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How School Students Can Impact the Future of Education

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Students, especially those in high school, have the power to influence and shape the future of education in a variety of ways.

With the number of high school students in the United States estimated to reach more than 17 million in 2023, as per Statista, the future of education is in the hands of the younger generation. From advocating for changes in their own schools and communities to embracing new learning opportunities and technologies, there are many ways in which students can have a positive impact on the future of education.

Let’s explore some of the ways in which high school students can make a difference and contribute to a brighter future for education.

Advocate for Changes in Your School 

Advocating for changes in their schools and communities is one of the most effective ways that high school students can impact the future of education. Students can identify areas where improvements are needed, such as curriculum changes, increased resources, or better facilities.  

One recent example of student advocacy for change in education is the movement for ethnic studies in high schools. Assembly Bill 101, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2021, mandates that high school students in California must take one semester of ethnic studies as a graduation requirement.

California is the first state to require this type of course, and schools must offer them starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This law applies to students in the class of 2030. By advocating for changes like this, high school students made a significant impact in their own schools and communities. In this case, they identified areas where they believed improvements were needed and pushed for changes.

Students can also support extensive changes in educational policies, be it at the regional, state, or national levels. This can involve lobbying elected officials, participating in rallies and protests, or working with advocacy organizations that focus on education issues.

Advocating for changes in schools and communities can be a powerful way for high school students to impact the future of education. By speaking out and taking action, students can help create a more inclusive, equitable, and effective education system that benefits everyone.

Develop Skills and Mindsets for Lifelong Learning and Adaptability

One of the most important ways that high school students can impact the future of education is by developing skills and mindsets for lifelong learning and adaptability. By developing these skills and mindsets, students will be better prepared for success in the future.

One way that students can develop these skills is by participating in extracurricular activities and pursuing their passions outside of the classroom. This can include activities like volunteering, internships, and part-time jobs. By taking on these challenges and learning new skills, students can develop a growth mindset and become more resilient.

Another way that students can develop lifelong learning and adaptability is by pursuing advanced degrees like a master’s or doctorate in higher education. This type of education can provide students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of educational systems and policy. 

The best part is both a master’s and a doctorate in higher education degrees can be pursued in online mode. The flexibility and convenience of pursuing a master’s or doctorate in higher education online is a significant advantage for students who have other commitments, such as work or family responsibilities. 

Another benefit of pursuing a master’s and a doctorate in higher education online degree is the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of students and professors from around the world. Online programs can attract students from different geographic locations and backgrounds, providing a rich and diverse learning experience that can broaden a student’s perspective on education.

Pursuing a doctorate in higher education online is an excellent way for students to gain advanced knowledge and skills in the field of education. However, there are certain criteria that students need to fulfill to qualify for such programs.

According to a recent blog by Rockhurst University, students who wish to pursue a doctorate in higher education online must have a master’s degree in any field or have completed at least 33 graduate credits. Also, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and provide two professional letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a research statement, etc. 

Embrace Technology and New Learning Opportunities

In today’s world, technology plays a vital role in shaping the future of education. Students who embrace technology and new learning opportunities have a significant advantage over those who do not.

One way that students can embrace technology is by using online learning resources. There are countless online platforms and resources available that can help students learn new skills and gain knowledge in different subjects. Many of these resources are free and can be accessed from anywhere, making them an excellent option for students who are unable to attend traditional classes.

Another way that students can embrace technology is by using educational apps. There are numerous apps available that can help students learn and study more efficiently, from flashcard apps to grammar checkers to math problem solvers. These apps are designed to be user-friendly and accessible, making them an excellent resource for students of all ages and skill levels.

Students can use technology to connect with other students and educators from around the world. Social media platforms and online forums allow students to engage in discussions and collaborate on projects with others who share similar interests and goals. This type of collaboration can lead to new ideas and perspectives, ultimately benefiting the future of education.

A report showed that a majority of K-12 teachers and administrators, about 78%, feel that technology has had a positive impact on students’ productivity in the classroom. Also, nearly 65% of educators surveyed believe that students are more productive today than they were three years ago due to the increased use of technology in education. 

These figures are a clear indicator of the fact technology is positively impacting students’ learning outcomes and can serve as a driver for change in the future.

Foster Collaboration and Dialogue With Teachers and Peers

Effective collaboration and open dialogue between teachers and students can play a significant role in improving the future of education. When students work closely with their teachers, they can provide valuable insights and feedback on what is working well in the classroom and what can be improved.

Similarly, peer-to-peer collaboration and dialogue can help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter, build strong relationships with their classmates, and gain valuable insights into different perspectives.

To foster collaboration and dialogue, students should feel encouraged to ask questions, participate in classroom discussions, and provide feedback to their teachers. Teachers should be willing to receive feedback, open-minded to ideas, and adaptable to modify their teaching approaches to suit the learning requirements of their students.

Collaboration and dialogue can also extend beyond the classroom. Students can form study groups or clubs to discuss topics of interest or work on projects together. Teachers can also facilitate online discussions or use social media platforms to encourage dialogue and collaboration among students. 

Encouraging communication and dialogue among students and teachers can also have a beneficial effect on the mental health of students. When students have close relationships with their classmates and teachers, they tend to feel more confident, involved, and inspired. This can lead to improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and a more positive outlook on the future.

A recent study by RAND and the Department of Education has found that blended learning, which combines traditional teaching methods with educational technology, can lead to an 8% improvement in student performance. This underscores the importance of collaboration and dialogue between teachers and students, as well as the use of technology in the classroom. 

By working together and utilizing technology, teachers and students can create a more engaging and effective learning environment.

Conclusion

The impact of school students on the future of education is immense. By taking these steps, students can contribute to creating a more effective and equitable education system that prepares future generations for success in a rapidly changing world.

Students need to understand their own power and actively work towards positively improving education. With their passion, dedication, and creativity, they can be the catalysts for change that will shape the future of education for years to come.

Regular Decision at Emory University becomes more selective

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Emory University’s campus.

Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, has become more selective to get into when applying Regular Decision.

While approximately 78%, of admission offers at Emory are made Regular Decision and roughly 22% of offers are extended to Early Decision applicants, that doesn’t mean an applicant’s statistical odds of getting into Emory Regular Decision are better than getting in Early Decision. The university, which accepts first-year applicants into two colleges – Emory College and Oxford College, has shared that in 2023 Emory College’s Regular Decision acceptance rate was 8.4% and Oxford College’s Regular Decision acceptance rate was 15.1% whereas Emory’s overall Early Decision I acceptance rate earlier in the 2022-2023 admissions cycle was roughly 37%. Last year (2022), Emory accepted 9% of students who applied Regular Decision.

2023-2024 Regular Decision (RD) Applicant Pool

Emory College Oxford College
RD Applicants 29,330 18,612
RD Admits 2,463 2,815
Offered Spot on Wait List 5,663
(plus additional 199 placed on wait list from ED II)		 2,991
(plus additional 37 placed on wait list from ED II)

Regular Decision Admitted Class Composition

Emory College
RD Class		 Oxford College
RD Class
Mean Recalculated GPA 3.92 3.90
25-75th Percentile Max Testing (of students who opted to share their SAT or ACT scores with us) 1470-1560 1470-1550
% Admitted Without SAT/ACT 36% 33%
# of States Represented 50 plus DC, PR, VI, Mariana Islands, and Guam 49 plus DC, PR, and Guam
# of Non-US Citizenships 71 58

Of course, final acceptance rates are contingent on what action occurs on Emory’s waitlist.

Interestingly, only roughly one third of those accepted to both Emory College and Oxford College Regular Decision did not submit ACT or SAT scores. These numbers were a bit lower than numbers released earlier this cycle when 38% of the admitted Emory College Early Decision class and 41% of the Early Decision class admitted to Oxford College applied without an ACT or SAT score.

For Regular Decision at Emory College, nearly 22% of domestic admits would be the first generation in their family to graduate from college. The most represented high school states in the admitted RD class are Georgia, California, New York, Texas, and Florida respectively and the most represented high school countries in the admitted RD class are India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Singapore respectively. Approximately 9% of the Emory College RD admitted class are from rural or small town communities across the United States.

For Regular Decision at Oxford College, approximately 16% of domestic admits would be the first generation in their family to graduate from college. The most represented high school states in the admitted RD class, in order, are California, Georgia, New York, Texas, and Florida. The most represented high school countries in the admitted RD class, in order, are India, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom and China. Finally, as was the case with Emory College, approximately 9% of the Oxford College RD admitted class are from rural or small town communities across the United States.

Ultimately, the university is aiming to enroll 1,420 students at Emory College and 525 students (up from 450 last year) at Oxford College this fall.

Emory will remain test-optional for first-year and transfer applicants during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.

Brown’s Regular Decision Acceptance Rate Now 3.8%

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Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Brown University’s Regular Decision admission decisions will be posted on Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, and, as in previous years, most students will not be thrilled by the decision they receive.

According to Logan Powell, Brown’s Dean of Admission, Brown received 51,302 applications for the Class of 2027, which represents a 1% increase over last year and makes the Class of 2027 applicant pool the largest in the university’s history. Brown will make 1,730 Regular Decision offers of admission to the incoming Class of 2027 in addition to the 879 Early Decision admission offers made in December. The overall acceptance rate for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle was 5%, the Regular Decision acceptance rate was 3.8%, and the Early Decision acceptance rate was 13%.

A total of 18% of accepted students represent the first generation in their family to attend college, and this year’s admitted students come from 90 countries, all 50 American states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The top countries represented outside the United States are China, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and South Korea.

Of the 4,192 applicants to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), 74 students were admitted with a 2% acceptance rate. Of the 916 applicants to the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program, 20 students were admitted, also with a 2% acceptance rate.

If spaces in Brown’s entering class are available after the May 1 reply by date, Brown will make additional admission offers to students on its waitlist; yet, all spaces in the Program in Liberal Medical Education have been filled. The number of students admitted from the waitlist will depend on how many students accept Brown’s admission offers by May 1. In recent years, the number of waitlist spaces available in Brown’s incoming class has ranged from 15 to 120. Waitlist activity will conclude by mid-summer, and more information on the waitlist is available here.

Meanwhile, Brown will host two admitted student programs on campus for the Class of 2027. A Day on College Hill (ADOCH) will take place on April 14 and 21 for students who are able to visit Providence in person. Brown will also continue to support its admitted students with a variety of virtual programming that provides opportunities to explore, learn, ask questions and connect to Brown’s campus while showcasing Brown’s vibrant community.

NYU First Year Applications Spike 13%

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With its rapidly rising application numbers and rapidly dropping acceptance rate, New York University (NYU) is starting to live up to the classic lyric from the Frank Sinatra standard, “New York, New York:” “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.”

NYU’s notable application growth from first year applicants has led to the private New York City-based university receiving a startling 98,000 Regular Decision applications during the 2022-2023 admissions cycle. All in all, NYU received nearly 120,000 applications for its Class of 2027, which represents an increase of 13% from last year. In fact, NYU saw increases across all of its campuses and all of its schools in New York. NYU also has major campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

The increased number of applications, combined with consistently growing yield rates over the past few years, has made for an incredibly competitive admission cycle that will lead to an overall acceptance rate “a number of percentage points lower than last year” according to Jonathan B. Williams, NYU’s Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions.

Last year, (the 2021-2022 admissions cycle), NYU received 105,000 first year applications and had an overall acceptance rate of 12.2%. This means once it’s finalized, NYU’s overall acceptance rate will now be in or quite close to the single digits. As recently as the 2016-2017 admissions cycle, NYU was accepting over 20% of all applicants; that cycle NYU only received 67,000 applications.


Regular Decision applicants will receive one of several different decisions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 depending on the options selected on their applications:

Admitted Students
In the vast majority of cases, students who are admitted receive an offer of admission to their first-choice campus and school. Students not admitted to their first choice are then considered for admission to an alternate choice school or campus. Students will receive only one decision from NYU, and no students are admitted to any campus, program, or major that they did not explicitly indicate interest in on their application.

Waitlisted Students
With such an incredibly competitive applicant pool, NYU’s Undergraduate Admissions team needed to make difficult decisions about students who presented very competitive applications. Students offered a place on NYU’s waitlist will be required to confirm that they wish to continue to be considered for admission should space become available. Typically, NYU does not review its waitlist until after May 1.

Waitlisted students may be admitted to begin in Fall 2023 or admitted to programs with Spring 2024 start options, specifically: Liberal Studies Core and select majors within the School of Professional Studies, Tandon School of Engineering, and the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

According to Williams, NYU’s waitlist comprises less than 15% of its applicant pool, and it is not ranked. Waitlisted applicants should not send any additional information beyond what is requested on the waitlist response form.

Denied Students
While rejection is hard, at least it may be a bit easier knowing that nine out of ten NYU applicants are meeting the same fate. Hopefully such applicants had some safety options on their college lists.

Boston University’s Overall Acceptance Rate Drops to 10.7%

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Boston University (BU) will be notifying Regular Decisions applicants tomorrow, Saturday, March 25, 2023.

According to Kelly A. Walter, BU’s Associate Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admissions, “It has been the single most challenging admissions cycle of my career given that we received 80,492 applications for just 3,100 seats in our first-year class…we had to make some extraordinarily difficult decisions about who was admitted to the class.”

BU’s overall acceptance rate during the 2022-2023 admissions cycle fell to just 10.7%. Last year, BU got a similar number of applicants but accepted roughly 14% of them.

Walter added that, “since we have been significantly overenrolled for each of the past two years, it was absolutely critical for us to plan for yet another increase in yield. As a result, we had no choice but to significantly decrease the number of students to whom we offered admission.”

BU’s Early Decision acceptance rate was roughly 25% this cycle.

Northwestern Releases Regular Decisions, Class of 2027 Statistics

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Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, finalized is Regular Decision selection process and notified applicants of their decisions today, Friday, March 24.

Overall, Northwestern reviewed over 52,000 first-year applications from over 10,000 high schools around the world for a class that will ultimately only include roughly 2,100 students, according to Liz Kinsley, Northwestern’s Associate Dean & Director, Undergraduate Admission. Last year Northwestern reviewed 51,554 applications.

Northwestern previously admitted about half of its incoming Class of 2027 through Early Decision, and the university’s overall admit rate will stay roughly 7%. Northwestern’s Fall 2022 ED applicant pool grew by 3.5% to just over 5,200 applicants. This means that Northwestern’s Early Decision acceptance rate now hovers around 20%. In addition to growth in volume, Northwestern saw growth in the number of secondary schools represented in its ED pool of applicants: the number of schools represented by ED applicants was up 22% overall with a 25% increase in U.S. public schools represented.

Students admitted Regular Decision have until May 1 to accept their offer. Official steps toward enrolling in the Class of 2027 are outlined on Northwestern’s Admitted Student Website and will also be mailed with an admit packet.

For applicants offered a place on Northwestern’s waitlist, the deadline to accept a waitlist offer is May 1. Students who accept a waitlist spot before April 15 will be asked to reconfirm their interest in the waitlist on that date; the university will reach out via email with reconfirmation steps. Northwestern’s waitlist is unranked, and waitlisted students are welcome to write the admissions office if they’re still particularly interested in Northwestern. Additional materials should be uploaded via the applicant portal or emailed.

In other news, high school students in the Class of 2024 should know that Northwestern has confirmed that it will remain test-optional for the 2023–2024 admissions cycle.

Northwestern University’s campus in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

USC First-Year Applications Up 17%

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University of Southern California received nearly 81,000 applications for first-year admission during the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, which is a 17% increase over last year. This comes after USC introduced Early Action as an application plan last summer.

Meanwhile, USC will make Regular Decision notifications later today, Friday, March 24. According to Kirk Brennan, USC’s Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Admission, “In hopes of minimizing disruption of school days around the globe, our release is scheduled for the late afternoon Pacific time. Students should wait for our email stating the status is available before visiting the USC applicant portal.”

Ultimately, the university will accept around 8,000 first-year applicants for fall 2023 admission, which includes the 2,470 admitted through Early Action. Though this total is only slightly smaller than last year, with the increased application numbers, the competition for limited space was noticeably higher. USC will post final enrollment statistics later this year.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 25, USC will email approximately 1,000 admitted students results of their merit scholarship application.

USC does not use a waiting list. Instead, it offers a smaller group of students (roughly 1,200 this year) admission to the spring term, which begins in January 2024. If after May 1 USC has room in its fall class, it will invite some spring admits to change their term to fall. All students who submit their spring Intent to Enroll form by May 1 will be considered for any available space. Students in this situation are asked to refrain from sending any other documents to be considered for fall.

In other news, the LA-based research university announced earlier this month that it will now have a new campus in Washington, DC.

Rice admissions decisions released March 27

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The wait is almost over for high school seniors who applied Regular Decision to Rice University in Houston, Texas.

Rice will release admission, scholarship, and financial aid decisions for each Regular Decision applicant in his or her Rice Admission Student Portal on Monday, March 27 after 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Dr. Yvonne M. Romero da Silva, Rice’s Vice President for Enrollment, encourages every Regular Decisions applicant to log in to their portal ahead of Monday’s release to ensure ease of access, and if a student should have any problem logging in, he or she should contact the admissions office at [email protected] for assistance.

Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 1912 and has since become known for its strong focus on undergraduate education, innovative research, and world-class faculty. With an undergraduate enrollment of around 4,250 students, Rice University is a small, tight-knit community that offers a highly personalized educational experience. The university has consistently been ranked among the top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report and is known for its excellent programs in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

The university’s campus spans 300 acres and features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including some designed by renowned architects such as Michael Graves and Philip Johnson. In addition to its academic programs, Rice University is home to a variety of research centers and institutes, including the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology. The university is also home to numerous cultural and recreational facilities, such as the Moody Center for the Arts, the Rice Media Center, and the Rice University Art Gallery.

Good luck to those who’ve applied to Rice’s Class of 2027.

WashU Receives Fewer Applications, Releases Regular Decisions March 23

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Washington University in St. Louis will release admission decisions for Regular Decision applicants in the late afternoon on March 23, 2023. The university will notify students via email on March 23 when decisions have been posted to the WashU Pathway.

This news comes as Ronné P. Turner, Washington University’s Vice Provost of Admissions & Financial Aid, shared that the selective private St. Louis university received over 32,000 applications from “wonderful young people around the globe” this admissions cycle. WashU received 33,214 applications last year for its Class of 2026.

Waitlisted students have until April 15 to respond affirming that they would like to remain on the waitlist, and they can do so by submitting a form through their WashU Pathway. A waitlisted student is also welcome, though not required, to submit updates he or she feels may help the WashU admissions team better understand the student’s application, and again, this can be accomplished via the Application Updates form in the WashU Pathway.

Turner added, “Our selection process is guided by a diverse committee of admissions professionals in an effort to ensure that, together, our five academic divisions create a community that is welcoming, nurturing, and intellectually rigorous.”

Overall, as of this time, for its Class of 2027, WashU admitted 3,644 students as follows: 2,401 students to its College of Arts & Sciences, 364 to the Olin Business School, 236 to the Sam Fox School (101 for Architecture and 135 for Art), 636 to its McKelvey School of Engineering, and 27 to its Beyond Boundaries Program. As a result, WashU’s overall admit rate for the 2022-2023 remains at at roughly 11%.

Admitted students will have access to WashU’s Admitted Student Portal once decisions are released. This portal will be their primary source for information about on-campus visits and virtual opportunities to engage with our admissions team and community. Students have until May 1 to submit their acceptance forms and enrollment deposits via the Pathway.

Meanwhile, students who applied for financial assistance can view their offer in the WashU Pathway. In addition, admitted students will receive more information about housing in mid-April and orientation in May.

Amherst College Accepts 9% of Applicants to Class of 2027

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Octagon Observatory at Amherst College

Amherst College will release its Regular Decision admissions notifications to applicants on Friday, March 17, at 6:21 p.m. US Eastern Time (corresponding to 18:21 on the twenty-four-hour clock in order to pay homage to 1821, the year of Amherst’s founding). These decisions will be posted on the applicant’s online Application Status Portal. Earlier this week, applicants received an email alerting them to the date, time, and manner of the decision release. Decisions options include Admit, Wait List or Deny.

The Regular Decisions notifications come as Cate Granger Zolkos, Amherst College’s Dean of Admission, also shared news about its overall Class of 2027, members of whom will begin their studies at the selective liberal arts college late this summer.

Overall, Amherst received more than 12,700 applications for first-year entry and it admitted only 9% of these applications. Admitted students hail from 54 countries around the world, 49 U.S. states, and Washington, DC.

Meanwhile, 38% of Amherst’s admitted students opted to not have their test scores considered as part of their application.

During the previous admissions cycle, that which took place during the 2021-2022 school year, Amherst received a record 14,800 applications and posted a 7% acceptance rate.

Those Students admitted Regular Decisions this cycle will find information on their Application Status Portals about Amherst’s Be A Mammoth program, a series of opportunities to engage with the Amherst College community and other admitted students, and receive instructions on responding to an offer of admission by the college’s May 1 response deadline.

Those applicants receiving a decision of Wait List will be given the option of electing to remain active on the wait list or declining that offer by submitting Amherst’s Wait List Response Form, found on their Application Status Portal. Students who have been denied admission will receive a message of Amherst’s deep appreciation for their interest in Amherst and the considerable time and effort they devoted to the preparation of their application for review.

Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The college has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 2,000 students, and its campus covers 1,000 acres.

Academically, Amherst is known for its strong emphasis on undergraduate education and its commitment to intellectual inquiry. The college offers more than 850 courses across 38 departments, and all students are required to complete a senior thesis or project. Amherst has a student-faculty ratio of 7:1, and the average class size is around 16 students. The college is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which allows students to take courses at four other colleges in the area.

Amherst is also known for its diverse student body and its commitment to inclusion and equity. The college has a need-blind admission policy and meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students. In recent years, Amherst has made a concerted effort to increase the diversity of its student body and faculty. The college’s teams compete in the NCAA Division III.