Fairfield University has announced that its acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 25%- nearly half of the 44.9% acceptance rate a mere two years ago. As a first-year student, I was surprised to learn of my own class’s acceptance rate of 33%, so imagine my shock when I heard of this significantly lower statistic. An acceptance rate this low puts Fairfield on par with many other prestigious, well-respected colleges and universities- but what does it mean for the culture on campus?
Personally, I think that this lower acceptance rate holds a lot of promise for the future of the university. Fairfield has to become more selective due to a large increase in applications- this year, there were a total of 21,290 student applications, according to the Fairfield University Undergraduate Admission Class of 2029 profile. For reference, last year, there were 18,502 applications and 15,455 the year prior. More applications mean that more students are hearing of the university; this word of mouth can help Fairfield become even more well-known, which could lead to an increase in funding and opportunities.
First-year RJ Buscher thinks that the drop in the acceptance rate will have a positive impact on campus culture. “With a lower acceptance rate, I believe prospective students will give Fairfield a deeper look. There are definitely students out there who would be a perfect fit on campus that barely considered Fairfield because it wasn’t even on their radar,” he explains. More often than not, the schools that get significant coverage are those deemed prestigious, which has a lot to do with acceptance rates. More media attention, through the news as well as social media, will allow students to learn more about the university and find their place as a Stag- even if they never would have considered the school previously.
Fairfield becoming more selective will also mean that applicants will have to be more competitive- this includes higher standardized test scores, more rigorous classes and strong extracurriculars. This means that the student body will not only have strong students academically, but also students involved in various kinds of activities and service opportunities. I believe that our incoming classes will be very well-rounded and bound for success at Fairfield. This emphasis on academic excellence will bring a positive shift to campus culture, in my opinion- for institutions like colleges and universities, reputation is crucial to receiving more resources and endowments.
My only fear with this surge in Fairfield interest is the growing class sizes, which The Mirror has touched upon several times. As more students commit to Fairfield, there looms the question of whether housing, parking, and limited resources will continue to be an issue. “We will have to make class sizes bigger, even though part of [Fairfield’s] draw is the small class sizes,” shares senior Bridget Clark. In her opinion, “there isn’t enough physical space to put people.”.
If Fairfield is able to keep its class sizes consistent and provide adequately for all students, then I think the growing popularity and increasing selectiveness of the school are great. Holding a degree from Fairfield will prove to be a valuable resource when it comes to applying for jobs, and a growing positive reputation will lead the university, faculty, and students to success.
