Expert Admissions hosted a webinar with two of our admissions counselors, Dr. Bari Norman, a former Barnard admissions officer, and Trish Fairweather Cody, a former NYU admissions officer. We discussed this cycle’s admissions trends, including increased selectivity, the return of testing requirements, public university admissions, admissions interviews and videos, waitlist movement, and more.
Increased Selectivity & The Role of Early Decision
College admissions has become dramatically more selective across both public and private institutions. Families often need to recalibrate what they consider a “reachable” school; c olleges that were not especially competitive when parents were applying can now be extremely selective. The University of Chicago is a striking example: its admit rate was around 70% in the mid-1990s but is now closer to 5%. We share this information not to alarm families, but to help them understand that the 2026 admissions landscape is very different from 30 years ago, 10 years ago, or even just before COVID.
This increased selectivity makes strategy especially important, and Early Decision has become one of the most powerful tools students have. Because ED is binding, colleges value it highly: if they admit a student, they know that student will enroll. Many schools now fill over 50% of their incoming class through ED. That leaves fewer spaces for Regular Decision applicants, who are competing in a much larger pool.
At the same time, ED should not be used on a dream school simply because it offers an advantage. The question is not only “Where do I most want to go?” but “Where does my profile make strategic sense?” ED can provide a meaningful boost, but it cannot make an unrealistic application realistic. Students should choose a school they would genuinely be happy to attend while also thinking carefully about where the ED advantage is most likely to matter.
The Return to Testing
Standardized testing is continuing to reassert influence in admissions. Since 2024, many highly selective schools have returned to requiring testing, although there is nuance. Some schools require scores only for certain applicants, majors, or scholarships, while others are phasing requirements back in over time. When schools return to testing, application numbers often drop, though they usually remain higher than they were before COVID. Meanwhile, test-optional schools continue to attract very large pools of applicants.
The practical advice is straightforward: students should prepare for the SAT or ACT and do their best, even if many schools on their current list are test-optional. Policies can change with relatively little notice, and strong testing can make an application more competitive, give you more options, and make outcomes easier to predict.. Even so, a score that sounds excellent in general may not strengthen an application at the most selective colleges if it falls below that school’s middle 50% range. It feels absurd to say that a 1520 may not be “submittable” at some places, but that is part of today’s reality.
Public University Admissions
Public university admissions, especially at flagship institutions, has become much less straightforward. Many families remember a time when admission to public universities felt straightforward for students with strong grades and scores. These institutions now attract broad national applicant pools, making the small percentage of out-of-state spots far more competitive than many families expect.
State policy can also shift the landscape quickly. Legislatures and governing boards often push universities to prioritize in-state residents even more. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for example, the Wisconsin Guarantee for in-state students has made out-of-state admissions more competitive. In Florida, a recent proposal for a 5% cap on out-of-state enrollment—though it failed to pass—shows the pressure public universities face to serve state residents.
Another major trend is the growth in students from the North and Northeast applying to large public universities in the South. The Wall Street Journal reported an 84% increase in northern applicants to southern institutions over the last two decades and a 30% increase just between 2018 and2022.
Admissions Interviews & Videos
The traditional one-on-one admissions interview is becoming less common.In its place, some schools are allowing students to submit short videos. These videos are usually optional, but they can be a real opportunity for the right student. Some applicants come alive when admissions officers can hear their voice and see their energy. But a video should not simply repeat the application, and it should not feel overly produced or flashy. The best videos feel natural and connected to who the student really is.
Still, not every student should automatically submit a video. The question is whether it adds value. If it feels flat, generic, or forced, it may not help; it should enhance the application, not just add more content.
Waitlist Trends
Waitlists have become more active earlier than they used to be. In the past, meaningful waitlist movement usually happened after the national enrollment deadline of May 1. Now, some colleges begin making offers before that date, and many move quickly right after it.
Because of this earlier movement, students who are waitlisted should opt in promptly and send a letter of continued interest sooner rather than later, following the college’s instructions carefully.
At the same time, waitlisted students should be realistic. A waitlist offer can feel encouraging, but the odds are often lower than they were in the original applicant pool. Though certain colleges are admitting more conservatively and using the waitlist to build the class gradually, others admit only a very small percentage of waitlisted students, and the numbers can swing dramatically from year to year. Waitlist movement depends on yield, housing, class balance, and sometimes very specific institutional needs.
For students who have already enrolled at one school but are waitlisted at another, the best approach is to pursue the waitlist thoughtfully while also fully committing to the school where they have already enrolled (withdrawing only if e admitted off the waitlist). A waitlist can work out, but it should be treated as a possibility—not a plan.
What’s to Come
Some school-specific changes for 2026-2027 that we’re already aware of include:
- Georgetown is finally joining the Common Application. We can expect a surge in applicants there, as joining the Common App usually provides a 10-20% bump in applications.
- WashU is adding an Early Action option and is also returning to tracking demonstrated interest. Depending on the school, demonstrated interest can include everything from applying Early Decision to visiting campus and engaging with admissions counselors at college fairs and high school visits. Some schools even want to know if you’re opening their emails and clicking on links.
- Florida State University is adding a binding Early Decision option, an unusual move for a public institution. (The University of Michigan is another outlier, as it added ED this past cycle.) Out-of-state applicants seriously considering FSU may want to apply ED where appropriate, as the change will make the Regular Decision round more competitive.
For all the details on these topics and more, watch the webinar above.
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