Texas private schools

[LA_Mustang]

I was at B&N and picked up one those "Best Colleges" publications. We always hear how success in athletics will result in an increases a school's # of applicants. It's interesting to compare SMU, TCU and Baylor.

Baylor # of apps - 33,898
TCU # of apps - 17,029
SMU # of apps - 11,817

Others....
Rice # of apps - 17,728
Tulane # of apps - 28,901

I'd like to see how TCU and Baylor's numbers were five to seven years ago. I just thought it was interesting to see how many more applicants our "peer schools" in the region get compared to us.

[PonyKai]

Seem to recall an informed individual posting here that, at least for a period of time, TCU counted applications that were started but never finished and submitted, thus greatly inflating their numbers. I don't recall if they stopped, or how long they did it, but I do recall some media outlet calling them on it. Don't know if the rest of the schools listed there do or don't.

My first question is does Tulane really get 17 thousand more applications per year than SMU? Wow. That's unexpected.

[LA_Mustang]

In Tulane's description it mentioned they get a lot of apps from the northeast. Supposedly, it has a rep for being much more liberal and free thinking than most privates in the South.

[PonyKai]

Yeah.

[stc9]

Don't disagree, just, man they more than DOUBLE SMU's applications? I know it's a good school, and I know New Orleans has a lot of appeal. Just, that seems like a huge discrepancy.

Tulane has actively recruited kids in the Northeast since the '80s. They showed up to my HS to speak with the guidance counselors every year and speak/interview students. They also accepted the common app, so it cost another $20 or $25 to send the application. I never considered SMU until the middle of my senior year and that came from my Mom who often traveled to Dallas on business. Unlike Tulane, SMU just wasn't on my HS's radar.

Now that I live in FLA, I know SMU is very active in recruiting the Jacksonville area.

[friarwolf]

Last year was over 14,000 for us, this year, too

[gostangs]

Tulane announces incomplete applications as does TCU and Baylor. Also it should be noted application per available spot is pretty similar, and ours are complete applications.

All that said, I am sure great sports increases applications

[FroggieFever]

Tulane announces incomplete applications as does TCU and Baylor. Also it should be noted application per available spot is pretty similar, and ours are complete applications.

All that said, I am sure great sports increases applications

Partially true. Partially false.

Baylor reports incomplete applications as "applications," TCU does not. In fact, TCU is the only private institution in the state of Texas who has an independent third-party (PwC) vet the books. TCU's Dean of Admission has publicly offered Baylor's Admission's office to do the same (and TCU Admission pay for it), but it repeatedly goes ignored. Ask any Admission office outside of Waco and they'll point the "cooking of books" to Baylor.

TCU and SMU play by the rules.

[LA_Mustang]

TCU and SMU play by the rules.

First time we've been accused of that.

[Hoop Fan]

Not sure what the applications numbers really mean, but If you have high school age kids, you know that tcu is still a 'backup' academic option in the state. Known as a fun school and decent option for sure, but usually the kids going there either were not gpa hounds, or did not do that great on the standardized tests. Lots of good kids go to tcu, just saying that's the status today. Bet their stats are on the rise though and lots of upside as a school. Baylor is just Baylor.

[LA_Mustang]

Here are a few more important stats:

Acceptance rate:
Rice - 15%
Tulane - 28%
TCU - 49%
SMU - 52%
Baylor - 55%

SAT Math:
Rice - 710-790
SMU - 620-710
Tulane - 620-700
Baylor - 570-670
TCU - 550-650

SAT CR:
Rice - 680-760
Tulane - 610-710
SMU - 600-690
Baylor - 560-660
TCU - 530-630

grad top 10%:
Rice - 88%
Tulane - 56%
SMU - 46%
TCU - 42%
Baylor - 39%

[footballdad]

Wonder if the Rice folks talk about SMU, the way the SMU folks talk about TCU?

[mustangxc]

Wonder if the Rice folks talk about SMU, the way the SMU folks talk about TCU?

I doubt it as I don't think they see us as a peer institution. They focus on Stanford, etc.

[Pony Boss]

Wonder if the Rice folks talk about SMU, the way the SMU folks talk about TCU?

I doubt it as I don't think they see us as a peer institution. They focus on Stanford, etc.

And you answer footballtrolls posts

[LA_Mustang]

And you answer footballtrolls posts

May not always agree with what football dad posts, but he often makes good points. I find it funny that you start a thread about Trump on the football board then call someone else a troll.