Applying to college is just one of the many things affected by Covid this year. Due to Covid, affected factors such as finances, proximity, and uncertainty, are having noticeable changes to college applicants. Certain groups of colleges are seeing more applications, while others are receiving less, directly affecting high school seniors. Knowing what types of schools are experiencing different things can help current seniors apply more strategically to maximize their chances of getting into the universities they want to attend. What does this mean for seniors? Places that are receiving more applications will accept a lower % of students, hurting chances to get accepted. Below is an overview of what is being reported by groups of universities, and how to interpret the information.

Types of Schools:

Public Top Tier: Well “branded” public schools have so far seen a large increase in applications this admissions year. Public schools are typically more affordable than private schools which is more appealing to many who are experiencing financial difficulties from lockdown. UVA reported a 35% increase in Early Applications this year. Examples include- UNC, Umich, UVA, Uwashington, UCLA, UT-Austin, and UGA.

Regional public schools: Typically characterized by being closer to home and less expensive, these universities will see an increase in applications, but not as much as the top-ranked universities. Examples include- JMU, App state, and NC State.

Private universities: Depending on the tier of school will be the deciding factor if your chances of getting accepted are any easier or harder. Ivy League schools have seen significant increases in applications, and also expect places like Georgetown, Stanford, NYU, MIT, JHU, UChicago, Northwestern, and Duke. However, lesser-known private schools are seeing a decrease in applications, meaning increased chances of being accepted relative to other years. This includes URichmond, Randolph-Macon, Washington and Lee, and many others.