This article appeared as "Reality Check" in the Summer 2024 issue of Independent School.
In the complex world of college admission, myths and misconceptions abound, making it challenging for parents, students, and school staff to make informed decisions. They often hear things like Students should apply to as many schools as possible. Early decision guarantees acceptance. "Top-ranked" schools offer the best educational programs.
Myths like these have been circulating for decades, but they’ve taken on a different kind of prominence amid a shifting higher education landscape. While college admission—the process around it and the attendant emotions—has always been fraught, it has a different flavor now. The changes—from the increasing prevalence of test-optional policies to the Supreme Court decision about affirmative action—feel chaotic to schools and families who are struggling to understand the impact on college admission and what to do in the face of it, adding confusion to an already daunting and stressful process.
To better understand the changes and how to navigate them, NAIS surveyed college counselors from 184 schools, representing a variety of school locations and characteristics, and interviewed a handful of the respondents to better understand the nuances. The resulting report, “NAIS Research: Trends in College Admission,” got to the heart of four key trends: Test-optional policies have created new admission uncertainties; engagement between college counselors and college admission officers has decreased; colleges are prioritizing diversity after the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action; and students are struggling to cope in a changing admission landscape, which leads to higher rates of anxiety.
As we analyzed the survey results and distilled the trends that emerged, we realized the need for an immediate next step—an effort to dispel the common myths driving these changes, to ensure that schools and students have the information they need to navigate their options more confidently and to make decisions that are right for their educational paths.
Myth #1: The more schools students apply to, the better.
College counselors reported that families sought to apply to numerous schools—in some cases up to 20, which is the limit on the Common App—to ensure that students were admitted to a desirable college. While applying to numerous schools may help ensure entry to at least one, there are several drawbacks to this approach.
Despite a more streamlined application process, students still need to manage application logistics. Writing personal and supplemental essays, navigating college application portals, and coordinating to ensure that high schools are submitting information were all mentioned as tasks that can snowball when applying to a large number of colleges. When students’ attention is spread thin, they may end up submitting lower-quality applications overall. Managing these logistics can cause significant stress for students, draining time and attention that would be better spent understanding which schools would be a good fit.
Cost can also be a prohibitive factor; application fees can be as high as $60 to $100 per school. These fees come at a time when families are paying many other costs related to the admission process (travel costs to visit schools, test preparation and fees, etc.), while also trying to save money for tuition. This can add up quickly if families decide to apply to a large number of schools.
Applying to more than 10 schools is often unnecessary. According to Common App, students are not generally applying to this number of schools: The national average of common applications submitted is just over six. The College Board advises that five to eight applications are generally sufficient, as long as the list includes a mix of “safety,” “match,” and “reach” schools.
Counselors we spoke with feel that this trend comes from a fear that students will not get into a “good” college. However, this belief is often unfounded. The National Association for College Admission Counseling reports 2022 acceptance rates ranging from 70%–78% (depending on college type). Many of these schools offer quality educational programming, and independent school college counselors can provide a sense of the grades and background needed to gain admission to a particular school.
Myth #2: Students should apply early decision to get into college.
Applying early admission, through early-decision or early-action programs, may offer advantages in the college admission process. Colleges often report higher acceptance rates for these early applicants, which could be attributed to the smaller, more competitive applicant pool and the strong interest demonstrated by students committing early. This early commitment helps colleges manage their enrollment numbers effectively and allows them to secure a portion of their incoming class ahead of the regular admission cycle.
However, there are important considerations for students thinking about applying early. Early-decision applications are binding, requiring students to enroll if accepted and potentially limiting their ability to compare financial aid offers from other institutions. Students also must be ready to submit a polished application earlier in their senior year, which might not be the best strategy for everyone. There can also be financial complications for families who apply early decision, specifically for families who earn between $175,000 and $300,000 and who might benefit from comparing financial aid packages from a variety of universities.
Myth #3: Test-optional policies reduce pressure on students.
This belief overlooks the complexities of the college admission landscape. While these policies eliminate the requirement to submit standardized test scores (and presumably a major source of stress), they shift the pressure to other components of the college application. Students may feel compelled to enhance their academic records, extracurricular involvement, and personal essays to compensate for the absence of test scores. This can lead to an increased burden on students to distinguish themselves in an already competitive process, often intensifying the stress associated with crafting a compelling application. Colleges are beginning to realize these challenges; a small number have resumed requiring test scores for upcoming admission seasons.
Furthermore, the test-optional movement does not eliminate the dilemma for students who are uncertain about whether to submit their scores. That decision can involve a number of nuances and intimate knowledge of different admission offices that college counselors often know but families may not. There are also geographic differences. A student in California where the public universities are test-free might not feel pressure to take the SAT or ACT, but students in Tennessee, Georgia, or Florida, where the state university systems require scores, may need to take a test even if they don’t send their scores to private universities. Students may also fear that admission committees will have a negative impression if they withhold test scores.
Myth #4: Students must have standardized test scores to be competitive at selective colleges.
This is misleading. Regardless of test score submissions, the admission process at competitive colleges remains rigorous. The influx of applications to test-optional schools has intensified the competition, making it even harder to stand out.
Moreover, evidence is inconclusive on whether students submitting high standardized test scores to test-optional schools gain an advantage. Often the decision whether to submit test scores is very nuanced and depends on a variety of factors across a student’s application. Consequently, while test-optional policies aim to make college admission more accessible and equitable, they do not necessarily make gaining admission to selective institutions easier for all applicants.
Myth #5: Test-optional policies are a cure-all for lower-income students.
The narrative that test-optional policies predominantly benefit lower-income students is more complex than it appears. While these policies are designed to level the playing field by not requiring SAT or ACT scores, the competitive nature of college admission still presents significant challenges for these students. Without standardized test scores as a metric, admission committees place greater emphasis on other application components like essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. However, lower-income students may have less access to high-quality preparation resources for these aspects of the application, potentially putting them at a disadvantage compared to their more affluent peers.
Moreover, the assumption that test-optional policies universally aid lower-income students overlooks the broader systemic barriers they face. These students might still struggle with accessing advanced coursework, extracurricular opportunities, and guidance counseling—all critical factors in a holistic admission process. While test-optional policies may offer an alternative pathway to college admission, they do not address the underlying inequities in educational preparation and opportunities. Therefore, while beneficial in some respects, test-optional admission policies alone are not a panacea for the challenges lower-income applicants face in accessing selective higher education institutions.
Myth #6: College rankings are indicative of academic quality.
The idea that college rankings directly reflect the academic quality of institutions is pervasive, but this oversimplifies the nuanced reality of higher education. Rankings often rely on a set of metrics that can include research output, financial resources, and reputation among peers and high school counselors. While these factors are important, they do not capture the entirety of an institution’s academic quality or the educational experience it offers. This approach to evaluation can overlook aspects such as teaching quality, student support services, and the overall student experience, which are crucial to the educational value a college provides.
Moreover, the emphasis on rankings can lead colleges to prioritize metrics that improve their standing rather than focusing on the educational outcomes for their students. A 2022 report, “An Investigation of the Facts Behind Columbia’s U.S. News Ranking,” identified practices that can improve a college’s rankings but also affect diversity and accessibility, such as allocating more funds to research at the expense of undergraduate teaching or admitting a higher number of students from wealthier backgrounds who can afford full tuition. Students should be encouraged to consider a broader range of factors, including campus culture, academic programs, and support services, to create their own methodology in identifying colleges that meet their personal criteria.
Myth #7: Selective colleges ensure career success.
The belief that only degrees from selective colleges guarantee career success overlooks the myriad pathways to professional achievement. And the benefits of elite institutions may not be as significant as one might think. Research from Opportunity Insights found that an Ivy League education had “a small and statistically insignificant impact” on future earnings.
Many people who have meaningful and well-paying careers have graduated from institutions that may not top the college rankings but offer robust educational experiences, specialized programs, and opportunities for personal growth and networking. The skills, knowledge, and determination a person brings to their career, along with the ability to leverage opportunities for internships, mentorships, and hands-on learning, often play a more significant role in long-term success than the prestige of their alma mater.
Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, which can be developed across a wide range of colleges and universities, are highly prized in the modern economy. Many sectors prioritize practical experience, skills, and cultural fit over the name of the college on a diploma. Research indicates a limited (and in many cases nonexistent) effect of college selectivity on future earnings or job engagement. Therefore, while selective colleges can provide certain advantages, they are by no means the only path to a successful and fulfilling career.
Myth #8: Matriculation lists should contribute to the independent school value proposition.
The idea that an independent school’s value proposition should be judged primarily by its matriculation list—where graduates enroll in a college—oversimplifies the quality and impact of the education provided. While a list of prestigious college acceptances can appeal to a specific set of parents, it does not fully account for the individual fit and success of each student at their college. More important, this perspective undervalues the comprehensive educational experience that independent schools offer. The true measure of a school’s value lies in how well it prepares students for their future, fostering skills like critical thinking, resilience, and creativity, rather than merely where students are admitted to college. Many independent school parents are conflating college acceptance with the ultimate goal, but really they, and our schools, should prioritize preparing students for college and beyond.
Emphasizing matriculation lists can perpetuate a narrow definition of success, suggesting that only certain colleges are worth attending. This outlook can be particularly misleading as it fails to appreciate the wide variety of post-secondary pathways that can lead to fulfilling careers and lives, including less traditionally prestigious colleges, vocational programs, and even gap years. The value proposition of independent schools should be based on their ability to nurture students’ diverse talents and interests, equipping them with the tools to thrive wherever they choose to go after graduation.
Action Steps
The college admission landscape will continue to shift in the coming years. Independent school college counselors will do a better job of setting their students up for success if they focus on educating families and colleagues about the changes and providing the context they need to understand them. Most important, school leaders should cultivate cross-departmental conversations and ensure alignment among their own admission office, communications, academic program, and college counseling offices. Helping stakeholders dispel myths around application strategy, test-optional changes, and selective colleges will go far in reducing the anxiety and uncertainty for students embarking on their admission journey.
- Discuss application trade-offs. Give families the information they need to understand how many colleges students should apply to. Students and families can benefit from understanding the financial cost, negative impact on quality of supplemental essays, the effect on a student’s mental health, and the time involved in applying to numerous colleges.
- Explain early-decision trade-offs. Educate students and families through written resources, guides, and workshops about the implications of early commitment. Provide resources that emphasize the importance of thorough research and careful consideration before committing to early-decision options.
- Cultivate conversations with school staff. Keep other school leaders abreast of changes in college admission and how these changes affect students. Ensuring that there is consensus among college counselors, admission, alumni office, etc. is key to helping school leaders talk about their college admission outcomes in a way that is healthy for students.
- Explain the landscape of selective college admission specific to your market. Host tailored workshops to manage expectations for college admission outcomes. By discussing admission trends, acceptance rates, and specific outcomes for selective and highly selective colleges.
By addressing common misconceptions and offering actionable insights, independent schools can alleviate stress and uncertainty, empowering students to make informed decisions about their educational futures with confidence and clarity. Together, we can ensure that the college admission process is not only manageable but also enriching and rewarding for all involved.
Go Deeper
NAIS surveyed college counselors to uncover the major trends impacting the college admission process.
- Download the full report: “NAIS Research: Trends in College Admission”
- Watch a webinar recording: “Navigating the Future: Top Trends in College Admission”