3 Predictions for
College Admissions In 2023
……And One Certainty


Many parents of high school students start the new year by wondering (and worrying) how the college admissions process will evolve as their teenager navigates their journey to college. College admissions vary significantly annually due to many factors, including economic changes, educational policy shifts, technological advances, and demographic differences.


As our team looks ahead to 2023, here are our top 3 predictions, as well as one thing we are certain of.

APPLICATION INFLATION

WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH

COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS & MAJORS
OUT OF REACH FOR MOST STUDENTS

Application inflation that started during COVID-19 will continue to be the new normal for the most selective schools and majors. The Common App reports that the share of students applying to more than 10 colleges increased from 8% to 17% between 2014 and 2022. While application numbers dropped significantly for some smaller schools – especially for those not well known – the most competitive schools in the country have seen a tsunami of applications.  These increases aren’t just for highly selective schools. For example, Auburn University received over 40,000 applications to review from the Class of 2022, an all-time high. This marked a 68.5% increase in applications from the year before and a stunning 155% increase from two years ago. Data for this admissions season is already starting to emerge as colleges release their early decision/restrictive early action decisions in late 2022. Schools like Duke, Dartmouth, and Yale again saw a record number of early applicants, driving admit rates to record lows. 


The solution is clear in the midst of this ongoing wave of inflation—students should focus on a balanced college list, with more possible schools than reaches, and a few schools that are a match for the student. As Jeff Selingo said in his book
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, “The more time teenagers spend making sure their college list has a mix of schools, as well as thinking about the academic, social, and financial fit of each of them, the better off they’ll be at the end of the process.“

BATTLE OF THE BOTS BETWEEN COLLEGES & STUDENTS

The role of artificial intelligence (AI)  in college admissions will continue to evolve and grow as technology becomes more sophisticated and widely available.  In 2023, colleges will experiment with AI algorithms to score applications based on certain criteria, using predictive analysis of grades, test scores, and essays. In addition, AI can be used to personalize the college application process, allowing students to provide more detailed information about themselves and their goals. This could help universities better understand applicants' unique characteristics and determine how likely they are to succeed in their chosen program. Tools like Chat GPT may help students draft and complete their application essays. What is missing is the distinctive lived experience of the student, the unique aspects of the student that no bot can replicate, no matter how sophisticated the code is. 


As technology takes over certain aspects of the application process, some colleges may focus more on a student’s academic profile, while others may increase their use of holistic review when it comes to admitting students. Students can start preparing early by taking challenging courses, participating in extracurricular activities, and developing the ability to reflect on themselves and their experiences.

STUDENTS WANT DIVERSITY

SCOTUS IS NOT SO SURE


While many expect upheaval in college admissions as the U.S. Supreme Court considers race-conscious admissions, one thing seems clear: diversity is the number one thing students want in a college community. In a recent survey of more than 20,000 students in the class of 2023, diversity was the top thing students want in a campus community, just as it was for the class of 2022. In the survey of 21,866 high school seniors, the diversity of the college student body was important to 84% of students, and the diversity of faculty and staff was important to 81%. Almost half of the students said a diverse student body was “a must-have feature” at their dream college.

One Certainty: The Journey To College Will Continue To Be Stressful For Students
(and their parents)

Sadly, one thing is clear: the journey to college will continue to be stressful. Surveys show more than 70% of students feel high stress about the college application process…so if you’re overwhelmed by college applications, you're not alone!


As a parent, it can be hard to watch your child stress over college admissions. It's natural for students to find some steps difficult during this process, but here are some tips you can use to help them reduce stress and succeed in their journey:


Begin by helping your student establish realistic goals and expectations. Talk with them about what universities they're interested in applying to, and research the average GPAs, extracurriculars, test scores, etc., that those schools require for admission. By setting realistic goals, your student will be more likely to feel successful throughout the process instead of discouraged by rejection letters from top-tier universities.


Encourage your student to take breaks from searching for colleges or editing application essays, and spend some time doing activities that help them feel relaxed and stress-free. Additionally, many students feel more confident when they have a timeline of application deadlines, essays, recommendation letters, etc., so they know what needs to be done and when.


“Prediction,” goes an old Danish proverb, “is hazardous, especially about the future.” Anticipating the myriad changes ahead for college applicants can often seem like an unending search for data. 2023 promises to be a year of continued complexity in college admissions, but preparing for the journey ahead can make the process organized, personal, and sometimes even fun.

JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 26th AT 4PM CT FOR OUR WEBINAR ON

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AT HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES

The early admissions data for top schools has revealed a hyper-competitive admissions cycle, with schools like Duke, Dartmouth, and Yale again reporting  record numbers of early applicants, driving admit rates to record lows. This webinar on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00pm CT is focused on what highly selective colleges look for in students, what these colleges look for in terms of "depth" in activities, and the importance of having a specific application strategy for the most selective schools.

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Contact Us

We have a unique approach at College MatchPoint. It all begins and ends with our ultimate goal: for our students to thrive in their selected college.

The college application process can feel overwhelming,
no matter how strong the student.

But at College MatchPoint, we believe it should be organized, personal, and even fun, and we provide a framework that reduces the stress throughout the journey. 

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