🍦 Today's Scoops: College enrollment drops for first time since pandemic (Oct 25)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh: new resources!

2. School of the Day: University of Arizona

3. Friday News: Colleges enrolled fewer freshmen, the first decline since the pandemic

LINK LOUNGE
It’s Friday! New resources are here!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

(NEW) LaunchX - top entrepreneurship summer program (really competitive though)

(NEW) USACO - largest computing challenge in the USA (lots of prestige)

Audiofeud - Win great awards and recognition at the first music production competition for high school students (this weekend!)

Leangap - Become a startup founder before college

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of Arizona

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Tucson, AZ
🎓 Student Body: 42,075
📊 Acceptance Rate: 86%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1240/25
💸 Cost: $13,275 (In-state), $39,577 (Out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: Regular Decision (May 1)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Public Health (#68), Architecture (#80), Accounting and Finance (#108) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Business (15%), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (10%), Health Professions (9%) (US News)

Pros 🌞

🩺 BD/MD Program: The University of Arizona’s Bachelor’s/Doctor of Medicine Program (BD/MD) offers a streamlined path for aspiring medical students. Accepted undergrads receive a guaranteed spot in Arizona’s College of Medicine, allowing a focused transition from bachelor’s to medical degree!

📚 Strong in STEM and Research: UA is highly respected in fields like astronomy and optics, and its faculty are heavily involved in cutting-edge research, from space exploration to sustainability. Check out UArizona’s research initiatives for more.

🌎 World-Class Resources: The university is home to unique facilities like the Biosphere 2, a major research lab studying Earth’s ecosystems. Visiting this campus landmark is a must for prospective science and engineering students.

🏀 Active Campus Life: UA has a vibrant social scene and passionate sports culture, especially around Wildcat Basketball. With hundreds of clubs and a buzzing campus in Tucson, there’s always something happening.

🌌 Amazing Desert Location: Tucson has clear skies ideal for astronomy, so UA students interested in the field have special opportunities, especially with the Steward Observatory.

Some Negatives

☀️ Extreme Heat: Tucson’s summer temperatures can reach over 100°F, which can take some getting used to. UA’s guide for campus housing does recommend precautions to stay cool during peak heat months.

🚗 Limited Urban Center: Although Tucson is a nice size and offers some nightlife, it’s smaller than nearby Phoenix. Some students may feel limited in entertainment options compared to larger city schools.

💸 Out-of-State Tuition: Out-of-state students pay significantly more for tuition. If cost is a major factor, it’s worth exploring scholarships and financial aid, starting with UA’s scholarship portal.

📏 Large Campus: UA’s campus is large and spread out, which can mean a lot of walking in the desert heat. Thankfully, there’s a campus shuttle system to help students navigate more comfortably.

INFO ZONE
Upcoming Visits and Info Sessions

Duke Virtual Admissions Session - Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM

Caltech Virtual Coffee Chats - Thursday, October 23, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 4:45 PM

Columbia Engineering Student Q&A Chat - Friday, October 25, 2024 at 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM

UChicago First Things First: Young Alumni - Monday, October 28th at 4:00 unti 5:00pm CDT

FRIDAY NEWS
Colleges enrolled fewer freshmen, the first decline since the pandemic

This fall, college campuses saw fewer freshmen arriving, with a national freshman headcount down by 5 percent compared to last year. Surprisingly, despite this drop, total undergraduate enrollment grew by 3 percent, marking a second consecutive year of growth fueled by returning students and high schoolers taking college courses early. Although these numbers still lag behind pre-pandemic figures, the growth in overall undergraduate numbers is a positive signal. However, the freshman dip has experts wondering if recent events like the end of affirmative action and FAFSA complications have discouraged new students from attending college. Still, it’s difficult to attribute the drop to any single cause.

The enrollment data hints that some students are reconsidering their options due to financial strain. Freshman enrollment rose by 1.2 percent at community colleges, which tend to serve many students with Pell Grants, while similar students at four-year colleges saw enrollment fall by over 10 percent. The data may suggest that some students are choosing less costly community college routes over four-year institutions, possibly due to ongoing concerns over college expenses and financial aid hurdles. Additionally, White students had the biggest drop in freshman enrollment (down 11.4 percent), with Black and multiracial students also seeing declines. Middle-income students seem especially affected, as shown by decreased freshman numbers at four-year public and nonprofit private schools.

Interestingly, despite early glitches with the FAFSA rollout, the Education Department reports that 3 percent more students are on track to receive federal aid, including a 10 percent increase in Pell Grant recipients. The overall trend seems to be that more students might be eligible for aid, even if fewer freshmen are attending this fall. The Department of Education expects more students to use federal financial aid to enroll this year compared to last, and final freshman numbers—coming in January—may look slightly better than preliminary counts. Trends also show enrollment growth for Latino, Black, Asian, and multiracial students and a continued rise in shorter-term certificate programs, reflecting a shift toward flexible education options that fit students’ changing needs.

Read the full article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/10/23/freshman-college-enrollment-decline/

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Early deadlines are almost here! Might be time to start submitting…

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1
November SAT: November 2

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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