Application Inflation Continued – College Applications Jumped 12% For The Class of 2024

The college application process seems like it gets more stressful every year as the competition between applicants becomes even steeper. Recent data from Common App revealed that college applications have jumped 12% for the class of 2024 thus far. Let’s look at some stats supplied by CollegeMatchPoint to get a clearer picture of the situation students (and their families, counselors, and coaches) are facing.

This year, Duke received 6,240 Early Decision applicants, over 1,000 more than any previous Early Decision round, representing a 28% increase from 2022 and bringing the acceptance rate to a record low of 12.9%. 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville experienced record growth in undergraduate first-year applications and the most competitive applicant pool in their 229-year history. 

We also know that Early applications grew 18% at Dartmouth, 13% at Williams, and 6% at Rice and MIT.

According to the Princeton Review's 2023 "College Hopes & Worries Survey," the top 10 schools named as "dream" colleges were:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford University (CA)
3. Harvard College (MA)
4. New York University
5. University of California—Los Angeles
6. Princeton University (NJ)
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. Columbia University (NY)
9. University of Michigan
10. University of Texas—Austin

This proves that competition will continue to be a near given when it comes to first-choice and reach schools. By applying to many of the same institutions, students put themselves among a strong and ever-growing pool of their peers. 

Understandably, these conditions lead to a lot of stress. Among respondents to the Princeton Review survey, 72% reported "Very High" or “High” stress about the application process. More students (73%) than parents (69%) reported such stress. 

While we can’t change the stats regarding the growing number of applicants and stiff competition, at Admission Ignition, we CAN help students mediate the stress of the process. Our essay timeline helps students tackle their essays, which many believe carry more and more weight in the process, in a timely fashion designed to allow students to have a stress-free senior fall. 

Getting to experience important milestones like attending the final homecoming game without worrying about heading home to work on applications is crucial to keeping students' stress levels down. Remember, the supplemental essays are the most time-consuming part of the application process and what most students leave for last, starting as late as October and resulting in many late nights leading up to the Early application deadlines. Our students have a helping hand and schedule to conquer these essays without sacrificing their mental wellness.

Let us help reduce your student’s stress this application season. 

Reach out to us with questions today!

Sources:

The Princeton Review 2023 "College Hopes & Worries Survey"

College MatchPoint