Insights from the 2023 Admissions Cycle
As this year’s admissions cycle comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the insights into college admissions I gleaned from my work with the Class of 2023, which will inform my approach to working with rising seniors, juniors, and sophomores.
Admissions results of my students:
Likely Colleges: 93% were admitted, 7% were waitlisted, none were denied
Target Colleges: 71% were admitted, 16% waitlisted, 13% deferred, none denied
Reach Colleges: 34% admitted, 16% waitlisted, 9% deferred, 41% denied
Unlikely Colleges: 1% admitted, 1% waitlisted, 98% denied
A little over half of my students (57%) will be attending a college that was considered a target for them, and the remainder (43%) will be attending a college that was a reach or unlikely.
2023 Admissions Cycle Insights
An Increase in Reach Applications
While I focus on helping students find and apply to a range of colleges that will fit their goals, I had an unusually high number of students who reached very high this year. Those same students grounded their lists, so they were protected by well thought through comfortable options. In almost all cases where students reached high, there was disappointment, but also wonderful outcomes and a couple of very happy surprises.
Early Decision Outcomes
Less than half of my seniors applied under a binding early decision plan. Of those who did, 70% were admitted (one was deferred to regular decision and ultimately admitted.) The students who were not admitted had reached for colleges that were either above their academic profile, or were unlikely, based on single digit admit rates. One of my students was denied by a super reach institution under the first round of early decision but was then admitted by a reach college during the second round of early decision.
Test Optional Admissions
The vast majority of my students (85%) did not submit testing to either some or all of the colleges to which they applied. This is the highest test optional cohort I’ve ever had, eclipsing even my pandemic classes. The strongest academic performers, who applied to highly competitive/low admit rate colleges submitted scores, with one notable exception. I believe this was the last year of full-scale pandemic-era test optional admissions. I am advising my juniors to at least sit for testing, as I have seen a return to testing requirements at a number of colleges. Test optional admissions policies will remain at many to most of the nation’s colleges and universities, but there will be an increase in options that will not be possible without scores.
Surprise Successful Results
I had several students with some unexpected happy results this year, with several admissions to reach colleges. In virtually every case, the students were strong applicants to colleges that were reach or unlikely options for them only because of extremely low admit rates. However, I was surprised with the success they had, and I am not sure what to make of it. I do not plan to change my advice to balance lists.
Merit awards
My students this year were awarded non-need based academic merit scholarships totaling over $1.7 million dollars towards their four years of college. These awards were made by all the colleges that admitted them, not just where they have chosen to attend. The takeaway should be that there is a lot of money out there for families who do not qualify for need-based financial aid, and who are concerned about the sticker price of college, which has broken through $90,000 a year at a few colleges.
To hear from the Class of 2023 on the advice they’d give their younger selves, or other high school students, about the college admissions process, visit: www.betsyveidenheimer.com/insights/college-admissions-advice-from-the-class-of-2023
