High school seniors have been receiving their final admissions outcomes over the last few weeks of March. Admissions season now unofficially culminates today with Ivy Day, when colleges in the Ivy League release their decisions. Some of our students will feel like they won the lottery today; others will have their dreams shattered.

As we head toward May 1, the enrollment deadline for US colleges, our students are asking these questions, and you may be too: 

• Is there any chance to get off of a college’s waitlist? If so, what can I do to maximize my chances? 

• I can’t afford my top choice school. When and how should I negotiate for more aid?

• How do I know which college to choose when I have multiple good options? 

• What do I need to do after I accept my offer and enroll at my college? 

Learn about the increasingly competitive landscape of college admissions trends in 2025. Some questions this addresses are: What early trends are we seeing in acceptances for the Class of 2025? Which trends from recent years remain, and what is changing this year?  What do we predict for regular decision (spring) outcomes?  How does the test optional movement and some colleges’ return to requiring test scores affect admissions moving forward? What will happen with SAT and ACT test requirements in the future? 

It’s the best thing EVER when you are admitted to your Early Decision school. You are done with applications (except in some cases) and ready to attend your dream school next year. Similarly, Early Action results present you with admissions decisions before the regular decision pool of applicants so that you can begin to breathe a bit easier and start narrowing your focus. But if you are deferred or denied, you have some decisions to make.

First Dartmouth, now Yale? What does “test flexible” mean? This post will help you decide whether or not to test prep in 2024. Remember to check the score ranges as well as what % of applicants submit scores using each school’s Common Data Set. another factor is which major you’re selecting: some majors in each school require test scores for automatic (or direct) admission including popular programs like the Kelley business school at Indiana University.

Who would have thought that the University of Tennessee would be deferring and denying so many high stats kids? Other schools, like Clemson and the University of South Carolina, are deferring high percentages of out-of-state students as their application numbers soar. This year I have seen multiple high stats students offered a place at Penn State only if they would begin in the summer– an option that used to be offered just to students with much lower stats. And schools like Northeastern and the University of Miami continue to offer students spots on their main campuses only after they do a semester abroad or on a different US campus.

Today is “Ivy Day,” when a group of what many consider the most elite undergraduate schools in the country release their acceptances. Some of you will be admitted to these fine institutions-- I celebrate with you! You have worked incredibly hard for this honor, and you deserve every bit of excitement you feel.