Applying for college can be an extremely stressful time in a student’s life. It can be seen as the culmination of all of one’s academic efforts throughout their life. All the late nights, studying, and stress in an attempt to get into a student’s top-

choice school. 

Many students wonder how this application year will be different and whether it will be easier for someone to get into the school of their dreams.

Testing 

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, many colleges became test-optional to account for the pandemic and how it affected students ability to study and prepare for the ACT or SAT. Colleges also decided to go test-optional to level the playing field for students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds who may not have as much access to resources, such as tutors. 

In short, the result of this was that only the best scores were submitted. This, in some cases, leads to increased pressure to get high scores on either the ACT or SAT. On the other hand, it provides a safety net for students who might not have access to test preparation or are not naturally good test takers.

Recently, though, more schools have decided to return to requiring a submission of standardized test scores.

According to the College Board, there are 21 private and 42 public schools that are test required or will be soon. This includes top schools such as Harvard, Cornell, and Stanford. This change might affect the volume of applications as well.

“I think it might start to shift the number of schools that kids are applying to. When colleges went test-optional, that’s where we really saw the number of applications being submitted go up…it may change the schools that kids end up applying to if scores are required,” College Counselor Elizabeth Hannon said.

Population

The current population trends will also affect the upcoming application years. Firstly, the size of this senior class and the upcoming senior classes is smaller and continues to decrease. The class of 2025 was the largest senior class in US history, with 3.93 million students. This is due to the alignment of the  2007 recession that occurred in that year.

Since then, there has been a steady decrease in birth rate, resulting in shrinking class sizes. This trend should make it easier for upcoming applicants and the years that follow, as there will be less competition.

Another factor that will affect the population of students applying for schools in America is the current climate around immigration. Recently in America, immigration has become a contentious issue.

With the increasing presence of ICE and the National Guard, there is a rising concern about the safety of immigrants living in America. The Trump administration also changed the status of student Visas, making their stay in America less secure. According to CNBC  there may be 150,000 fewer international students applying for US colleges. 

The drop in international students is predicted to be another factor in total enrollment, which can aid American students in their quest for higher education. With fewer people applying for college, more spots will be available for this current senior class and, if the trend continues, for the following years as well. 

“You would naturally assume that if there are fewer seniors, there’s going to be fewer applications out there. But that might take a little while to shake out,”  Hannon said.

Volume

Students increasingly have been applying to more schools, hoping to increase their chances of admission in a competitive college landscape.

 “A few years ago, it was more in that 4-7 range. Now we are seeing that bump up to 7-10,” Hannon said. 

It is recommended that students apply to a variety of reach, target, and safety schools. This is done to account for the fact that rejections are very common. 

Qualified students are often rejected from colleges due to the extreme number of applications that are submitted. Even some students are rejected from schools that they are overqualified for due to yield protection. Yield protection is when colleges reject students who they think are going to reject them for a more prestigious school. 

To play the game of college admissions, especially if a student wants to aim for more prestigious schools, the volume of applications may be necessary.

“I think you do have to cast a wide net, because you don’t know how the initial process is going to shake out. Even if you’re the most qualified candidate, we still see kids being turned down,” Hannon said.  

The application process is a very stressful time in a student’s career, and the effects of its pressure can be felt even on underclassman. 

“The pressures of acceptance and rejection can be stressful. All of us have our dream schools, but so many of them seem far beyond our reach,”  junior Bella Daehler said.

For seniors in the thick of it, many are stressed about final due dates, supplements, and standing out from everyone else to have the “perfect” application. 

“With school picking up and college applications being due, I have become super stressed and anxious about the upcoming deadlines,” senior Josie Irvin said.

The actual application process comes with even more pressure, but it is entirely possible to go about it in a healthy way.

“It’s been good for me. I really recommend getting a college coach or someone who can help you do your college applications. I also think getting them done really early helps,” senior Kia Pienkosz said.

It is extremely likely that students applying to many colleges, especially prestigious ones, will face rejection in the process.  

“Don’t take it personally if you don’t get in. Keep an open mind about your schools. There are so many amazing, wonderful places to land. I think if seniors go into this process like, ‘you know what? I’m going to be happy wherever I go,’ It can make the whole thing just so much easier,” Hannon said.