What if Colleges Were into Full Transparency?
- Nina Berler
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Students would understand what exactly what happens during their holistic review. They would be told up front whether or not they had a realistic chance of a spot off the waitlist. We'd find out what colleges do with the various pieces of demographic information entered every year into the Common App. And we'd know whether AI is evaluating their transcripts and essays.
April Fool! For now, our best chance is to share information. Here goes . . .
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Regular Decision: The Results Are In!
With Duke's notifications, applicants can start planning for next year. So what happened with some of the colleges popular with unCommon students? Let's take a look.
Boston College accepted 12.6 percent of applicants. In a release, BC stated that "a total of 74 percent submitted standardized scores, despite the University’s test optional policy.”
Fairfield University's acceptance rate dropped to 25 percent, having seen its app volume climb some 15 percent.
UVA, the most transparent out there, accepted 12.5 percent of the out-of-state pool. They tell us what happened in the different rounds: 21 percent ED, 13 percent EA and 9 percent RD.
Duke, a favorite to win it all in March Madness, which ends in April, scores off the court as well. In a release, we find out that their overall acceptance rate is under five percent! Duke's Early Decision acceptance rate was 12 percent.
Students should take their time between now and the May 1, the National Reply Date, to reexamine their options. Accepted student days are the best way to see their peers and walk the campus before sending in a deposit.
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Test Mandatory? Check the Policy!
Standardized testing is an important topic to cover in all my sophomore and junior meetings. Many colleges remain test-optional, yet there is no longer a question of an ability to access the test. I'm back to telling students to consider both the SAT (digital, adaptive) and the ACT (mostly digital, never adaptive) and pick the better of the two. The ACT, which we know is evolving, is charging a $4.00 Science Add-On Fee. That's a nice way of presenting a base price of $65 for the three mandatory sections: English, Math and Reading and extra for Science, which rival College Board does not offer.The latest to move back to testing is Ohio State, stating that "the ACT/SAT score complements other measures to create a fuller picture of future academic success at Ohio State when used as part of a holistic review process.”
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A Six-Figure Investment - After April Fool's Day!
In case you're not reading the Daily Trojan, USC's cost of attendance for 2025-26 will be a whopping $99,000! This marks yet another year of 5 percent tuition hikes. According to USC, the increase is necessary to cover "academic advising, new course development and the Department of Public Safety." Remember, most students don't pay the sticker price.A very long flight away, in the U.K., applications from U.S. students continue to rise. According to Inside Higher Ed, this year marked a 12 percent increase in apps to U.K. colleges. A spokesperson from the U.K Council summed it up well: "Three-year degrees, lower tuition costs and post-study work opportunities all increase the attractiveness of the U.K. offer."
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Georgetown Comes Around - To the Common App
Georgetown on the Common App? We would've figured it was an April Fool. After all, Georgetown always adheres to mandatory testing, interviews and their own multi-part application. Yet starting in the 2026-27 cycle, Georgetown will embark on a three-year test of the Common Application. In a statement, Georgetown shares that "adopting the Common App would make Georgetown’s admissions process more accessible to students from a wide variety of backgrounds.”
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Students Go South - Even When Spring Training is Over!
Every year, I see applicants who want what they believe will be a better college experience - down South! That, of course, is driving selectivity and resulting in some of those spirited Southern universities (e.g., Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Florida) to revert back to testing.Recently, Axios presented a visual of Northeast students going South for college, showing the change at SEC colleges from 2014-2023. University of Tennessee leads the list, with a 486 percent increase in apps from prospective Volunteers, followed by Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia and UT Austin. Higher ed author Jeff Selingo explains: "They're seen not only as more fun, but also more accessible." Axios points out that students attending Southern colleges may remain there for work after graduation.
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Apply Late Decision? It's No April Fool!
In addition to announcements about testing policies, we always like to see which colleges are instituting new application options. Recently, Bennington College acknowledged: "Not all compelling and talented students approach their college search in the same linear fashion, especially as they navigate evolving interests, developing identities, and financial realities.” As a result, the liberal artsy college is instituting Late Decision. Apps are due by April 8, and students will be notified beginning April 17.
From Late to Early: Prospective Trojans will get to use a new Early Decision option, but only if they are committing to apply to the Marshall School of Business. USC accepted 10.4 percent of its applicant pool in 2024-25, but we don't know stats relative to Marshall.
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Downeasters Can't wAIt for AI!
Sweet, preppy Bowdoin wants to make the most of AI, and it can with a $50 million gift from alum Reed Hastings, cofounder of Netflix. Stated Hastings, “As AI becomes smarter than humans, we are going to need some deep thinking to keep us flourishing.” Bowdoin plans to use the funds for a combination of teaching and research.
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Any of us would be foolish to not seek clarity about the college process. If you're the parent of a sophomore or junior, don't hesitate to reach out about your student's journey. I aim for full transparency!
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