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What Rising College Application Volume Means for the Class of 2020

By U.S. News & World Report

College application volume has been rapidly increasing. In the past, applying to six or seven colleges might have been considered more than sufficient. Now that number has become not just commonplace, but in many cases, lower than the norm. Some students even apply to 15 or more institutions.

As current high school students prepare to apply to college, they will surely have many questions about this new reality of increasingly high college application volume. Here are answers to three of those questions.

[Check out three holistic college admissions trends to watch.]

1. How common is this? In recent years, higher application volume has become very common. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, almost three-quarters of American schools have seen increases in 10 of the last 15 years.

As a growing number of colleges and universities adopt the Common Application, or otherwise transition to an online admissions process, it has never been easier to apply to a half dozen or more schools with the click of a mouse. Colleges and universities have also found new ways to market themselves to applicants, including via social media. The cumulative result is a larger pool of students from which a given institution can choose.

2. Does application volume naturally decrease acceptance rates? Theoretically, yes. If a school receives 5,000 more applications this year than it did the previous year, but does not plan to increase the size of its freshman class, then its acceptance rate will naturally decrease. This is not a guarantee, however.

Colleges recognize that students are applying to more schools, and their expected yield from those students that they accept may thus decrease. This is because if you apply to two institutions, you may receive a single acceptance letter. Chances are good that you will attend that school.

[Find ways parents and students can compare college admissions offers.]

If you apply to 10 institutions, you may get in to seven, which means rejecting six offers. These six seats are then available to other students. Certain colleges and universities may also choose to increase the size of their freshman classes, which can soften the blow of rising application volume.

3. Should I apply to easier schools or more colleges as a result? This depends on where you plan to apply. For all students, the time of applying to just one or two schools is likely over. No matter what caliber of college you wish to be admitted to, ensure that you apply to a range of schools. This should include one or two dream colleges, several target schools and one or two safety colleges.

[Follow five steps to choose how many college applications to send.]

If you hope to attend a highly selective school, then yes, it is wise to apply to a higher volume of colleges and universities to increase your chances of admission to one. You should not, however, neglect target and safety schools. You also do not need to apply to 20 institutions — more than a dozen is likely excessive.

While increasing college application volume can likewise increase the pressure on high school students looking to apply to college, the trend is not as all-consuming as it is sometimes thought to be. The key to success on all applications is ultimately hard work and careful research.

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What Rising College Application Volume Means for the Class of 2020 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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