March 9, 2024
By Anastasia Loutroutzis
Webmaster
Applications to four-year institutions for next year, received by Nov. 1, increased by 65% since 2019 and 18% from last year, according to the Common App Research Brief.
Supervisor of Humanities Ms. Klein said in recent years, students have taken more interest in applying early to college.
“As the college application process is getting more competitive, students are doing early admissions at a higher rate,” Klein said. “Students figured out that it gives them a better shot of getting into a school, and it shows that they are interested.”
Klein said she encourages students to apply early action. However, she is skeptical when it comes to early decision applications because they are binding contracts.
“Early decision is good if you love a college, but it makes me nervous because you don’t know your financial package,” Klein said. “If it’s the college of your dreams, and you can afford it, then there is no harm. You just have to be careful about that financial piece.”
Among the schools that saw a significant jump in early applicants was Rutgers University, which joined Common App this year. It received 68,000 first-year applications. This is a 66% increase compared to last year, according to an email received by students who applied early.
Rutgers’ data reflects a nationwide trend, as applications to public colleges and universities increased by 82% from the 2019-20 academic year compared to a 47% increase among private institutions, according to the business magazine Forbes.
Senior Isabella Guzman, who applied to 15 schools, said the greatest challenge she faced during the early application process was finalizing the list of schools to which she was applying.
Guzman said she submitted her first application on Halloween and her last application before the holiday break in December. So far, Guzman has been accepted to 13 of the schools to which she applied, and she is waiting to hear from the remaining two.
“I decided I wanted to apply early enough to give myself enough time to hear back with scholarships and financial aid,” Guzman said. “For every school that offered an early action application, I applied because I am indecisive, and I want to make sure I choose the right college for me.”
Guzman said she felt encouraged to apply to more schools because many of them are test-optional.
“I did decide to apply to some harder-to-reach schools because of this,” Guzman said. “My SAT score was average, but if schools are not looking at that, I said, ‘Why not apply?’”
According to the Common App Research Brief, among applicants through Nov. 1, half submitted standardized test scores. In 2023, only 4% of institutions on the Common App required test scores, compared to 55% in 2019-20.
“As the college application process is getting more competitive, students are doing early admissions at a higher rate.”
Guidance counselor Ms. Truncellito said she strives to help students manage their expectations and stay resilient in the face of heightened competition in college admissions. She said she meets with the seniors she advises in the fall, recommending they apply to two reach schools, two target schools and two safety schools.
Truncellito said the Student Services Department recently created a website that will feature reminders and information about the college application process.
“[Guidance counselor] Mrs. Stacy is doing a nice job. She is the point person for that,” Truncellito said.
According to Common App data, colleges have also seen a significant increase in early applications from international students, which rose by 19% since last year.
Truncellito said she is glad more international students are applying to American postsecondary schools.
“It would be really cool for colleges to integrate more international students because it provides a difference in perspectives,” Truncellito said. “It creates a better understanding of the world if you have somebody in your classroom to give [you] a viewpoint from a different continent.”
