Are you ready for Regular Decision notification dates? Admissions offices across the U.S. are working hard to get through hundreds of thousands of Regular Decision college applications for the class of 2029 in order to notify students of their decisions this spring.

Students navigating the college admissions process continue to experience unique challenges and changes, including the announcement of an entirely digital SAT, continued test-optional policies, increasing application numbers, and each student applying to more colleges on average. All of this has led to an even more competitive year at the most selective colleges in the U.S., while other schools plan to admit more students than ever before in order to manage enrollment numbers.

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way higher education institutions review applications, with many colleges choosing to adopt a test-optional application review process. However, with record-breaking applicant pools and record-low admit rates, families are worried that test-optional may not really mean test-optional at all. Here is what we know, so far.  

After many colleges reported all-time low acceptance rates, some students might be curious about their yield rates, or just how many of these admitted applicants have chosen to enroll. Yield is a priority for every college because it impacts their place on rankings lists and it can also influence their bond ratings. Additionally, yield rates help schools evaluate their admissions process and how attractive they are to prospective students.

Applying to college and choosing where to enroll is both a major milestone and an important decision. It’s bound to be a little stressful, but it can feel completely overwhelming if you’re not up to date on all the latest terminology.

With high school seniors in the thick of the college application process, speculation abounds about how college admissions committees make decisions, what it takes to get in, and whether student A is more qualified than student B. But what really goes on behind closed doors at college admissions offices? 

When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in June 2023, colleges and universities across the country scrambled to find alternative solutions that promote diversity and inclusion in the admissions process. For many, this meant revising the supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-24 college admissions cycle to encourage students to write about their personal experiences based on race or ethnicity. These prompts act as a loophole to get around the affirmative action ruling. 

While it might be okay to go into your weekend without an itinerary in place, the same can’t be said for college admissions. If you’re looking to minimize your stress levels while boosting your odds of getting accepted into your first-choice school, creating a college planning process is essential.

While more and more international students are studying in the U.S. every year, a number of students are also looking to the U.K. for university options. The U.S. and U.K. university systems are dramatically different, however, and many international students struggle with determining which would be the best fit for their learning styles, goals, and interests. With these two admissions systems and processes differing so significantly, it’s important to understand the nuances of U.S. vs. U.K. admissions and how to apply to each.

A constant concern of universities, and many college-bound families is the next list of college rankings. Where will an institution land on a list with other “top” colleges, and which schools will be a surprise top 5? But do rankings really matter? The short answer is: no!