This Week in Admissions News | Week 8

The world of college admissions is ever-changing and for students planning to apply to universities, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. We’ve rounded up the latest news and given our take on what it means for future and current college students. Check back each week to see what’s new!

1. Oxbridge efforts to increase socioeconomic diversity on their campuses show in this year’s private vs. state school admit numbers

Oxford and Cambridge admission offers granted to students at state schools have increased in the last five years while offers extended to students from private schools have “reached a new low,” according to the latest statistics. In a statement last fall, Cambridge said the incoming Class of 2025 would be “the most socially diverse ever” and the numbers indicate that promise held true: in the last five years, its state school intake increased from 62.3% to 70%, while at Oxford state school students represented 68.7% of admitted students from the 2020 admissions round.

Crimson’s Take: We’re always glad to hear that elite institutions’ diversity endeavors are coming to fruition. Crimson was founded on the belief that no qualified student should miss out on a world-class education due to disadvantages of location, legacy, socioeconomic status, race, gender or any other factor that’s out of their control. It’s uplifting to know that Oxford and Cambridge — two of the most prestigious universities in the world — are making a conscious effort to consider the qualifications of students facing obstacles that could otherwise hurt their well-deserved chances of success.

2. New research finds Ivy League graduates make 13.3% more in their early career on average compared to private school grads

Data from Ezra, a digital coaching provider, recently found that the average annual earnings for someone with an Ivy League degree is $76,432 USD in their “early career” — 13.3% higher than that of graduates from private universities and 21.7% more than those from public universities. Further in their career, the difference is even more pronounced: by mid-career, the average Ivy League grad makes $150,139 USD while those with degrees from private schools earn 14.3% less and those with public school degrees make 28.7% less.

Crimson’s Take: It’s no secret to us that a degree from the Ivy League is a hot commodity when it comes to career prospects. These universities have earned their prestige, offering students top-notch resources from renowned professors to state-of-the-art facilities and much more. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that an Ivy League education isn’t the only ticket to success and these statistics don’t define the likelihood of prosperity. Despite what the numbers suggest, an Ivy League degree doesn’t guarantee anything — your own hard work, ambition and determination is even more important!

3. With the spring semester well underway, the Ivies are navigating COVID-19 safety regulations in different ways

Most Ivy League universities welcomed students back to their campuses this semester in some capacity, each with their own policies in place to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. You can read how each institution is managing COVID-19 precautions in detail here, but in summary, all eight have instituted frequent testing requirements — some as often at three times per week, and all at least biweekly — with contact tracing and isolation requirements for students who test positive.

Crimson’s Take: It’s reassuring to know that even amid a global pandemic, the Ivies (alongside many other universities) are doing all they can to ensure students are kept safe and can still get an on-campus experience to some degree. We’re optimistic that their rigorous testing and symptom reporting requirements, alongside strict quarantine rules for those who test positive, will help them make substantial strides toward flattening the curve within their own microcosms and, come fall, achieving their goals to “a full return” to campus for students, faculty and staff.

4. College athletic recruiting consultants believe despite a year of cancelled competition, student-athletes will still be just as enticed by the Ivies

According to recruiting consultants interviewed by the Yale Daily News, student-athletes in the upcoming admissions round will likely be undeterred by the Ivies’ cancelled sports seasons as coaches’ pitches will remain “very persuasive” thanks to “the allure of an Ivy League degree.” Recruits and coaches alike are reportedly optimistic about the return of Ivy League athletics this fall, largely believing “the year-long cancellation of sports will not have a lasting effect on the attractiveness of the Ivy athletic experience.”

Crimson’s Take: We have remained positive about the trajectory of US college campuses’ return to normalcy as we’ve witnessed how countries around the world have gotten COVID-19 cases almost completely under control with the implementation of strict precautionary measures. We’re seeing how the Ivy League and other US universities are cracking down on COVID-19 and believe their efforts will pay off; so it’s no surprise to us that student-athletes remain drawn to the Ivies with the expectation that the next academic year will offer the college experience they dream of.