Updates on the 2025-26 Admissions Cycle
This cycle had some shifts that are important for families to know as your children build their college lists.
The number of applications increased. The Common App reported a 6% increase in the number of first year applications over last year. Many selective colleges including Boston College and Columbia University experienced historically-high application pools this cycle. Brown, University of Virginia, and Yale also saw significant increases in the number of applicants. As one admissions rep explained, when their college had 20,000 applications, it was easier to explain which students were admitted and which were denied. Now that they have over 60,000 applications, the admittances and rejections seem more random because they often have to deny very qualified students.
Early Decision is more important than ever. At many selective schools, ED filled half or more of the incoming class, making regular decision very tough at many colleges. It is no longer wise for a student to use their ED on an unlikely college. Picking a first-choice college that is a reasonable reach is a wiser course of action.
Submitting test scores is important (and even required) at an increased number of colleges. This cycle more students submitted scores than went test-optional. Seven of the ten most selective schools now require them. If your student hasn't prioritized test prep, now is the time to revisit that. If a student is not submitting test scores, it is important to review the data of the colleges on their list to ensure that they will not be disadvantaged by going test-optional.
Out-of-state is harder than most families expect. UT Austin and UCLA had single digit admission rates for non-resident students. University of Michigan’s applicant pool grew to a record of over 115,000 applications.
International applicants continue to be strong but are shifting geographically. Overall, international applications rose 8% with India now representing the largest pool of international first year applicants.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about college admissions, please visit Excelsioradmissions.com or click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn how I can help with your college admissions process.
