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davidlerner.com > College Planning  > College Trends in 2021

College Trends in 2021

The past two years have disrupted our way of life and we have entered a whole new world when it comes to education and college. The Pandemic has seen businesses and colleges shut and students were not able to attend schools. As we roll on through 2021 we have seen a shift in college applications. The entire college experience is different from what it used to be because protocols have had to be put in place to safeguard staff and students alike.

The potential for rapid transmission in a contained environment on campus meant that schools had to implement a face mask requirement for classroom settings. It is the first time anyone in the United States has been forced to wear a face-covering in schools. It would have been unthinkable to wear a covering over your face to walk into a school or a bank or a grocery store a year and a half ago, and yet now it is the norm.

It isn’t just classrooms that had to enforce a face mask rule. Other indoor common spaces where folks congregate like food halls where young Americans are put together in an enclosed space or sports facilities had to be rethought and rules put in place. Crowds of any kind had to be reduced or eliminated entirely.

Davidson College initiative tracking data shows that in September 2020 close to 96 percent of universities were not teaching in-person classes. Most colleges used technology to shift to teaching as much as possible online.

Not surprisingly, we have seen a rise in college admission this year compared to last year. In fact, selective schools have been inundated with new applications. By March 1 of this year, more young folks that were the first in their family to ever go to college applied to big, selective schools. Selective college applications are way up across the board.

Nearly all colleges are selective in their own way. Your grades and whether you are out of state may affect your application. The fact is that while many are slightly selective there are a few that are the big dogs on the block and they decide who attends their illustrious higher education campuses. It is a small group of exclusive colleges but these selective schools admit less than a third of those that apply.

It is interesting to note that while more people from diverse backgrounds applied this year compared to other years, international registrations are up as well. 24 percent more African American, Latin, Native American or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander students applied compared to last year. The Pandemic created havoc but it seems that higher education is now on the rise and the future hopefully looks brighter than ever.
 

 

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Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.

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Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC

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