An article in Business Week published last month compared the application numbers from several top-ranked institutions.  The majority of the institutions have seen an increase in applications this year, making admission more selective than ever.  Several experts quoted in the article sight the increase in application numbers as a direct result of the economic downturn.  Students are seeking admission to top-ranked universities because they (or their parents) believe that they will be more likely to obtain a job after graduation.  Some schools have also increased the amount of financial aid available.
Meanwhile, the Yale Daily News, published an article on how their applications decreased this year, despite the trends mentioned above.  Officials at Yale are unable to pinpoint a reason for the slight dip in their application numbers and added that Yale “continues to attract top-quality candidates”.
Katherine Price
Educational Consultant