[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=11153.msg119713#msg119713 date=1433145721]
I know the acceptance rate has dropped because more students are applying, but is that because there are more potential applicants that have a chance to get in to choose from now as from 10-20 years ago (i.e. 20 years ago, there was 6,000 4.0 GPA/1600 SAT high school seniors and now there are 12,000 4.0 GPA/2400 SAT seniors?)

There probably aren't 12,000 4.0 GPA/2400 SAT seniors since only 583 2400s were reported in the last scholastic year. 

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/di...g-2014.pdf
[/quote]

I was just using random numbers, my point is whether there are more high-achieving HS seniors and thus more competition for the same amount of spots?

I know there are more applicants, but not every applicant is the same.  If 5,000 more students apply, but only 1,000 of them truly are competitive and stand a chance of getting in, then the competitiveness is increased by 1,000, not 5,000.

[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=11153.msg119713#msg119713 date=1433145721]
I know the acceptance rate has dropped because more students are applying, but is that because there are more potential applicants that have a chance to get in to choose from now as from 10-20 years ago (i.e. 20 years ago, there was 6,000 4.0 GPA/1600 SAT high school seniors and now there are 12,000 4.0 GPA/2400 SAT seniors?)

There probably aren't 12,000 4.0 GPA/2400 SAT seniors since only 583 2400s were reported in the last scholastic year. 

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/di...g-2014.pdf
[/quote]

I was just using random numbers, my point is whether there are more high-achieving HS seniors and thus more competition for the same amount of spots?

I know there are more applicants, but not every applicant is the same.  If 5,000 more students apply, but only 1,000 of them truly are competitive and stand a chance of getting in, then the competitiveness is increased by 1,000, not 5,000.