Schools Ivy Day 2024, which marks the announcement of admissions decisions from elite universities, is an important occasion to examine how college admissions are changing and to plan for the future. The changes of this year are significantly altering college application tactics. Let’s examine the most recent advancements.

Go Back To Standardized Testing

The fact that universities like Dartmouth, Brown, and MIT are once again requiring the SAT and ACT is a hint that many other highly selective colleges may follow suit. Yale’s test-flexible policy permits students to submit scores from the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement exams in place of the traditional SAT or ACT, a minor change to the testing requirements. This change may be a reaction to a drop in college preparedness standards; for example, while core subject GPAs are rising, ACT exam scores are at their lowest point in thirty years. This disparity draws attention to a gap that exists between pupils’ perceived and actual levels of preparedness.

While I anticipate that more universities will reinstate their mandates for standardized testing, I also anticipate that test-optional and test-blind policies. These policies serve not only to broaden application pools from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups but also as a strategy for financially challenged institutions to attract more applicants.

Notably, students report that the math section was more challenging than anticipated, which differs from their experiences with practice exams. In other testing news, the College Board launched the first digital SAT earlier this month, introducing a significant shift from its traditional format. This new version is adaptive and adjusts the difficulty level of questions based on the student’s responses, a departure from the fixed difficulty level of previous exams. The ACT, on the other hand, continues to offer both digital and traditional paper-and-pencil options. It is advised that students take diagnostic tests for both the SAT and the ACT to determine which exam is better suited to their abilities. I recommend leaning toward the ACT. This preference stems from its stability in format over the years and the choice it offers between digital and paper-based exams.

Students should adopt a two-pronged strategy in light of the changing testing landscape, which includes recent changes to the SAT. First, they should thoroughly study for standardized exams, but they should also be open to the idea of withholding their results in cases where test-optional regulations are in place.

Reevaluate The Significance Of Your College Essay

Duke University no longer rates candidates’ standardized test scores and essays numerically, which is a major alteration to the admissions process. The current application cycle began with this modification in place. In the past, Duke used a 30-point scale to calculate an overall score for essays and test results, ranging from one to five. Only the curriculum strength, academics, recommendations, and extracurricular activities are now subject to the point system.

Essay scores will no longer be assigned numerically due to worries about the increase in AI-generated entries and the potential for ghostwritten essays. The dean of undergraduate admissions, Christoph Guttentag, pointed out that while essays are essential for understanding an applicant’s background, their validity as measures of a student’s true writing talent has decreased.

This change is not a reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting racial preferences in admissions. Still, debates concerning increasing diversity in admissions have often centered around essays. It is anticipated that other colleges will follow suit and reduce the emphasis on essays, which will increase the value of academic transcripts, the breadth of extracurricular activities, and the necessity and relevance of the chosen major.

Apply as soon as possible

According to Common Application data in a New York Magazine article, the number of early applications—a mix of early decision and early action—has increased by 1 million, or 60%, in the last five years. On the other hand, throughout the same period, the number of applications filed during the usual decision period climbed by 26 percent. This indicates that seniors in high school are increasingly using early application choices as part of their college admissions plan, which is not surprising given how difficult it is to get into prestigious universities.

Handle The FAFSA Difficulties

Significant delays have resulted from the recent redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student help, which has an impact on students who depend on financial help to choose their college. Many students are in the dark regarding their financial aid packages and, as a result, their college options due to the current FAFSA predicament. In order to account for the delays, some colleges and universities are extending their decision deadlines; nonetheless, there is still concern that this may discourage a sizable portion of students from applying.

Families must participate early on in the FAFSA process by using resources like the College Board’s CSS Profile. They can assist in gaining access to a wide range of financial aid opportunities, including institutional merit-based scholarships and federal aid. As an illustration, using resources such as the Federal Student Aid Estimator and individual college’s net price calculators can provide early insights into eligibility for federal financial assistance, guiding strategic financial planning for college.

Learn the Art of College Admissions

Given the complexity of the 2024 college admissions environment, families and students are urged to adopt a multipronged strategy that is in line with the changing requirements of higher education. Flexibility and strategic planning are critical, as demonstrated by the ways in which prestigious universities like Dartmouth, Brown, and MIT have responded to the resurgence of standardized testing requirements, or Duke’s thoughtful assessment of college essays and the digitalization of the SAT. In addition, the increase in early application submissions emphasizes how proactive and well-informed decision-making are critical to achieving a favorable college admissions result. Through cultivating a comprehensive comprehension of these patterns and implementing a well-informed application approach, learners can augment their chances of accomplishing their academic goals and career aspirations in this dynamic admissions environment.