The Northeastern SEC Obsession — How to Manage Trends in the Shifting Admissions Landscape

Axios recently published an article by April Rubin and Thomas Oide that explores the "why" behind SEC schools' recent surge in popularity with students hailing from the Northeast. The graphic below shows the shift over the last nine years. The article's opening line states, "Warm weather, affordability, and politics have prompted a teenage migration from the Northeast to the South." 

Whether this trend will continue remains to be seen, but understanding the trends can help you manage the college search and admissions process with your student. 

The trend of qualified Northeast students applying Southeast schools is making the pool of applicants much deeper. Institutions that ten years ago I would have indicated as "Likely" or "Profile" schools have shifted into the "Profile/Reach" category for many students. And, even when a student meets every marker of GPA, rigor, test scores, and has a strong extracurricular activities roster, as an out-of-state student, the schools can only take so many students. 

I recently had a check-in meeting with a client. The student received three notable acceptances and one rejection, all from the SEC. The one rejection was a blow, making it difficult for the student to see the merits of the other acceptances. This fixation on, or what I call "Coronating" a school, is a pitfall you need to help your student avoid throughout the process. 

What are the key takeaways for your student's college search?

• Start with your student and consider the learning environment in which they will thrive. 
• Trends are trends, and lower acceptance rates do not directly correlate with the quality of the education or the guarantee of success post-college. Rather, rates are explicitly tied to how popular that institution is in a given moment. Have you noticed that bell-bottoms are back in style? 
• Whatever you do, do not CORONATE a school. Check out this previous post.
  
• Build a balanced list of 10–12 schools and recognize that each school is on that list for a reason.

Finally, remember that your student will play the most significant and formative role in their educational experience. Whether they are cheering on the Vols, Gators, or have mastered the Hook-em-Horns hand signal, they will most likely embrace their tribe.