College Admissions Trends to Watch in 2024
A recent Common App Research Brief reveals a substantial surge in college applications for the 2024-25 academic year. During the robust early application season, 836,679 first-year applicants applied to 834 participating colleges through November 1, 2023. This marks a 41% increase compared to 2019-20.
Notably, applications from underrepresented minority students rose by 67%. This indicates increased diversity in the applicant pool. The report also shows growth in first-generation applicants, those eligible for fee waivers, and students from lower-income areas.
While the total amount of early applications to top colleges has stayed steady, the balance has shifted. Fewer students are interested in the Harvard/MIT Cambridge combo, and more are opting for the lower-ranked Early Decision options. Harvard saw around a 20% decline from the early application peak in the 2020-2021 cycle.
Applications to public institutions increased by 82% compared to 2019-20, while applications to private institutions only increased by 47%.
More and more students are opting for early college application options like Early Decision and Early Action. Compared to 2 years ago, most selective schools are admitting fewer students in the early rounds. However, many top universities still admit 50% or more of their incoming class through early admission options according to the Common Data Set.
Applying early can still be advantageous to your application strategy. As it stands, colleges are still concerned about their yield rate, or the percentage of students that decide to attend after being accepted. Applying early, especially through options with a binding commitment, reassures universities that you are serious about attending.
Many colleges are adding Second Early Decision rounds (ED2). This allows students another chance to commit early to a second-choice school if denied from their first choice.
The number of institutions that require standardized test scores as part of their admission criteria is dwindling. In 2019-20, 55% of Common App member schools required standardized test scores. In 2023, that dropped to only 4%.
According to the Common App Research Brief, only half of applicants through November 1, 2023 reported a standardized test score with their application. That’s down from 80% during the 2019-20 application cycle.
This trend could change. Multiple Ivy League schools will see their test-optional policies expire in 2024. Yale has announced it will come out with a new decision in the coming months. And many top 50 schools have already gone back to requiring the SAT, including MIT and Georgetown.
Colleges value authenticity more than ever. An excellent way to do this is through video submissions and interviews. An increasing number of institutions offer applicants the option to submit a video essay or introduction. This includes Brown, UChicago, Tufts, Washington University in St. Louis, Goucher, Bowdoin, and George Mason University.
Video submissions allow students to showcase their personality in a less formal manner than a written application. We emphasize the importance of authenticity and spontaneity. We also suggest not overly focusing on production values when creating these video introductions.
As competition becomes fiercer and authenticity is more important than ever, we remind students to focus on personal fit rather than prestige. Many institutions — not just the most selective — could give you an excellent education and set you up with career prospects after graduation.
While it’s helpful to know the latest admissions trends, we recommend focusing on the factors that matter most to you, including degrees and programs, on-campus opportunities, campus culture, and location. With this in mind, you’ll end up with a school list that suits you perfectly.
