Engineering, and fourth for Civil Engineering.  This provides the ideal environment for college bound students who have not yet identified the specific field of engineering for their major and future career.

 

Another school with several “Top 5” recognitions in various fields of engineering is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with an acceptance rate of 45%.  Its highly ranked specialties include Civil, Computer, Electrical, Biological/Agricultural, Mechanical, and Materials Engineering.

 

This same strategy holds true for specialties in Business, as well as in many other fields.  The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University – Bloomington ranked in the Top 5 for several majors: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Management, and Marketing. The University’s overall acceptance rate is 82%.

 

The “Top 2” universities for Supply Chain Management/Logistics are Michigan State and Arizona State, with acceptance rates, respectively, of 88% and 90%.

Acceptance rate statistics are based on data from Niche.com and reflect the overall admission rate for the university. Statistics may vary for specific colleges and majors within each school.

 

The best strategy for students to identify their ideal college is to determine the field they would like to pursue and then research the schools that offer the strongest program in that major. On their applications, students should let each college know why it’s the “best-fit” institution for their career goals.  Colleges favor students who are excited to attend and demonstrate that they will likely enroll, if accepted.   

Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT^® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362

Hometown Effect on College Acceptance Rates

Colleges can no longer consider a student’s race as part of their admissions criteria, due to last year’s Supreme Court ruling.  But one bit of information that they can, and do, carefully take note of is a student’s zip code. Colleges seek to build a diverse student body, and the zip code of applicants provides an overview of their socioeconomic and, often, cultural background.     

Both public and private institutions seek a well-rounded incoming class. Public colleges, in most states, are required to favor in-state applicants as their tuition is supported by tax revenue.  Therefore, it’s often much more difficult for out-of-state students to gain acceptance, and when they do, they pay a much higher tuition.  At the esteemed University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, for example, state law rules that 82% of the student body must be comprised of in-state students; only 18% can be non-residents. Those out-of-state residents who attended the University this past academic year were billed $39,338 (not including room and board), greatly exceeding the $8,998 bill sent to in-state students.