What does that crazy change in Applicant : Seat ratio numbers mean?

By Joyce Szuflita
First to find each school’s Applicant:Seat ratios which can give an idea about how popular a school is.

This sounds more complicated than it is. It is super easy.
Go to the MY SCHOOLS directory.
Put the name of the school in the search bar.
When the school page comes up, go all the way to the bottom and you will see one or more programs that you can apply to. Open the link on the program name.
Under “Admissions” you will see “Seats and Demand Last year”. There will be a column for General Ed info and a column for “Students with Disabilities” (SWD).
The first number in bold, will be the “Applicant : Seat ratio”.

In previous years the numbers didn't move all that much from year to year, so these new numbers, which were very different, were a head scratcher! It seems the DoE is using different metrics.

In previous years, the DoE would take the gross number of students who applied and put the school anywhere on their application and divide by the number of seats available. Simple.
BUT THIS YEAR: The DoE took the total number of students who applied to the school anywhere on the application and if the student received a placement at a different school (that the student obviously preferred higher on their list) then that student was subtracted from the number - essentially fewer people applying.

THEN the DoE divided by the seats available. Voila, a lower number.

This is my interpretation:

So it seems that if a school trended down on student's lists, that the number of applicants would be lower (because more people preferred something higher on their list and they got it). For example, the lovely Essex St Academy had an App:Seat of 34:1 last year. This year it is 8:1. People liked it enough to put on their lists (as they should!), but not enough to always put it high.

A school that was popular and high on people's lists, may not have changed as much. An example of that could be Beacon. Last year they were 25:1. This year it is 17:1. Very popular, but not everyone puts it #1 and some people took other options.

What do you do with this information? It can still help you balance your list. With the old numbers (and it was always JUST a suggestion), I give parameters like :
If you have solid SHSAT practice scores or you are preparing a solid Portfolio or Audition, try not to have more than 6 programs on your list with 20:1 or higher Applicant : Seat ratio. If you are not doing those things (testing and audition): Try not to have more than 3 programs with 20:1 or higher. That suggestion HAS to change with new numbers. I am still thinking on it.

The DoE has always said that 10:1 is a “high demand” school. These numbers make that statement seem much more reasonable. Consider keeping those schools over 10:1 to a minimum.

Clear as mud?