Ryan Abramson’s Expert Caution: Why Proactive Engagement Is Crucial in the College Application Process

In today's highly competitive college admissions landscape, thousands of high school seniors are writing essays, submitting applications, and visiting campuses, all in hopes of finding the right fit. Yet behind the scenes, college admissions offices are not just hosting open houses—they’re focused on building incoming classes that meet their enrollment targets and maximize revenue to ensure their financial survival.

Colleges and Universities Are Big Business

While campuses may seem serene with beautiful buildings and well-maintained lawns, the reality is that colleges and universities operate like businesses, often on very tight budgets. While Ivy League institutions are known for their billion-dollar endowments, they are the exception. Most schools in the U.S. rely heavily on tuition revenue to break even. Add-ons like dining plans and on-campus housing fees have traditionally helped supplement income, but as facilities age and students demand better amenities, these revenue streams have become less reliable.

Josh Moody of Inside Higher Ed highlights the gravity of this issue: "Over the course of 2023, 14 nonprofit four-year colleges announced closures. Among them, 10 were religiously affiliated, and four were Catholic." The financial pressures are undeniable, and institutions are doing everything possible to secure their financial future.

How Are Colleges Trying to Maximize Revenue?

Ryan Abramson, Principal Consultant at Oakridge Leaders in Langhorne, PA recalls a story shared by the Dean of Enrollment from a top 20 national university that illustrates the lengths to which admissions offices go to predict and manage their enrollment. When asked if he could predict how many students would enroll each year, the Dean responded, "I can predict what street they live on." This revelation, shocking to many, is made possible by the advanced Constituent Management Software now widely used in college admissions.

Colleges today track much more than your academic records. They know when you visit campus, if you post about them on social media, whether you open their emails, log into their admissions portal, or respond to their surveys. According to Abramson, “If you want early acceptance or scholarship consideration, you'd better be checking your email and staying engaged.”

Technology and the New Era of College Applications

Thanks to decades of data and sophisticated algorithms, colleges can now predict, with surprising accuracy, which applicants will enroll, who will pay full tuition, and who is likely to stay for four years. These predictions go beyond simple numbers—they drill down to detailed patterns like the streets applicants live on or the likelihood of graduating. For applicants, this means that simply submitting an essay and visiting campus is no longer enough.

How Does This Impact Today's College Applicants?

According to Ryan Abramson of Oakridge Leaders, students must take a much more proactive approach to stand out in today's college application process. "Gone are the days of just sending an application and waiting for a decision. You need to show colleges that you're serious about attending," says Abramson. Admissions offices prioritize students they believe will accept an offer, so demonstrating interest can significantly influence your chances of getting in—and even securing scholarships or financial aid.

How to Show You’re Interested

It’s important to remember that colleges are tracking your engagement throughout the application process. While it might not be espionage-level surveillance, it’s close enough. Admissions offices monitor your social media activity, track whether you’ve opened their emails, and log how often you access your applicant portal. As Abramson advises, "If you want to stand out, make sure you're actively engaging with the school."

Essential actions like sending thank-you emails after campus visits, following up after interviews, and posting about your visit on social media are no longer optional—they are must-dos. Regularly logging into your applicant portal, checking emails, and responding to any opportunities to engage should become part of your weekly routine if you want to demonstrate your commitment to attending.

Ryan Abramson’s Key Takeaways

Ryan Abramson, through his work at Oakridge Leaders, emphasizes that the college application process, though simplified by the Common App, has become more complex due to the role of technology. To succeed, you must be an active participant, not a passive observer. Engaging with admissions offices, leveraging your online presence, and showing genuine interest in the school can greatly improve your chances of being accepted.

As Abramson puts it, "You have more tools than ever to demonstrate who you are and why you should be accepted. Use every opportunity available to show that you’re serious about attending."

For more than two decades, Ryan Abramson, Principal Consultant of Oakridge Leaders in Langhorne, PA, has guided high school seniors through the college search and application process. His expertise has helped countless students navigate the increasingly competitive admissions landscape.

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