Definition

The percentage of applicants accepted to an institution, which has become inversely correlated with prestige in a perverse game where schools compete to reject more students. Because nothing says 'excellent education' like exclusivity.

Example Usage

Our admit rate dropped to 8% this year, which we're celebrating even though it just means we made thousands of qualified students miserable.

Origin

Admissions terminology that became a prestige metric in late 20th century

Fun Fact

Some universities have been caught encouraging unqualified students to apply just to reject them and lower their admit rate for ranking purposes

Source: Admissions and institutional research terminology

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