It may be late February but it has felt more like April this week. SUCH a nice treat to have this beautiful weather - we hope all of you were able to get outside and enjoy it!!
BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK
HARVARD ADMISSIONS LAWSUIT REACHES THE SUPREME COURT
Back in 2019, Judge Allison D. Borroughs rejected the argument presented by the “Students for Fair Admissions,” stating that while the Harvard’s admissions process is “not perfect,” the university did meet the constitutional standard for considering race. She argued that universities need to consider race in college admissions so that they can foster greater diversity, “tolerance, acceptance and understanding that will ultimately make race-conscious admissions obsolete.” The group brought their case to the Supreme Court yesterday.
It’s important to recognize that back in 2003, Sandra Day O’Conner wrote in the majority opinion for Grutter v. Bollinger that race-base admissions was not meant to be permanent:
The Court takes the Law School at its word that it would like nothing better than to find a race-neutral admissions formula and will terminate its use of racial preferences as soon as practicable. The Court expects that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.
Well, it’s been almost 18 years, so this will be interesting - it has the potential to shake up college admissions in a very big way. Stay tuned for more as we watch it closely!
VIRGINIA TECH EARLY ACTION DECISIONS RELEASED
After we posted our Friday blog last week, Virginia Tech released early action decisions. They had a 35% year over year increase in early action applicants (nearly 30,000 this cycle compared to just over 20,000 last cycle), and decisions revealed that this was a significantly more difficult cycle than we have seen in the past. We also suspect that demonstrated interest may have played a larger role at VT this year, as it appears anecdotally that they may have tried to fill the class with students most likely to attend. Congratulations to all of our seniors who received good news last week!
INFLUX OF APPLICATIONS AT TOP COLLEGES
This pandemic admissions cycle has felt particularly long for many of our students - and for us as well! But one thing that we’ve increasingly noticed as more data is released (and written about again and again) -is that while college applications across the country have dropped, applications at top universities and big state schools have gone way up. That means that most of our students will be experiencing the most competitive admissions cycle in history (not exactly a claim to fame you want, right?). But it also means that smaller mid-tier colleges may be struggling to fill their classes and suffering budget shortfalls.
BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK
The Varsity Blues scandal illuminated some of the ethical issues with athletic recruitment at top colleges. This article further considers that relationship, digging into the relationship between Sean Hannity and the tennis coach at Wake Forest, where his son is a senior and varsity tennis player. Though an investigation did not find any illegal actions in this case (unlike Varsity Blues), it still raises some ethical questions and is a great read to help think about where the lines are drawn for NCAA recruitment.
Not exactly an article, but I recommend this Twitter thread for anyone looking to understand a bit more about the trends we’ve been seeing in applications this year, and how school officials are thinking about this admissions cycle.
This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education digs into the CSS Profile, one of the most frustrating forms for students and families to submit during the admissions process. About 300 colleges and universities require this form in addition to the FAFSA for students seeking financial aid. For many students and families, this extensive (and confusing!) form can be a serious barrier to entry for institutional grants from top colleges and the article honestly broke my heart to read! The CSS Profile is just one example of the challenges that low-income students have to overcome when applying to college. The pandemic has only exacerbated this challenge, and led to a decrease in applications overall from low-income and first-generation students. If you are struggling with this form, don’t forget that College Access Fairfax provides great free resources and can help!
High Point University is definitely a school that has recently come into the consciousness of many students and families due to its luxury amenities, including a concierge, multiple swimming pools, and an on-campus steakhouse. This article explores some of the wildest amenities at elite colleges, and how schools use luxury as a way to attract wealthy applicants.
Speaking of luxury, there’s no walking on the High Point tour - your tour guide drives you around on a cushy golf cart! I was six months pregnant in the photo above and THRILLED for a break after trudging around Duke, UNC, Wake, and Elon during a very hot July week!
OFFICE HAPPENINGS
February has flown by and we are so excited to start reading student essays as they work through the Wow Writing Workshop with our essay coaches. Hearing students’ personal stories is one of the best parts of our job! If you are a Class of 2022 student who has not yet booked your essay coaching meetings, make sure you begin the process by reviewing what’s ahead and scheduling your meetings! (And don’t forget to share your thoughts on in-person services with us!)
Interested in medicine? Check out this STEM workshop tomorrow morning! The office of Rep. Jennifer Wexton is hosting a workshop for high school students from 10:00-11:15 am tomorrow to allow students to hear from medical professionals, researchers, and health policy experts about how the healthcare field has transformed during COVID-19.
Have a great weekend!