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As other revenue sources dwindle, many of the nation's top public universities are accepting nonresident students in greater numbers. At some schools, the push for nonresidents has made it harder for residents to get in. Out-of-state students generally pay the full cost of their education, effectively subsidizing their in-state classmates.
During the tour, counselors and consultants met with the Directors of Admissions and Admissions Counselors for each of the schools. Information was shared regarding unique academic, as well as financial opportunities that were available for prospective students. Profiles of current students, as well as discussion regarding the application and selection process were shared. Opportunities were also available to meet and speak with current students and professors from each of the schools.
The price of a college education continues to rise substantially each year. Over the last 30 years, college costs have risen steadily, especially at four-year public universities, once considered the affordable route to higher education. At such universities, the last decade's increases have been steeper than at private universities and public two-year institutions, where the rate of increase has slowed over the last decade.
The struggling economy has taken a toll on those directly responsible for advising students about the college admission process. Schools are raising counselors' caseloads, while the pressures on applicants are growing, due to the increasing number of applications to four-year colleges and the rising number of students applying to colleges under early-decision programs.
The Dallas Independent School District board voted to pay $2.1 million for outside organizations to help students navigate the college application process, as school counselors could not adequately assist students trying to get into competitive colleges. While the district's overall ratio of students to counselors is better than national and state averages, most Dallas high schools have counselor caseloads far exceeding the 250 students recommended by the American School Counselor Association.
Both students and universities are facing increasing uncertainty over admissions as recent class sizes have grown. A host of factors are fueling the selectivity and longer waiting lists at top-tier colleges. Students send in more applications to maximize their chances while colleges are increasingly wary of having too many admissions offers turned down.
Due to larger graduating class sizes and a trend for students to submit more applications, many schools are logging record-low admissions rates and hedging their bets by increasing the length of their waiting lists. Because the most talented students probably have offers from multiple schools, but can attend only one, even the most selective colleges end up using the waitlist to fill out their classes. So what's the secret to getting in off the waitlist?
It may be harder than ever to get into the Ivy League, but fortunately it's easier than ever to find outstanding alternatives. Counselors say if you look hard enough, you're bound to find a school that you love--and, more important, that loves you back. Here are eight strategies kids (and parents) are using to find happiness beyond the ranks of the traditional élite schools.