Why has the college admissions process become increasingly competitive?

It seems like getting into college is harder than ever! I'm curious what factors have made the admissions process so tough nowadays compared to, say, a decade ago?

There are several key changes that have made college admissions more competitive today compared to a decade ago.

First, growth in the number of applicants has outpaced the expansion of freshman classes at many colleges. Students are applying to more schools than ever due to the ease of online applications and the Common Application, which allows students to apply to multiple schools with just one form. As a result, there are more applications for the same number of spots, leading to lower admission rates.

Second, many students today are more prepared than ever. High school curricula have become more rigorous, and many students are enrolling in advanced courses to increase their competitiveness. Additionally, access to standardized test prep materials and resources has improved over the years, contributing to higher test scores.

Third, universities have increasingly pursued "holistic" admissions policies that look at each applicant in context, rather than relying on numerical data like SAT scores and GPA. This has resulted in a greater emphasis on factors such as extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and personal essays, growth areas where students can distinguish themselves, leading to a more competitive admission scenario.

Lastly, the globalization of education has resulted in an influx of international students applying to U.S colleges. These students often bring diverse perspectives and experiences, thereby increasing the pool of competitive applicants.

So, a combination of increased application numbers, more prepared applicants, holistic admissions policies, and the globalization of education has contributed to the increased competitiveness of the college admissions process.