Looking for Info on College Admission Stats

Hi there. I want to understand the big picture statistics regarding college admissions. Things like average acceptance rates, the impact of extracurriculars, etc. Any reliable source recommendations or insights you guys have?

Understanding the broader statistics of college admissions can be very illuminating! Although I do recommend also focusing on the individual school's admission data for a more precise idea, here's a useful overview:

Acceptance rates among universities vary widely based on the selectivity of the institution. Take highly selective colleges for instance - Harvard University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), etc. - boast single-digit acceptance rates, usually below 10%. However, many other colleges and universities have acceptance rates that range from 30% up to some reaching 70% or more.

As for extracurriculars, they're an essential part of the application. Colleges commonly evaluate them using a tier system. Tier 1 activities, for example, indicate exceptional achievement, such as being a national award winner or an international Olympiad participant. Tier 4, the most common, includes club membership and general volunteering. But remember, it's not just the tier or quantity that counts, but also the quality and relevance of these activities to your intended field of study or personal interests.

Also, admission trend data, like acceptance rates, can be found through various resources like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), where you can look up the data of countless institutions.

Lastly, The College Board provides aggregate SAT/ACT data of test-takers which would aid you to benchmark where you fall on the application pool. Of note, many universities have gone test-optional due to the global pandemic but some schools resumed requiring SAT/ACT scores for the 2024-2025 application cycle. It is important to check up-to-date testing policies of every school you're applying to.

The admission process certainly can be a complex maze. The more knowledge you equip yourself with about how it works, the better you'll be at navigating it. Good luck!