Welcome to week 2 of my college admissions advice column! Today, I will answer one of the most common questions that I get this time of year: “What college admissions trends are you seeing?”
- Tests are back.
Although the majority of schools are still (technically) test optional, there is definitely a notable shift towards the submission of standardized tests. In other words, even if a college doesn’t formally require the ACT or SAT, submitting a competitive score can help you get in, at many schools.
- Waitlists are very active.
Over the past few weeks, my clients have gotten into a variety of highly competitive schools, including Harvard, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and Columbia. This is a big year for waitlist admits across the board, and I expect the same to be true next year. (Schools are having trouble calibrating yield, which is impacted by multiple dynamic factors, including geopolitical instability.)
- State schools are increasingly popular.
Not that they weren’t desirable before, but schools such as the University of Michigan, The University of Texas, The University of Georgia, and the University of Florida are seeing surges in out-of-state applicants. If you have your heart set on a popular flagship university, pay close attention to the in-state/out-of-state statistics, and to the rapidly changing overall admit rate. Specifically, note how much harder it is becoming to get in out of state – the admit rates and accepted student profiles are often extremely different for in-state and out-of-state applicants.
- People are applying to more schools.
This isn’t a new trend, but it seems to be accelerating. Does it seem like everyone you know is applying to 20+ schools, and to the same list of 20+ schools? It’s highly unfortunate, and part of why admit rates are super low at so many desirable universities. This trend is also part of why there are so many deferrals and such active wait lists – it’s increasingly hard for schools to assess just how interested you actually are in attending. (I recommend applying to a max of 12 schools, which should work well if you have a balanced list.)
- Prepare for a long process.
Hopefully, you are planning to apply in the early action/early decision rounds. (Doing so can dramatically increase your odds of admission, especially at certain schools.) However, although you might be in the fortunate group of admits who get in early in the process, it’s also conceivable that things might drag on. I have seen an increasing number of students get deferred, then waitlisted – before eventually getting in. In some instances, they applied to these schools (Michigan, the Naval Academy, UNC, and more) super early – like in October, but weren’t admitted until May or June. Again, the statistics reinforce that this pattern isn’t unusual, so be prepared to keep up your grades, continue demonstrating interest, and hang in there.
Do you have questions about the college admissions process? Reach out to set up a free consultation, or to see your question answered in a future column.
