Applications are up to both public and private universities! Space available at California’s public universities and community colleges is down. Space available at private schools remains constant.

The UC system reduced enrollment of California-resident freshmen by 6 percent, or about 2,300 students, and is expected to shrink enrollment further this year even as a record number of applicants applied for admission for fall 2010, said Nina Robinson, UC  Director of student policy. YES, you read it right cut 2,300 PLUS more!

CSUs are mandated to cut enrollment by 40,000 students statewide over two years, despite having a record number of applications. Bernard Vinovrski, California State University, Fresno, associate vice president of enrollment services, said Fresno State has received 10 percent more applications this year, despite having a shorter enrollment period.

On the private side for the sixth consecutive year, Princeton University has set a record for students applying for admission, with 26,166 applications received for the class of 2014 which will be comprised of 1200 freshmen which translates to 4 in 100 applicants being accepted. The number of applicants for next year’s freshman class represents a 19 percent increase over last year’s record of 21,963 completed applications for the class of 2013. This will be the year when 4.8 GPA, concert pianist and ASB President is nothing special.

ADVICE: YOUR LIST SHOULD INCLUDE SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK AND MASSACHUSETTS. APPLY TO NO MORE THAN  TWO HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS IF ANY. AND GO OUT AND FIND THOSE GREAT SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN’T YET GOTTEN ON THE NATIONAL RADAR…START BY LOOKING IN THE MIDWEST.