Class of 2020 College Admissions Acceptance Rates (+Trends and Advice)
As always, college admissions this year were quite competitive. Now that the results are out, let’s take a look at the Class of 2020’s acceptance rates and see how they compare to the Class of 2019’s. Listed below are acceptance rates for the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, and UT-Austin:
Brown University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 22%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 20.3%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 9%*
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 8.49%
*Note: Brown received more student applications but accepted more students
Columbia University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- N/A*
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- N/A
*Note: the acceptance rates are not released, but the number of applications received has increased
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 6%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 6.1%
Cornell University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 27.4%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 26.1%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 14%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 14.88%
Dartmouth College:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 26%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 26%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 10.5%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 10.3%
Harvard University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 14.8%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 16.5%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 5.2%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 5.33%
Princeton University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 18.5%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 19.9%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 6.46%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 6.99%
University of Pennsylvania:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 23.2%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 24%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 9.4%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 10.1%
Yale University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 17%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 16%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 6.27%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 6.49%
MIT:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 8.4%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 9.6%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 7.81%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 8%
Stanford University:
Early Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 9.5%
Early Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 10.2%
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- 4.69%
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- 5.05%
University of Texas - Austin:
Regular Decision Class of 2020 (this year) -- TBA
Regular Decision Class of 2019 (last year) -- TBA*
*Note: the statistic currently available is from 2014, which states 40%*
As you can see, the Regular Decision acceptance rates for all the universities have decreased, which means more students are applying. Harvard and Yale have noted the increases in college applications--the former receiving an astounding 39,044 applications (10,000 more than the Class of 2013) and the latter receiving an equally impressive 31,439 applications (2,000 more than the Class of 2016).
So what exactly accounts for this upward trend?
A variety of factors have influenced students to apply to more than a few colleges. For starters, the Internet, social media, and the Common Application have all made it easier for students to learn more about colleges and apply to them rather easily. With streamlined processes, students don’t see the burden of adding extra schools to their lists. Of course, since it has become easier to apply and learn about colleges, the competition increases among students.
How does Early Decision help students now that application numbers are increasing each year?
For the most part, the Early Decision acceptance rates have lowered too, with the exception of Brown and Yale, which both received fewer Early Decision applications this year than they did the previous year. The trend, however, still suggests that getting accepted to top-tier universities is more likely when students apply Early Decision. In some cases, the acceptance rates double when compared to the regular ones, so getting applications ready and submitted as soon as possible remains a huge benefit. That’s why we see more students at B2A coming to us for college admissions help as early as May. They want to maximize their chances at putting together an immaculate college admissions application and meeting the early deadlines. (And, by the way, we are happy to report that students in our 2015-2016 Gateway program have been accepted to the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, and other top-tier schools.)
Where does that leave the Class of 2021?
As always, it is key that students start planning now. But even more important than planning is knowing how to make the application truly shine. You cannot expect to beat the competition by simply having a high GPA/class rank/test score. Instead you must really know how to sell yourself the right way. That’s what we do best with the Gateway program. We learn about our students and help them build stunning images for their target schools, because, at the end of the day, how else can a college admissions officer choose between two “perfect” candidates? It is all about how you sell yourself--how you show that you are more unique and better suited for the particular school.
The college admissions process is long and challenging, but it is well worth taking seriously. For now, I’ll say congratulations to you seniors. May you have a great first year of college! And for you current juniors, we at B2A hope to help you reach your dream college destination.
