Admission rates for super-selective colleges are headed in one direction: Down. Stanford, with the most competitive admissions in the country, this year edged below the 5 percent mark for the first time. Harvard’s rate, second-lowest among major colleges, hovers right above that threshold.

名校錄取率持續走低，斯坦福在國內入學競爭非常激烈，今年錄取率首次降至5%以下。眾多名校中，哈佛錄取率第二低，僅比斯坦福入學率稍高一點點。

The admission rates are getting so low that a New York Times columnist joked that Stanford’s this year was 0 percent — with everyone denied access to the elite school; the truth is, if you apply to Stanford you probably won’t get in. It’s not quite at the vanishing point, but the real rate of 4.7 percent at the private university in Silicon Valley is still astonishing compared to a decade ago. For the class entering in fall 2006, Stanford admitted a share more than twice as large as this year (but still quite low): 10.9 percent.

名校錄取率實在太低了，紐約時報專欄作家開玩笑稱今年斯坦弗的錄取率為0-所有人都被拒了。實際上，如果你申請斯坦弗大學，很可能不會被錄取。雖然不至于錄取率為0，但硅谷的私立大學實際錄取率只有4.7%，同十年前相比十分令人震驚。2006年秋季，斯坦福大學錄取率是今年的2倍多(但仍然很低)：10.9%。

The numbers game reflects the frenzy of competitive admissions. The more applications, the lower the rate, unless a college grows enrollment to match rising demand. Some colleges seem to do everything they can to boost applications, which enables them to deny more applicants, making the school look more selective.

這場數字游戲反映了入學競爭的激烈程度。申請者越多，錄取率越低，除非高校擴招來適應這日益上漲的需求。有些學校似乎想盡辦法吸引申請者，這樣他們就能夠拒絕更多人，從而使得學校看起來更加搶手。

But the most prestigious schools don’t have to gin up demand. Their rising application totals simply reflect the perennial national and global power of their brands. Stanford drew 43,997 applicants this year, up from 42,497 the year before. Harvard’s total was 39,041, up from 37,307. Cornell led the eight Ivy League schools (which don’t include Stanford) in number of applications, with 44,966, up from 41,900.

但最著名的高校無需如此。這些高校逐年上升的申請人數僅僅印證了學校品牌在國內外多年的聲譽和影響力。今年斯坦福收到了43997份申請，比去年的42497有所上升。哈佛從去年的37307上升至39041.康奈爾大學在八所常春藤聯盟院校中(不包括斯坦福)收到的入學申請最多-44966份，比去年41900有所上升。

A quick scan of official news releases and student newspaper reports found lower admission rates this year at several prominent colleges and universities. The Washington Post is keeping track of admission rates at top schools for the incoming fall class, and for the previous year’s class. We will update the list as we gather more data from selective colleges.

快速瀏覽官方發布資訊及校刊報道可以發現，今年幾所著名院校和大學的錄取率再創新低。華盛頓郵報實時跟蹤著名高校在今年秋季及去年的錄取率。一旦收集到更多高校數據，我們將會立刻進行更新。

It is important to note that these figures combine all offers, from the early and regular phases of the cycle. “Early decision” applicants — who apply in the fall and commit to enroll if accepted — will often find the admission rate for their group is much higher than the total rate. Regular applicants typically apply in January, get offers by April 1 and then weigh their choices. They have until May 1 to decide where to enroll.

需要注意的是，這些數據包括所有錄取者，即整個階段的前期和常規階段。“提前錄取”的申請者-即秋季申請，若錄取即承諾入學-他們的錄取率通常比總錄取率要高得多。常規申請者一般在1月份申請，4月1日前拿到錄取通知，然后選擇大學。他們需在5月1日前確定入學學校。

Admission rates for super-selective colleges are headed in one direction: Down. Stanford, with the most competitive admissions in the country, this year edged below the 5 percent mark for the first time. Harvard’s rate, second-lowest among major colleges, hovers right above that threshold.

名校錄取率持續走低，斯坦福在國內入學競爭非常激烈，今年錄取率首次降至5%以下。眾多名校中，哈佛錄取率第二低，僅比斯坦福入學率稍高一點點。

The admission rates are getting so low that a New York Times columnist joked that Stanford’s this year was 0 percent — with everyone denied access to the elite school; the truth is, if you apply to Stanford you probably won’t get in. It’s not quite at the vanishing point, but the real rate of 4.7 percent at the private university in Silicon Valley is still astonishing compared to a decade ago. For the class entering in fall 2006, Stanford admitted a share more than twice as large as this year (but still quite low): 10.9 percent.

名校錄取率實在太低了，紐約時報專欄作家開玩笑稱今年斯坦弗的錄取率為0-所有人都被拒了。實際上，如果你申請斯坦弗大學，很可能不會被錄取。雖然不至于錄取率為0，但硅谷的私立大學實際錄取率只有4.7%，同十年前相比十分令人震驚。2006年秋季，斯坦福大學錄取率是今年的2倍多(但仍然很低)：10.9%。

The numbers game reflects the frenzy of competitive admissions. The more applications, the lower the rate, unless a college grows enrollment to match rising demand. Some colleges seem to do everything they can to boost applications, which enables them to deny more applicants, making the school look more selective.

這場數字游戲反映了入學競爭的激烈程度。申請者越多，錄取率越低，除非高校擴招來適應這日益上漲的需求。有些學校似乎想盡辦法吸引申請者，這樣他們就能夠拒絕更多人，從而使得學校看起來更加搶手。

But the most prestigious schools don’t have to gin up demand. Their rising application totals simply reflect the perennial national and global power of their brands. Stanford drew 43,997 applicants this year, up from 42,497 the year before. Harvard’s total was 39,041, up from 37,307. Cornell led the eight Ivy League schools (which don’t include Stanford) in number of applications, with 44,966, up from 41,900.

但最著名的高校無需如此。這些高校逐年上升的申請人數僅僅印證了學校品牌在國內外多年的聲譽和影響力。今年斯坦福收到了43997份申請，比去年的42497有所上升。哈佛從去年的37307上升至39041.康奈爾大學在八所常春藤聯盟院校中(不包括斯坦福)收到的入學申請最多-44966份，比去年41900有所上升。

A quick scan of official news releases and student newspaper reports found lower admission rates this year at several prominent colleges and universities. The Washington Post is keeping track of admission rates at top schools for the incoming fall class, and for the previous year’s class. We will update the list as we gather more data from selective colleges.

快速瀏覽官方發布資訊及校刊報道可以發現，今年幾所著名院校和大學的錄取率再創新低。華盛頓郵報實時跟蹤著名高校在今年秋季及去年的錄取率。一旦收集到更多高校數據，我們將會立刻進行更新。

It is important to note that these figures combine all offers, from the early and regular phases of the cycle. “Early decision” applicants — who apply in the fall and commit to enroll if accepted — will often find the admission rate for their group is much higher than the total rate. Regular applicants typically apply in January, get offers by April 1 and then weigh their choices. They have until May 1 to decide where to enroll.

需要注意的是，這些數據包括所有錄取者，即整個階段的前期和常規階段。“提前錄取”的申請者-即秋季申請，若錄取即承諾入學-他們的錄取率通常比總錄取率要高得多。常規申請者一般在1月份申請，4月1日前拿到錄取通知，然后選擇大學。他們需在5月1日前確定入學學校。