Expert Admissions hosted a webinar to discuss recent admissions trends, testing strategy and pacing, expectations for extracurricular involvement, and more.
Recent Admissions Trends
This year, we saw a noticeable shift in supplemental essay prompts. More schools asked students to reflect on how they engage with people who are different from them, how they build bridges, and other variations on that theme—likely reflecting the broader political and cultural climate.
Early application numbers were mixed. Some Ivies saw Early Decision applications dip (a continuation of last year’s pattern), though individual schools fluctuated. Other highly selective schools, including Tufts and UVA, saw an increase in early admissions and corresponding drop in admit rate. Indiana’s Kelley School of Business ended its GPA-based direct-admit process and moved to a more holistic review process, which led to a spike in applications and a lower admit rate.
In an exciting change, Michigan introduced Early Decision for the first time this year—but the rollout was unfortunately a bit messy, including portal hiccups that left students confused while checking their decisions.
Upcoming changes for the next cycle—like Georgetown joining the Common App and USC expanding Early Decision to nearly all of its programs–are likely to drive up application numbers and increase selectivity.
All of this is a good reminder that the admissions landscape shifts constantly from year to year, and families should stay steady in their overall strategy.
The Testing Landscape
Testing policies continue to evolve. Seven of the eight Ivy League schools have reinstated required testing, with only Columbia remaining test-optional. Nationally, however, most schools still offer test-optional policies.
The test-optional era has contributed to inflated average score ranges at many institutions. At some of these schools, though, submitting a strong score—particularly near the upper end of the middle 50% range—can significantly improve admission odds.
This is why we recommend that students aim for their strongest possible score and treat test-optional only as a strategic fallback. For some students, not submitting scores can work very well—but that decision should be made thoughtfully, in the context of grades, rigor, and overall fit.
Intentional Testing Strategy & Pacing
There’s often a sense of urgency around college admissions, especially testing. But the students who navigate this process most successfully are the ones who slow down and build things thoughtfully over time. Starting standardized test tutoring too early often leads to burnout or plateauing. Remember, the goal is not to get things done quickly but to get them done well.
Most students benefit from taking diagnostics of both the SAT and ACT toward the end of 10th grade to determine which is their better test, as there is no admissions advantage to either test.
In 9th and 10th grade, the priority should be mastering fundamental skills in math, grammar, and reading comprehension, earning strong grades, and selecting appropriately rigorous coursework. Early placement decisions can shape future opportunities (like whether a student can take calculus, which we recommend), so it helps to work backward from long-term academic goals—while remaining mindful not to overwhelm younger students.
When students start test prep, the main focus shifts to how to take the test. First, there’s developing test-specific fluency—knowing how to interpret prompts, manage pacing, and apply consistent procedures. Second and equally important is performance—students must test when they are emotionally ready: calm, confident, and not burned out.
Interestingly, many students see meaningful score increases in early senior fall compared to late junior spring. At that point, they’re just a bit more experienced, mature, and ready. Remember, colleges do not care about when a student took the test; they simply see the score.
Expectations for Extracurricular Involvement
One of the most significant shifts in admissions philosophy over the past few decades is away from résumé-building and toward narrative-building.
When the parents of many of today’s applicants were applying to college, the process was much more like a checklist. If you had a strong GPA and test scores, leadership titles, and enough community service hours, you could get into a highly selective school. But today, those same schools aren’t just looking for smart and accomplished students—they’re seeking out students who are aligned with their values, culture, and community. And they do this by looking at how students spend their time outside of school.
The specific extracurricular activities you choose don’t matter: you could be working in a lab, on the newspaper, in student government, or involved in theater. What matters is how and why you’ve engaged and whether you’ve gone deep. Have you grown? Taken initiative? Made something your own? Made some kind of individualized impact?
Exploring different extracurricular options in 9th and 10th grade is healthy and expected. But by the end of 10th grade, students should start identifying areas they want to commit to more intentionally. Depth over breadth almost always wins. Supplemental essays will draw heavily from these experiences, so students need meaningful stories to tell. Recommendations matter, too. Being thoughtful about whom you ask and building genuine relationships with teachers is essential.
At the end of the day, engaging in extracurriculars isn’t about manufacturing an impressive résumé. It’s about becoming more fully yourself—and then clearly communicating that to schools through your application.
For all the details on these topics and more, watch the webinar above.
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