Key Data on Gender Disparities in College Admissions

Here’s a closer look at how acceptance rates differ by gender at some top colleges:

• Colleges Favoring Women
• MIT: Women were 94% more likely to be admitted than men.
• CalTech: Women were 76% more likely to be admitted than men.
• Cornell: Women had a 15% advantage in acceptance rates.
• Northwestern, Stanford, and Princeton: Smaller advantages for women (+4%, +3%, and +2%, respectively).
• Colleges Favoring Men
• Brown: Women were 39% less likely to be admitted than men.
• University of Chicago: Women were 30% less likely to be admitted than men.
• Columbia and Yale: Women were 22% less likely to be admitted at both schools.
• Dartmouth: Women were 16% less likely to be admitted.
• Vanderbilt: Women were 12% less likely to be admitted.
• Johns Hopkins and Notre Dame: Women had lower acceptance rates by 9% and 8%, respectively.
• Neutral Schools
• Harvard and UPenn: No noticeable difference between men and women’s acceptance rates.

These differences can feel surprising, but they make more sense when you consider factors like applicant pools, institutional goals, and the demand for diversity in specific fields.

Why Gender Matters in Admissions

There are several reasons why these disparities exist:

1. STEM Schools Favoring Women: Colleges like MIT and CalTech want more women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, where men traditionally dominate. This leads to higher acceptance rates for women.
2. Liberal Arts Schools Favoring Men: At schools like Brown and Columbia, more women typically apply. To balance their student populations, these schools often admit men at a higher rate.
3. Major-Specific Competition: The major your student applies for matters too. For example, a woman applying to a computer science program at a STEM school might have an edge, while a woman applying to a popular liberal arts major like English could face tougher competition.
   

What Parents Can Do to Help

As a parent, there are several ways you can use this information to support your student:



Build a Smart College List:  Use gender trends as one factor when selecting colleges. For example, if your daughter is interested in STEM, consider schools like MIT or CalTech where women have an admissions advantage. If your son is looking at liberal arts programs, explore schools like Brown or Columbia where men may have a higher chance of acceptance.

Focus on Your Student’s Strengths:  Encourage your student to highlight their unique strengths. Whether they excel in academics, extracurriculars, or leadership, admissions officers value students who stand out.

Guide Their Extracurriculars:  Help your student pursue activities that align with their goals. For example, if your daughter is applying to a STEM program, experiences like robotics competitions or coding internships can make her application stronger. Similarly, if your son is interested in nursing or education (fields traditionally dominated by women), related volunteer work could boost his application.

Support Holistic Applications:  Admissions decisions are based on more than just grades and test scores. Essays, recommendation letters, and extracurriculars also matter. Help your student craft a well-rounded application that tells their story and reflects their passions.

Moving Forward: A Note of Encouragement

While gender disparities are a real factor in college admissions, they are only one piece of the puzzle. The most important thing is finding colleges where your student will thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Focus on schools that match their interests and values rather than worrying too much about the numbers.