What Is a Competitive Admissions Policy?
Whether you’re planning to apply to a highly competitive university or if you want to gain acceptance to a school that isn’t as selective, it’s important to understand what an admissions policy is.
A college or university that accepts between 20 and 40% of applicants is considered to be competitive-though not overwhelmingly selective. For this reason, these schools often offer smaller classes and therefore limited seats for incoming students.
Highly Competitive Universities
The most selective schools in the country maintain extremely rigorous admission standards, and only a select few applicants get accepted. Students who want to attend a highly competitive college need to have a strong academic record in high school, impressive SAT and ACT scores, outstanding extracurricular activities, a compelling personal statement, and great teacher recommendations.
Most of the time, this translates into perfect GPAs, strong performance in AP courses, high-end extracurricular activities, and stellar leadership resumes. This is why many of the most selective colleges in the country have admission rates that are typically below 7%.
Moreover, the competition for admissions at these colleges doesn’t stop after a student is admitted. The rigor and intensity of the academic program at highly competitive universities can be brutal, and even the best students often struggle to keep up with their peers.
However, if you’re a dedicated student who is willing to meet the demands of the academic program and the competition, there are ways to maximize your chances of getting into a highly competitive university. This includes aiming for a GPA that is above average, pursuing advanced placement courses, and taking additional world language classes to fill elective spots.
While these strategies may seem daunting, they can actually be quite rewarding if you get into the right university. The competitiveness of college admissions has been growing over the past few decades, and it’s only going to get more difficult in the future.
As more and more students are seeking a college education, the applicant pools at each college are growing. In turn, this increase in applicants is driving down acceptance rates.
This is especially true for the most prestigious national universities in the United States, which have become more selective over the years. Some state colleges have also become more competitive, with the decrease in state funding for public universities leading to increased competition.
These trends make it more important than ever to choose a college that’s a good fit for you. Whether that means a top-tier research institution like Yale or an Ivy League school such as Harvard, choosing the right university can mean the difference between a fulfilling college experience and one that isn’t.
Schools Accepting Between 20 and 40% of Applicants
Colleges with a competitive admissions policy often accept a large number of applicants. However, not all accepted students enroll. In addition to the number of applicants a school accepts, other factors should be considered, such as GPA and SAT scores, the average enrollment rate, and other data.
Many of the top tier schools, such as Harvard, Columbia, and Duke, admit fewer than 20 percent of their freshmen class each year. This figure is significantly lower than that of other highly selective universities, but it’s still a good idea to apply to these schools to ensure you have the best chance of getting in.
Other prestigious schools, such as Brown and Dartmouth, also admit between 20 and 40% of their students each year. These schools are generally more competitive than their less-selective counterparts, and are known for having excellent reputations and facilities.
In general, a low acceptance rate means that the school is looking for a very strong academic record and standardized test scores. It’s also important to highlight extracurricular activities and volunteer work to demonstrate that you have something unique to offer.
One of the ways that some of these competitive colleges differ from other schools is through their early decision program. While this program is not for everyone, it can have significant advantages if you are a high-achieving student and are certain that this school is the right fit.
Several of the more highly selective universities, such as Boston University, Cornell, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Rice, Skidmore, Tulane, and Washington University, admitted over 40% of their incoming class through this option last year. This is a great way to make sure that you are guaranteed an offer from the school of your dreams!
Another factor that may affect a college’s acceptance rate is the amount of students who defer their admissions to the fall. Some of the most competitive colleges, including Princeton and Duke, had a lot of deferrals from the Class of 2024, which meant that they were able to admit a larger class for the spring of 2025 than usual. This trend is likely to continue, as these schools have a strong track record of attracting talented, hard-working students.
Schools Accepting a Larger Number of Applicants
Many colleges and universities have a competitive admissions policy. They want to admit students with the best academic credentials and those who bring something unique to their communities. This is often called the “holistic” admissions process.
Colleges often use these holistic admissions policies as a way to attract students who might not otherwise be able to afford their education. In addition to looking for strong academic records, these institutions also look at extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other factors that can make an applicant stand out from the rest of the applicant pool.
These admissions policies are generally more common at private and more selective colleges than at public schools. But they are becoming more prevalent at public schools as well.
Early admissions programs are a popular way for colleges to admit students at a higher rate than they normally would, according to Expert Admissions, a firm that helps students navigate the application process. It’s a statistical advantage that can boost rankings and entice more applicants to apply, especially since some early-admissions programs are binding.
But these programs also skew the demographic towards more affluent students, according to the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP). For example, researchers have found that students from affluent families apply to colleges at nearly twice the rate of low-income students who have similar academic credentials.
Moreover, legacy admissions policies, which give applicants a special advantage if they have a family member who has attended the university, are still a popular option at elite colleges. For example, Harvard’s Class of 2022 accepted 36% of those who claimed a familial tie to the school.
However, these types of programs aren’t always the best choice for students. In fact, they can exacerbate the problems that plague the entire college admissions system, including the high cost of college, the low-quality of the education received, and the unequal distribution of wealth.
As a result, it’s important to choose the best schools for your needs. While it’s possible to apply to more than six or seven schools, it’s better to pick a few reach schools and a few safety schools, rather than applying to too many schools.
Schools Accepting a Smaller Number of Applicants
There are several reasons why schools with a competitive admissions policy choose to accept a smaller number of applicants. Some of these reasons are based on the college’s reputation, a particular type of student or the amount of financial aid available.
These schools are more likely to be selective with their acceptances, and they also have higher standards. These criteria do not necessarily mean that these schools are not good colleges, but they do suggest that they will be more challenging to get into than other schools.
Another reason for a school to accept a smaller number of students is that they might be over-enrolled in their freshman class. They may not have enough seats to admit all of the applicants who apply, so they are forced to take a certain number of applicants, regardless of their academic credentials or other qualifications.
In addition, some universities are choosing to lower their admission rates due to mental health concerns. They want to make sure that they are able to admit applicants who have experienced mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
However, there are still plenty of other factors that can influence a university’s acceptance rate. Some of these include the academic record, the SAT or ACT scores of their incoming freshmen and the percentage of accepted students who actually enroll at the college.
The first step in evaluating a school’s admissions rate is to compare it to the average SAT or GPA of the incoming class. This can help you understand whether or not the percentage is actually representative of the quality of students that apply to the school.
If you are a high achiever who has excellent grades, you can boost your chances of getting into a more competitive school by taking AP classes and improving your GPA. Then, be sure to highlight any extracurricular activities or volunteer work you have done in your application to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded student.
Many top-tier colleges are reporting record numbers for their applications this year, in part because of the recent swine flu pandemic that has impacted many children. Some of these institutions are even switching to test-optional admission policies, which has opened the door to a much larger pool of applicants.