What Selectivity Means for You Understanding Admission Factors College admission officers across most of the nation report the same news: The number of applicants is rising, making admission more competitive. Remember, 'more selective' doesn't mean 'better.' Our society often associates exclusivity with higher value, but that notion isn't true for college. Find match with your interests, objectives, characteristics, and needs. Why Are Applications Increasing? The increase comes from a surge in births during the 1980s. Children of the baby boomers are coming of age.Experts predict applications will continue to rise faster than openings at most colleges through about 2010. 'Most schools are a little more selective than they were maybe 10 years ago,' says Joan Isaac-Mohr, Vice President and Dean of Admissions at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. This can mean more pressure for students going through the application process. Benefits of Increased Selectivity There's a silver lining. As Isaac-Mohr points out, increased selectivity means better students are going to all colleges, broadening your choice of schools with a high-achieving student population. The number of applicants is rising, making admission more competitive. Ann Wright, Vice President for Enrollment at Rice University in Texas, agrees. 'There are lots of schools where students can be happy and successful,' she says. Both experts encourage students and parents to consider a range of schools, rather than focusing on a single institution. Community colleges, for example, can allow you to spend two years improving grades or selecting a career focus before transferring to a four-year university. While you might be taught by a graduate student at a large university, teachers at community colleges are usually professors who primarily want to teach, not conduct research. Smaller class sizes and more access to professors at small public or private colleges can be a boost to students, while some may prefer the energy and variety of a large university. It's important for you to determine your needs and academic interests and select five or six schools that make a good fit. What Are Colleges Looking For? As you prepare application materials, it can help to know what schools are really looking for in the piles ofpaperwork. Admission officers evaluate applications in different ways, depending on how selective, or competitive, their college is. The Levels of Selectivity At one extreme are 'open admission' colleges. These schools require only a high school diploma and accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Many community colleges have this policy. At the other extreme are very selective colleges. They admit only a small percentage of applicants each year. Most colleges fall somewhere in between -Less Selective: As many as 10 or 15 students apply for each spot at very selective schools. Less selective colleges focus on whether applicants meet minimum requirements and whether there's room for more students. Acceptable grades are often the only requirement beyond an interest in college study. The SAT I or ACT may be required, but test scores are usually used for course placement, not admission. -More Selective: More selective colleges consider course work, grades, test scores, recommendations, and essays. The major factor may be whether you are ready for college-level study. It's possible to be denied admission because of a weakness or a lack of interest in higher education. -Very Selective: As many as 10 or 15 students apply for each spot at very selective schools. Admission officers look carefully at every aspect of a student's high school experience, from academic strength to test sco