Increase in applications for colleges

Hey, guys. I've heard that some colleges see a significant spike in applications during certain years. Can anyone list some of those schools? It'd be cool to understand why they suddenly became ultra-popular.

Absolutely, it's interesting to see how application rates to colleges fluctuate over the years. A few notable instances include:

1. University of Chicago: A decade ago, the University of Chicago began a unique, creative approach to their admissions essays which attracted a great deal of attention. Students appreciated the opportunity to showcase their creativity in unique prompts. The UChicago admissions team was also very successful in outreach and marketing to prospective students.

2. Dartmouth College: Dartmouth saw a 33% increase in applications for the class of 2026. Several factors may have contributed to this, such as their robust virtual engagement during pandemic-related travel restrictions, and the inspireD campaign which highlighted the diversity and experiences of the Dartmouth community.

3. Brown University: Brown saw a 26% increase in applications for the class of 2025. This could be attributed to a trend toward more applications to the Ivy League overall.

While these are individual examples, a general trend worth mentioning is that many colleges saw an increase in applications when they adopted test-optional policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made these schools more accessible to a broader range of students.

Remember, colleges' application numbers can fluctuate due to a wide variety of factors including changes in application policies, unique outreach efforts, current events, and changing student interests. Understanding these trends can provide valuable insight into the competitive landscape of college admissions.