But at the selective colleges, most of the students are still drawn from the usual 18-to-24-year-old group.

Many selective colleges said the total number of students applying was about the same as last year or had increased.

"Choice" or selective colleges are generally admitting students at the same rate now as they were four years ago.

A report suggested minority students have a better chance overall at selective colleges.

It was originally planned to be a small, selective college of about 700 students.

What happened to us and why had we been rejected by the most selective college of all?

At the nation's most selective private colleges, meanwhile, the situation is not much better.

The larger and more selective the college, the greater the number of such groups.

But how do you chill out and still get into a highly selective college?

"And for some, it's a second chance to build up their grades so they'll be more attractive to a selective college."