While college admissions typically bring to mind essay writing, SAT scores and extracurriculars, a new trend has emerged in higher education—direct admissions, with high school students now being able to get accepted to college without ever truly applying.
Why It Matters
As many colleges experience a major drop in enrollment each year, direct admissions are a way to keep student numbers higher by offering one major appeal—instant acceptance.
The college enrollment crisis has many contributing factors. For one, birth rates have declined, leading to fewer students in college across the country. A surge in Gen Z Americans looking into the trades has also prompted a departure for many that might have attended a four-year university otherwise.
What To Know
Several schools have opted for direct admissions in recent years including San Francisco State University (SFSU), which has lost around 6,000 students since 2020, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. That’s roughly a quarter of the college’s undergraduates.
Under SFSU’s new rules, every high school senior in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) will automatically be contacted with an acceptance letter. They will also receive information about financial aid and attending college more generally to boost their chances of attendance…