Maximize College Application Success: Insights from the 2024-25 Cycle
The new year has arrived! As we put away our holiday decorations, make our New Year’s resolutions, and return from winter break, it’s the perfect time to reflect on 2024 and plan for a successful year ahead.
There’s no doubt that our seniors and their families are celebrating initial college acceptances and patiently awaiting more good news. And for our juniors, crushing their standardized tests, writing a winning college essay, and building a balanced college list are surely top of mind.
Here at Admit U, we’ve been diving deep into the Common App’s ongoing reports about the state of first-year college applications and year-over-year trends. The most recent report was released on December 1, covering the major college application deadlines for the 2024-25 season up to that point.
We’ve paired the top insights from that report with actionable tips for maximizing application success for the Class of 2026. Here’s what we learned…
Application Volume: Not only are more students applying to college using the Common App, but they’re applying to more schools than in years past. College applications submitted via the Common App have risen by 8% this year. And on average, students are applying to 3% more colleges than they did in 2023-24.
Test Scores: About half of all applicants have reported test scores by this point in the cycle. Even with 95% of schools on the Common App remaining test-optional in the post-pandemic period, this is the first time since 2021-22 that applicants who submitted test scores have significantly surpassed those who chose not to submit.
School Rankings: The most selective schools—those with admission rates below 25%, such as Columbia, Princeton, or Stanford—have experienced the slowest application growth this season. Additionally, applications to public universities, especially those in the South, are growing faster than those to private colleges. Both trends indicate that applicants are being realistic and casting a wider net as the U.S. college admissions market continues to become more saturated and competitive. However, as applications to public universities increase and incoming class sizes remain the same, deferrals and waitlist decisions will increase.
Early Action: Applications submitted Early Action (non-binding) are up by a whopping 17% compared to last year, whereas Early Decision (binding) applications only rose by 5%. In stark contrast, Regular Admission applications actually dropped by 7%. Students are seeing the importance of getting ahead of the curve and making their top choices known, while also reaping the benefits of hearing back sooner, leveraging chances for merit aid, and increasing their admissions chances by being in the earlier pool. Unfortunately, this massive increase in EA submissions has resulted in colleges issuing more deferrals to Regular Decision, rather than giving students a clear “yes” or “no” now.
So, what can future applicants do to put their best foot forward?
Have an open mind and a balanced list. With the increase in overall application volume as well as applications to less selective schools and public universities, it’s imperative that Fall 2025 applicants pursue a balanced list of schools, including more likelies and targets, while using recent application data to inform decisions. Do not assume you will be the exception and defy the odds.
Prepare for and take an SAT or ACT. Though test-optional policies have been around for over 50 years, and the pandemic sparked even more schools to become test-optional, testing is slowly making a comeback (at some schools). We encourage all students to prepare and take standardized tests (ACT, SAT, and/or AP/IB exams).
Apply early! Even though it may still lead to a Regular Decision deferral, students should be meeting Early Action deadlines and considering Early Decision to a school that is their top choice. Applying early shows colleges that you’re serious, and helps get eyes on your application before the Regular Decision tidal wave in January.
We know that applying to college generates a wide range of emotions–from anxiety and fear to excitement and elation–and the latest trends may make it seem like the 2025-26 cycle will be the most stressful yet. We encourage students and families to stay optimistic about the season ahead and lean on Admit U for support! Following these tips and using data to drive decision-making will help make the process smoother and maximize your chances of success.
Guided by the wise words of Nelson Mandela–“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears”–we wish you a Happy New Year!
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