A Different Path, The Same Success

How St. Mary's Students are Navigating a New Era in College Admissions

For many St. Mary’s Episcopal School alumnae, college admissions followed a familiar, relatively linear path. Students applied to a short list of schools, often fewer than five, mailed paper applications, and waited for decisions that arrived earlier and felt more predictable. Acceptance rates were higher, application volumes were lower, and colleges drew primarily from regional or national applicant pools rather than global ones.

Today’s admissions landscape bears little resemblance to that experience.

St. Mary’s students are now navigating a system defined by volume, volatility, and heightened competition. They apply to more schools, often face longer waiting periods, and contend with acceptance rates that have dropped sharply, even at institutions once considered dependable options. Throughout this transition, public universities have become fiercely selective. Financial considerations loom larger. And the emotional weight of the process has intensified.

Yet through all this change, one constant remains:

St. Mary’s students continue to excel and to make thoughtful, successful choices about where they enroll.

“There’s a perception that our girls aren’t attending the same kinds of prestigious private institutions they used to,” said Beverly Brooks, Director of College Counseling. “What’s important to understand is that the process itself has changed dramatically. The outcomes are still strong, but the paths look different.”

A National Shift, Not a School-Specific One

Across the country, college admissions have grown exponentially more competitive over the past 15 years. According to data from the Common Application, the average applicant now applies to significantly more colleges than students did even a decade ago, with many submitting applications to 10, 15, or even 20 schools.

This surge in applications has driven down acceptance rates across nearly all types of colleges.

“When a college joins the Common App, applications spike,” Brooks said. “And when applications spike, selectivity increases, even if the academic profile of admitted students hasn’t changed.”

More than 1,000 colleges and universities now accept the Common App, including many flagship public institutions that once relied exclusively on their own platforms. As a result, students from across the country and increasingly from abroad are applying to the same schools.

That nationalization of admissions has reshaped the entire system. 

“These changes mean it’s more important than ever to help our students differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive national or global applicant pool. Fortunately, this is an area where St. Mary’s students continue to shine,” said Shelley Miller, Director of College Counseling, who joined St. Mary’s in 2025 after 17 years at a college-preparatory school in Nashville.

Why Acceptance Rates No Longer Tell the Whole Story

For those accustomed to higher acceptance rates at selective schools, today’s numbers can be startling. Institutions such as Vanderbilt, Northeastern, and Tulane, which were once considered accessible for strong applicants, now admit a fraction of those who apply.

“Some schools have gone from admitting 40 or 50 percent of applicants to well under 10 percent,” Brooks said. “That doesn’t mean students are less qualified. It means far more qualified students are applying.”

Even public universities have followed this trend. According to university data, applications to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have increased by more than 300% over the past four years, driven by national recruitment, honors programs, and the ease of application through the Common App.

“Schools that we’ve traditionally considered regional universities, like Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina, have a much broader appeal now. These schools are no longer regional. They’re national, sometimes international,” Miller said.

Public Universities as First-Choice Destinations

One of the most visible changes in St. Mary’s matriculation patterns is the growing number of students enrolling at flagship public universities, often through competitive honors programs.

“These are not backup choices,” Brooks emphasized. “They are intentional, strategic decisions.”

Honors colleges at public universities now offer many of the features once associated primarily with private institutions: small, seminar-style classes; faculty mentorship; undergraduate research; priority registration; and robust advising.

“Our girls want both challenge and support,” Miller said. If they can get that in an honors program and receive substantial financial aid, it’s a very compelling option.”

For St. Mary’s students, this shift aligns naturally with how they approach education.

“Our students are willing to imagine multiple possibilities for what college could look like. They are seeking exceptional academic experiences, whether at highly selective private schools or competitive honors colleges at public universities,” Miller said.

St. Mary’s alumna Addie Heehs ’22 said that when applying to colleges, her top priorities were distance from home, affordability, and finding the right campus culture. Ultimately, Heehs chose the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

“I knew I didn’t want to graduate with a large amount of debt, so I was looking for ways to earn scholarships and reduce costs,” Heehs said. “My search led me to discover the Haslam Leadership Scholars Program. Given its competitive nature, it felt like an incredible opportunity, one I never expected to receive, but it was absolutely worth applying for.”

The Haslam Leadership Scholars Program offers a fully funded academic experience, including study abroad and an internship, along with a close-knit cohort of about 15 students.

The Financial Reality Families are Navigating

Rising tuition costs have fundamentally reshaped how families think about college. “In the past, cost was certainly a factor, but it wasn’t always the driving one,” Brooks said. “Now families are thinking about how far their resources will stretch, not just for undergrad, but for what comes after.”

According to national data, average tuition at private colleges has more than doubled over the past 30 years, far outpacing inflation. At the same time, many St. Mary’s students are already thinking ahead to graduate or professional school.

“Our students are incredibly forward-thinking,” Brooks said. “They’re considering law school, medical school, veterinary school, or graduate programs. That changes how they evaluate undergrad options.”

As a result, students sometimes turn down elite, private institutions in favor of strong, public universities offering honors programs or substantial scholarships.

For St. Mary’s alumna Anna Douglas Piper ’23, financial aid was a priority. She earned a spot in the University of Virginia’s Echols Scholars Program. While the program is not funded, it gave her the opportunity to bypass general education requirements and access a much smaller, more selective environment of program and alumni connections.

“I also received a financial aid package that was majority need-based and included subsidized and unsubsidized loans, federal grants, and work-study,” she said. “I was in the Jefferson Scholarship selection process for a few months, and although I did not receive the scholarship, making it to a certain round also came with a small amount of merit-based funding. All aid went towards tuition and fees, like housing and meals.”

More Applications, Longer Waits, Higher Stress

The rise of early action programs has added another layer of complexity, creating staggered outcomes that can heighten anxiety among students still waiting.

“We’re asking teenagers to navigate disappointment, comparison, and anticipation simultaneously,” Head of Upper School Dr. Lauren Rogers said. “That’s a lot to carry.”

At St. Mary’s, college counseling is intentionally designed to support students through that emotional terrain.

“Our approach mirrors the St. Mary’s experience as a whole,” Rogers said. “We meet students where they are and help them reflect on what they truly want.”

For Leah Balkaran ’23, financial aid was one of the most important factors in her college decision, though it was not the only one. She knew she wanted a smaller campus with a close-knit, welcoming community where she would feel comfortable and supported.

“In addition to submitting the Common Application, I applied to Washington and Lee University through the QuestBridge Match program,” she said. QuestBridge supports high-achieving, low-income, and/or first-generation students by offering full-tuition and housing scholarships for all four years to partner colleges.

“The process was highly competitive and at times overwhelming, but with constant encouragement from the College Counseling team and my family, I successfully navigated each step.”

What Colleges See in St. Mary's Students

Despite increased competition, St. Mary’s students continue to attract strong interest from colleges.

“What admissions officers consistently tell us is that our students are mission-driven,” Brooks said. “They care deeply about learning, service, and impact.”

Alumna Genesis Martin ’25 said that St. Mary’s prepared her by affording opportunities to grow in her leadership journey.

“Whether that be clubs and organizations that I immersed myself in, student government positions that I ran for, volunteer opportunities that the school informed me of, or classes that pushed me to take charge of my own learning, I was filled with confidence in myself and a stacked resumé that would set me apart from other candidates,” Martin said.

“From the very beginning of my days at St. Mary’s, every assignment, project, and class was filled with intentionality and the purpose of building the necessary foundation and tools that I utilize daily.”

That sense of purpose resonates with institutions seeking engaged, thoughtful students rather than résumé builders.

“St. Mary’s girls aren’t checking boxes,” Miller said. “They’re invested in what they’re doing in large part because the St. Mary’s experience allows girls to explore a wide range of academic interests and extracurricular activities that help them to discover their unique purpose.”

Faculty relationships also play a critical role.

“There’s something powerful when a teacher sees potential in a student and challenges her,” Brooks said. “That’s a hallmark of the St. Mary’s experience, and colleges recognize it.”

Redefining Prestige in a New Era

For alumnae accustomed to a narrower definition of success, the evolving matriculation list may require a recalibration.

“Prestige used to be about name recognition,” Rogers said. “Now it’s about opportunity, fit, and long-term value.”

Students today are asking different questions:

• Where will I thrive academically?
• Where will I be supported socially and emotionally?
• Where will I be best positioned for what comes next?

“When you see a St. Mary’s graduate at UTK, Tulane, Northeastern, Rhodes, or studying abroad, that reflects intention, not compromise,” Rogers said.

The diversity of destinations reflects the school’s mission.

“We don’t produce one type of graduate,” Rogers said. “We support each student’s individual path.”

Putting Today's College Outcomes in Context

For those watching today’s college process from a distance, it can be tempting to compare outcomes through the lens of a very different era. However, school leaders emphasize that the admissions landscape current students are navigating bears little resemblance to the one most alumnae experienced.

“The process your daughters or granddaughters are going through is fundamentally different,” Brooks said. “The number of applications, the level of competition, the financial considerations — all of it has changed. What hasn’t changed is the preparation our students receive.”

From the school’s perspective, success is no longer defined by a narrow list of destinations, but by how well each student is matched to an environment where she can thrive academically, socially, and personally.

“When you look at the range of schools our students choose, from highly selective private universities to honors programs at flagship public institutions, what you’re really seeing is thoughtful decision-making,” Rogers said. “Our girls aren’t following trends or each other. They’re choosing what fits.”

That individualized approach has long been central to St. Mary’s mission, and leaders say it remains the most meaningful measure of success.

“Our students continue to stand out,” Rogers said. “Not because they all go to the same places, but because they leave St. Mary’s with clarity about who they are and where they want to go next.”

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