One of eight Arizona applicants, or 13 percent, was offered admission to the prestigious universities, compared with one of out of six, or 17 percent, nationally, according to an Arizona Republic survey. Cornell University offered admission to 13 of 98 Arizona applicants, less than half of last year's 29. The other Ivies are Cornell, Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Yale universities, and Dartmouth College. He and other admissions deans offer a couple of theories as to why the acceptance rate for Arizona students is lower than the national rate. More than ever, colleges are trying for a student body that reflects the makeup of the nation.
Recruiters make special efforts to find bright minority students.
The application pool from Arizona is not as diverse as in other states. Although many Anglo and Asian kids apply to the Ivies and for the prestigious Flinn scholarships in Arizona, far fewer Latinos, Native Americans and Blacks do. So, qualified minority students stand out. In the past, it was more unusual for students to apply from Arizona. Those who did were noticed.