College Acceptance Rates

As March or April of the new year comes around, the warming weather is often accompanied by something much livelier than blooming fl ora: college decisions. However, this liveliness doesn’t account for positivity only. While many cry of happiness at being accepted into their dream school, many also shed tears of disappointment and sorrow from harsh rejection letters. 2022 has been no exception, with college acceptance rates across the nation plummeting to record low levels. Schools that once sat in the 20%-30% range now boast acceptance rates less than 10%. The infamous Ivy League schools now have a RD acceptance average less than 5.375%, with Cornell University leading the top at 8.3%. So why have acceptance rates in 2022 fl uctuated so much? Much of the answer actually lies in the previous year’s graduating class, the Class of 2021. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, many students of the previous class were unable to participate in enough extracurriculars to make up a polished resume. With academic clubs closing and com-

munity events canceling, 2021 saw a dramatic decrease in live volunteer opportunities. As a result, many students of the previous year took a gap year, and resumed their college application process with the Class of 2022. Not only did this raise the competition between individual students, but colleges also received record high application numbers. After the 2022 regular decision round ended in late March, UCLA saw a 10% increase in its fi rst-year applicants, tallying up to a total of 150,000 applicants. New York University breached 100,000 applicants for the fi rst time, displaying a 5% increase to a total of 105,000 applicants. This infl ux in applications has caused additional competition in specifi c majors of a college; while U.C Schools that once Berkeley had an oversat in the 20-30% all acceptance rate of 17%, the acceptance range now boast rate of its computer acceptance rates of science major was a mere 8.5%. less than 10%. To add to the ambiguity of college decisions in 2022, SAT scores have continued to remain optional for most colleges. On one hand, submitting a college application and a SAT score could lead to a more critical review of a single application. On the other, it could be a positive attribute if everything else on the application is competitive and strong. 2022 showed a record low in acceptance rates. What does this mean for the current graduating class and future ones? Photo by Canva.com Even when qualifi ed students apply to less competitive schools, they might end up being rejected because of a policy called yield protection. While no college actively admits to this, admission panels will reject or place an applicant on the waiting list if the student is “overqualifi ed” for their school. Thus as application numbers increased, yield protection similarly increased for many schools. This increase in applications can also be attributed to a new wave of international students vying for a spot. After President Joe Biden stepped into offi ce in 2020, a more relaxed foreign immigration policy has allowed increased opportunities for international students to pursue higher education in the U.S. According to the Common Application site, there was approximately a 34% increase in international applications since 2020. The effects of Covid-19 delays will be felt even in the 2022-2023 application round, as more changes to the SAT have been made as well as adjustments to the application review process. Despite this, Eastern’s Class of 2022 has found themselves committing to colleges all over the country.

SUCCESS Club Spotlight

Investments for Dummies:

By CASSIDY GOLIN ‘24 Features Editor

Success can mean different things to different people. To some, it can mean achieving high grades, scoring the winning goal, or earning large amounts of money. But, to the Eastern community, success represents bridging the gap between students of every ability. In a world of adversity, it can be diffi cult for special needs students to fi nd a place that truly accepts, includes, and caters to them. Eastern’s SUCCESS Club is a place “for all students, regardless of ability, to feel like they belong.” said Kim Sherlock, Co-Advisor of the club. The SUCCESS club was established in 2000 by Fran Miller “to fi nd a way to connect Special-Ed students with their typical peers.” Said Co-Advisor Lorraine Krul. “The club is a social group focused on activities that foster interactions between members.” According to AutismNj.org, extracurricular activities for kids with special needs help students to focus on strengths and interests, develop skills, build self-esteem and socialization skills. The SUCCESS Club has grown to include a myriad of activities. From dance parties to exciting trips, there is never a dull moment with this group. “We like to go to the movies, play miniature golf, and we have a lot of in-house activities around the holidays,” said Mrs. Krul. The group never misses a chance to throw a party fi lled with music and pizza. “It’s a nice way to come together,” she said, and a way for the members to interact in an environment that is comfortable and safe. Earlier this month, the club hosted a karaoke/bingo night which included tons of One-Direction throwbacks and candy bars. Mrs. Krul and Mrs. Sherlock have been educators and friends for over two decades; Mrs. Sherlock as a Job Coach and Mrs. Krul as a school phsycologist. Additionally, they both work in the Special Services departement and have long histories with the SUCCESS club. So, when the former advisor Mrs. Schmidt retired, they were delighted to take over as coadvisers for the club. Mrs. Krul’s goal for the SUCCESS Club is to receive more involvement from the general student population. For example, she said, “We have access to the students in our classes and Special-Education programs, but it’s harder to get the word out to General-Education students.” Likewise, Mrs. Sherlock hopes to see a true “buddy system” between general and special education students, such as “Lunch buddies in the cafeterias, at sporting, and special events.” Furthermore, she

Eastern’s SUCCESS hopes to see an overall increase Club is a place “for all in inclusion towards students students, regardless with special of ability, to feel like needs at Eastern. “I often see on the they belong.” news and social media a “feelgood story” that involves the student leaders (athletes/club leaders) of a high school, including a student with special needs, into their circle.” She said, “I would love for those stories to be more than just stories at our school. I would love for that to be the way of student life at Eastern.” Members of Eastern’s SUCCESS Club get the opportunity to learn fi rsthand about diversity, inclusion, and friendship while having fun and receiving volunteer hours. Jacqueline Suglia, a sophomore at Eastern High School and a volunteer in the club, said, “being part of the SUCCESS club is a rewarding experience that combines important lessons with the opportunity to give back to the community.”

If you are interested in joining the SUCCESS Club or have any questions, contact the student representatives

@jacquelinesuglia2024@eccrsd.us @cassidygolin2024@eccrsd.us

Top 5 Stocks you should be investing in

By TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Media Editor

For new investors, the stock market can be scary. It can be challenging to know which stocks to invest in, which to drop, and when to do all of it. Mr. Sherman teaches a full-year investment course for students interested in learning and covering taxes to day trading. As Eastern’s only Investments teacher, Mr. Sherman was asked which stocks he is investing in currently, and which ones he would recommend. While Mr. Sherman may be the Investments teacher, these stock suggestions are for informational purposes only. One of the fi rst lessons in Sherman’s class is that each investor should do his or her own research and analysis before making any decisions. The fi rst stock recommended is WarnerBros Discovery, a streaming option idea formulated in 2021 by former parent company AT&T. A year later, the idea has come into fruition, and WarnerBros Media has joined with Discovery to “create a new streaming platform that includes HBO, CNN and the Discovery Channel, as well as the Batman and Harry Potter franchises.” According to Sherman, the stock itself has strong buy ratings across the board from most investment advisors. Next, Sherman mentions Shopify, a complete commerce platform that lets users start, grow, and manage a business. The subscription-based software allows anyone to set up an online store and sell their products. They recently announced a ten to one stock split, going into effect at the end of June if it is voted in. While this gives the CEO more power by giving him “founder shares”, the stock itself “shows signs of growth and possible continued growth with the appearance of lower, more affordable shares.” The third stock is short and straightforward: an investment in Delta Air Lines. Due to COVID, a majority of airlines experienced a large decrease in stock value due to a lack of air travel. Recently, however, this has turned around, and Sherman expects to see an increase in profi tability. Fourth is the sweetest investment recommendation: Hershey. Known for their chocolate products and other sweet treats, Hershey has maintained a relatively steady hold on the market, however, it has recently increased its profi le. The price target was raised to $210 at Deutsche Bank, and with the recent Easter holiday and upcoming mother’s day, it is expected for a raise in value. By getting in now, investors can expect a “lower price than 3-4 months from now when earnings for the second quarter are announced.” In another tasty recommendation, Sherman mentions Chipotle Mexican Grille, Inc. The Mexican food chain is an “industry leader, whether you high schoolers want to admit it or not.” Their price target was recently raised to its previous value from September, renewing the typical yearly cycle. Each spring, in the early months of the season, fast food chains typically gain some momentum back. Additionally, the chain themselves have announced a raise in prices, blaming avocados and beef. While this is a disappointment to the loyal Chipotle visitors, it is an opportunity for investors, and one that Sherman encourages students to take.