Stop the merry-go-round. I want to get off!

There is a vicious cycle in college admissions right now. Schools are rejecting more students. This makes students nervous so students apply to more schools. More applications means more rejections which means students get even more nervous.

The good news is that people are taking steps to break this cycle .But most students know little about the dizzying college application process until they are in the middle of everything. Each fall, more than three million students become part of a self-perpetuating admissions cycle that is fueled by larger-than-ever application pools.

In spite of rising application volume, most schools still encourage as many students to apply as possible. While having a high number of applicants is good news for schools in terms of revenue, it also means more students will be denied. This often gives a college a reputation for being competitive, which attracts even more applicants.

Also contributing to large application pools is the Common Application, which lets students apply to multiple colleges with just one application. This is a time saver for students, but it also adds to the merry-go-round effect. Uncertain about which schools will accept them, and encouraged by the ease of the application process, students are compelled to apply to more and more colleges. With so many applicants, colleges must deny qualified students. As a result, denied students are frustrated and apply to even more colleges.

A college admissions merry-go-round benefits few, if any. While it may help sell more test-prep services, it does not help students get into the right college. Students and parents buy into the name recognition trap without ever exploring the many high-quality, lesser-known schools that may actually be a great option for them. Competitive colleges are competitive because they have good marketing, not necessarily because they have good programs.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Current trends indicate that admissions professionals recognize the importance of breaking the admissions cycle. Colleges are increasingly becoming test-optional. Instead, they are conducting a more holistic evaluation of applicants, which helps increase diversity and keeps the college admissions process flexible.

While the college admissions process may seem like a merry-go-round, students and parents can do their part to slow it down by closely examining schools and the needs and preferences of the future student.