Every high-end school getting lots of applications does mean more students are seriously trying for college, and yes, the same student in 1975 would have a hard

Every high-end school getting lots of applications does mean more students are seriously trying for college, and yes, the same student in 1975 would have a harder time being admitted to UCLA today even if it's just because they're flooded. You could also look at college graduation rates. https://educationdata.org/number-of-college-graduates https://educationdata.org/number-of-college-graduates What trend shows that 1970s kids were better educated or harder working?