As we step into a new year, we all have specific goals that we aim to work towards. For many juniors in high school, a new year means thinking about where to apply to college and how to navigate the college application process. In an effort to help families in 2025 and beyond successfully move through stressful college applications, here are my predictions for what is to come in college admissions. These are predictions based on trends I have witnessed as a professional and are obviously not rooted in absolute.
- Standardized testing makes a comeback. During the pandemic, over 95% of colleges had test-optional policies. For many schools, this led to a substantial increase in the volume of applications. Highly selective schools like MIT suddenly had a 51% increase in applications. Schools are bringing back standardized testing into the process of college admissions decisions to control how many students choose to apply to their schools, and because of the immense grade inflation, many states face. I am advising all of my students to prepare for the SAT ACT for this round of college admissions because many schools will be eliminating their test-optional policy.
- Highly competitive majors will continue to rise and potentially transform. Over the past five years, most of the students I work with seek majors in computer science, business, or engineering. All of these majors are immensely popular and are highly competitive. Many large research institutions are major restrictive, meaning that a certain number of seats are available within a specific major. At UMass Amherst in 2023, 7,259 students applied to the College of Information and Computer Sciences, but only 1,904 were accepted into their first-choice major. CU Boulder is notoriously competitive for its engineering programs despite appearing as a moderate to high chance acceptance rate school. Working with an educational consultant can really impact how strong a college application is, especially for a highly competitive major like engineering, business, or computer science. It will be interesting to see the trend of computer science over the next ten years and if students continually want to pursue an oversaturated field with AI in the mix.
- Kids are going south to college. Over 80% of the students I work with have schools in the southern United States on their list. Places like Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina have seen an increase in the volume of college applications. This trend conveys how students might be seeking a more traditional college experience, with a big football culture, greek life, and warm weather. As we transition politically in the United States, more and more families might begin taking politics into consideration on where to send their kids to school. I predict that some families might also seek advice on options for college abroad due to the rising cost of college in the US. I specialize in international higher education because I pursued graduate school abroad, and it changed my life for the better.
- Potential careers are the driving force for students choosing to pursue college. During my intake process, I ask both parents and students why they want to get a degree. For most, it is for the financial stability that a career might provide resulting from a college degree. Money is a known provider of stability, which is a top value for many Gen Z students. Recent studies indicate that colleges with a robust career service have seen a 22% increase in college applications. The underemployment drives people to seek additional help from school services and their alumni network. Because highly competitive majors are saturated, colleges want students to convey their academic interest in their major through activities outside of the classroom. This is a key reason why people seek guidance from educational consultants; we help map out what students should be doing based on admissions trends.
- Applying Early is becoming increasingly popular. More and more students are choosing to apply Early Decision to colleges. Early Decision is a binding contract requiring students to attend the school if accepted. Some schools admit more ED students (Tulane admits two-thirds of their class ED). This means college application work starts in late spring and early summer. By the end of junior year, students should have a final college list, usable test scores, an activities list, and permission from two junior year teachers for letters of recommendation. By July, students working with me will complete their personal statement, Common App, and two supplemental essays. This is really a stressful process with a lot of moving parts. I break the process down into manageable steps for students to tackle.
- AI technology will radically reshape college admissions. Colleges have a gap in qualified admissions reps who can read through and critically evaluate applications. Admissions offices are understaffed and overwhelmed with the volume of applications that happens when you can submit 20 colleges easily through the Common App. Because of this, I predict many schools have started using AI to evaluate transcripts and letters of recommendation- flagging applications that meet certain criteria for a human reader. I also foresee less selective colleges sending emails directly admitting students who have a certain academic profile. Rather than sending emails asking if you will apply to my college, they will say I am admitting you to my college because you are a great applicant. In terms of students using AI in the college application process, I am against it. Passion and an authentic voice always beat chatbots every time. As a college admissions consultant, I help kids find their passion and convey it on their college application through essays, activities, and projects.
I hope you have found this blog illuminating and informative. As we step into an unknown future, it is important to navigate new terrain together. I am now accepting sophomores into my college admissions consulting practice. Sign up today to give your kid the best shot at getting into college.