Mental Health Crisis: The Impact of Universities Becoming so Selective

American universities across the country are witnessing the continuation of an alarming new trend: more applicants and fewer spots to fill. This trend gained widespread media attention two years after the COVID-19 pandemic when college applications for the 2024 cycle surged. According to Forbes, a Common App report indicated a 41% jump in college applications compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, since 2006, college applications have dramatically increased, and acceptance rates have fallen to record lows, implicating the continuing trend of universities becoming more competitive, resulting in a surge in the mental health crisis among students.

Although many factors are participating in universities becoming more selective, including easier and more inclusive access to applications and the choice of applying as test-optional, the ultimate factor is the increase in college applicants. According to Common App, college applicants increased by 6% for the 2024 cycle. The rising number of applicants is partly due to the increase in high school graduates, as “Four years ago, there were 2.5 million high school graduates. This year… there will be 3.6 million graduates” (Bierer). As the number of high school graduates and college applicants continues to surge, universities compensate by lowering their acceptance rates to record-lows. A common misconception exists that these record low acceptance rates only pertain to Ivy League schools. However, this drop can be studied nationwide, regardless of university prestige. For instance, just as “Harvard's acceptance rate fell to 3.19%, the lowest since it was founded 386 years ago,” the University of Pittsburgh also reached a record-low acceptance rate of 49% (Picchi).

Students feel pressured to achieve more and stand out as applicants as university admission processes become more competitive. Hence, students are partaking in more extracurriculars and leadership positions all while raising the national average GPA. For reference, in math alone, “...the average adjusted… GPA increased from 3.02 to 3.32…” (ACT).

On the surface level, these statistics sound impressive, making the diminishing college acceptance rates look appeasing. However, with a deeper dive into these statistics, a detrimental fact stands out: the mental health crisis among students is surging. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey, “Ninety-three percent of school health workers say they've seen an increase in students with anxiety since 2019” (Stone). Of high schoolers applying to university, “Nearly half (48%) of the students… said, “stress and anxiety overshadow their college search and planning” highlighting a strong correlation between colleges becoming more competitive and the student mental health crisis surging (McLean, Carey). Due to the mental health crisis regarding university, the Education Advisory Board noted that“...nearly one-third (28%) of high school students cite mental health concerns as a reason they may choose to delay enrollment or opt out of college entirely” (McLean, Carey).

Although students cannot change the continuing trend of universities becoming more selective, prioritizing mental health during the application process can help reduce the mental health crisis. Some self-care tips to keep in mind when applying to college include:

• Talk to friends and family who have been through the application process. Talking through your applications is a good way to receive feedback while gaining valuable insight from people who have been through the process.

• Take a break from social media to avoid comparing yourself to others. It is essential to focus on yourself throughout the application process, and comparing yourself to peers can create unneeded stress and pressure.

• Create a schedule to avoid procrastination. Staying on schedule can help you feel accomplished throughout the application process. Procrastination can lead to stress and avoidable mistakes. A schedule is an easy way to avoid feeling overwhelmed while helping you stay focused on the present.

Universities are continuing to become more selective as the number of high school graduates and college applicants increases, in turn contributing to the rise of the mental health crisis among students. Although the competitiveness of college applications is increasing each year, students can prioritize their mental health during the application process by talking to friends and family, taking a break from social media, and creating a schedule. By following these tips, students can take their mental health into their own hands while acing the application process.

Citations

Bierer, Lee Shulman. “Why Is College Admission Getting More and More Competitive?” College Admissions Strategies, 10 Feb. 2021, collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/why-is-college-admission-getting-more-and-more-competitive/. 

ACT. “High  School Grade Inflation on Rise, Especially in Math.” ACT Newsroom and Blog, leadershipblog.act.org/2023/08/grade-inflation-math.html#:~:text=Grade%20inflation%20was%20highest%20in,on%20average%2C%20to%20B%2B).

Knox, Liam. “Colleges Release Some Acceptance Rates and Application Data.” Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs, www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/04/03/colleges-release-some-acceptance-rates-and-application. 

McLean, Leigh, and Roderick L Carey. “The Hidden Struggles: Nearly One-Third of High School Students Are Deciding against College Due to Mental Health: Media Expert Spotlight: University of Delaware.” The Hidden Struggles: Nearly One-Third of High School Students Are Deciding Against College Due to Mental Health | Media Expert Spotlight | University of Delaware, www.udel.edu/faculty-staff/media-experts/spotlight/?postid=9608.

Nietzel, Michael T. “College Applications for 2024 Show Strong Early Surge.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2023/11/27/applications-to-college-for-2024-show-strong-early-surge/#:~:text=Through%20that%20date%2C%20836%2C679%20distinct,by%20the%20Covid%2D19%20pandemic.

Picchi, Aimee. “Ivy League Acceptance Rates Drop to New Low. They’re Not Alone.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 1 Apr. 2022, www.cbsnews.com/news/ivy-league-acceptance-rates-harvard-yale-columbia-brown/. 

Stone, Matthew. “Why America Has a Youth Mental Health Crisis, and How Schools Can Help.” Education Week, Education Week, 24 Oct. 2023, www.edweek.org/leadership/why-america-has-a-youth-mental-health-crisis-and-how-schools-can-help/2023/10#:~:text=Ninety%2Dthree%20percent%20of%20school,social%20workers%2C%20health%20teachers%2C%20and.

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Taylor Solomon