1 For many high school juniors, the college admission process can be extremely overwhelming. Media reports often focus on the competitive nature of college admission, explaining how only the best and brightest students make an impression on college admission counselors. Lengthy applications and standardized tests are scary enough. Students don’t need the extra worry that their applications won’t get a second glance.
2 However, top schools are adopting stricter admission standards all the time. For the 2010-2011 school year, Harvard University accepted only 6.9 percent of all applicants, a new low for the Ivy League school. Yale University was not much better. Its acceptance rate was 7.5 percent for the second year in a row. Even public colleges are becoming more competitive. The University of California, Berkeley accepted only 10,700 students out of 50,000 applicants.
3 According to some experts, these numbers don’t tell the whole story. Students should know that things are not as bleak as they might appear.
4 USA Today recently reported on a survey conducted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In a survey of four-year colleges that accepted more than 1,000 students, the NACAC found that only 2.6 percent of the schools accepted fewer than 25 percent of their applicants. About 82.5 percent of these schools accept more than half of all applicants.
5 Take St. Olaf College, for example. This small liberal arts college south of Minneapolis, Minnesota, prides itself on a low teacher-student ratio and state-of-the-art facilities. Its academic program offers majors in thirty-nine disciplines. The institution often makes U.S. News & World Report’s list of top colleges. Yet, its acceptance rate of 57 percent is much higher than the most selective colleges in the country.
6 Students interested in larger institutions should consider Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Known for its science, engineering, and agriculture programs, this university boasts an undergraduate population of more than 21,000 students and a student-faculty ratio of nineteen to one. The school often ranks among the top fifty public universities and engineering schools in the United States. With an acceptance rate of 87 percent, Iowa can be an excellent option for many considering higher education.
7 What does this mean for juniors starting the college admission process? Simply put, don’t worry. There are many post-secondary institutions looking for intelligent, hardworking high school graduates who make positive contributions to their communities. While these colleges may not have the same reputations as illustrious institutions such as Harvard, they are well-respected places of higher education. These schools can offer a meaningful educational experience and exceptional preparation for the professional world.
Which paragraph introduces the idea that a "shift" or alternative perspective will be discussed?
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