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16 Mar 2016, 21:16
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Could someone help explain to me what factors would impact a school's acceptance rate?
From what I know these are the easily identifiable main factors:
- Number of applicants (more applicants = larger denominator = pushes rate lower)
- Class size (smaller class size = smaller numerator = pushes rate lower)
- Expected yield (lower yield = schools compensating to make sure they reach their class size = pushes rate higher)
The top three generally explain how elite schools have a lower admit rate in general amongst schools. However this doesn't explain how schools like Stern and Anderson (high-teens admit rate) being in-line or lower than some M7 schools (e.g. Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, and Booth) - disclaimer this is a very general statement but when I last checked it held true.
What other factors are out there that would make a big impact on how schools rank strictly by acceptance rates? Off the top of my head I can think of location (applicants don't want to uproot, relocate, or live in a particular city OR applicants wanting to live in NYC/LA) as a reason, which would impact yield and/or applicant pool. I've also heard of elite schools applicant pools being self-selecting, meaning applicants who don't think they have a realistic shot at these schools not even applying in the first place, but not too sure how much impact this would hold if true. Are Stern and Anderson simply anomalies?
From what I know these are the easily identifiable main factors:
- Number of applicants (more applicants = larger denominator = pushes rate lower)
- Class size (smaller class size = smaller numerator = pushes rate lower)
- Expected yield (lower yield = schools compensating to make sure they reach their class size = pushes rate higher)
The top three generally explain how elite schools have a lower admit rate in general amongst schools. However this doesn't explain how schools like Stern and Anderson (high-teens admit rate) being in-line or lower than some M7 schools (e.g. Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, and Booth) - disclaimer this is a very general statement but when I last checked it held true.
What other factors are out there that would make a big impact on how schools rank strictly by acceptance rates? Off the top of my head I can think of location (applicants don't want to uproot, relocate, or live in a particular city OR applicants wanting to live in NYC/LA) as a reason, which would impact yield and/or applicant pool. I've also heard of elite schools applicant pools being self-selecting, meaning applicants who don't think they have a realistic shot at these schools not even applying in the first place, but not too sure how much impact this would hold if true. Are Stern and Anderson simply anomalies?
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Expert reply
17 Mar 2016, 09:17
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lamderson
Great question. I will touch on a couple reasons, but certainly not all of them. The first is overall demand for the program, which is a bit generic. As you mention, demand can be driven by prestige, location, course offerings, career placement statistics and a host of other reasons. The more a school is demanded, the lower the acceptance rate. Beyond demand, it is important to think about who is interested in enrolling in the school. While a school like NYU will have, on average, a less competitive student mix than a school like HBS, most applicants know this before applying. Because of this, there is an element of self-selection as you alluded to.
Bottom line is the acceptance rate should not drive your decision. I get clients into top schools all the time despite acceptance rates of <10%. That said, some applicants still don't get into a school with an acceptance rate of 70%. The key is how you compare to others applying. Of course the acceptance rate plays a role as well, but more important is just how competitive you are. It is hard to get into a lot of schools, so pick the best ones for you!
Best,
Scott
