Some of the parents of my son's friends are very worried about their children being accepted by the colleges where they really want to go. Is competition for getting into college more intense than it has been in the past? How can we help our child get into the school we went to and that he longs to attend? - Wondering
Answer: Competition for entrance into college is definitely more intense than in the past. There are several reasons why this is happening. A major one is demographics. There are simply more students in the seven through 12 grade levels. Plus, more students than ever before are now applying to college. There is also the trend of students applying to many colleges. Some are applying to as many as 12 colleges, or even a few more. The trickle-down effect also applies to college admissions. Competition at top-tier schools has become so intense that as few as 12 percent of the applicants may be admitted at some schools. Thus, the second- and third-tier schools are now becoming more competitive.
Your son needs to understand that good grades and high SAT and ACT scores matter more than ever now. In addition, it is very important to apply early to schools that have a rolling admissions process in which slots are filled as candidates meeting the entrance requirements are granted admission.