Jill Madenberg, MA School Counseling, CEP’s Post

It’s long been known that universities nationwide allow well connected insiders to recommend students for admission, but little has been known about how this process works at Brown and who writes the recommendations." The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. article shares some of the details. #collegeadmission #collegeplanning #collegedonations #legacyadmissions

There is often great confusion and skepticism surrounding test optional policies, with students and families wondering how the policy truly plays out in admissions decisions. The test optional landscape is ever shifting with policies differing among the institutions. How test scores and the lack of test scores come into play during admissions decisions are mostly not clearly communicated to applicants. Colleges are still figuring out how to navigate test scores, leaving students wondering how to proceed with testing submissions and applications. At this year’s annual National Association for College Admission Counseling conference, higher education experts discussed the benefits and drawbacks of test-optional policies and discussed the need for college leaders to clearly communicate their expectations to potential applicants and define what makes a strong applicant. Results from those admitted through test optional policies adopted during the pandemic have had mixed results. Some institutions report that with issues with inflated and inconsistent grading practices, tests are a better indicator of college readiness with one research showing performance of those admitted with test scores had higher college GPAs than those who did not submit scores. Other institutions, including those who had test optional policies prior to the pandemic, argue that there is no difference in performance and success between students who submitted scores and those who didn’t. Colleges will make their own adjustments as they see fit for their institution. In all this uncertainty and confusion for applicants, one thing is clear – we need more transparency in what the test optional policies actually means. #testoptional #SAT #ACT #collegeadmissions #testrequired Higher Ed Dive #MadenbergCollegeConsulting #LovetheJourneytoCollege @Madenberg College Consulting @Love the Journey to College

Princeton University is going to continue using legacy status as part of their undergraduate admission process. They report, “The legacy preference functions as a tie-breaker between equally well-qualified applicants in limited instances. In any given year, the vast majority (around 70 percent) of legacy applicants are denied admission. Of the alumni children who are admitted, the overwhelming majority are admitted regardless of the legacy preference and before any tie- breaker is considered. On average, the preference benefits fewer than 30 students per year, or less than two percent of admitted students." #collegeadmissions #legacyadmissions #collegeplanning #highschoolstudents

Princeton University will keep considering legacy status in its admissions process, justifying its usage by claiming that it is only used as a 'tie-breaker' between equally well-qualified applicants and thus impacts few applicants. #GreatCollegeAdvice #PrincetonUniversity #LegacyAdmissions #CollegeAdmissions

"It’s long been known that universities nationwide allow well connected insiders to recommend students for admission, but little has been known about how this process works at Brown and who writes the recommendations." The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. article shares some of the details. #collegeadmission #collegeplanning #collegedonations #legacyadmissions

Princeton University is going to continue using legacy status as part of their undergraduate admission process. They report, “The legacy preference functions as a tie-breaker between equally well-qualified applicants in limited instances. In any given year, the vast majority (around 70 percent) of legacy applicants are denied admission. Of the alumni children who are admitted, the overwhelming majority are admitted regardless of the legacy preference and before any tie- breaker is considered. On average, the preference benefits fewer than 30 students per year, or less than two percent of admitted students." #collegeadmissions #legacyadmissions #collegeplanning #highschoolstudents

Several prestigious selective universities have reinstated test score mandates in undergraduate admissions. However, whether this will lead to a sea change of other institutions reinstating requirements is questionable. #GreatCollegeAdvice #TestOptional #CollegeAdmissions

Good news and bad news, but mostly confusing news. Every year, colleges are getting more and more applications, driving acceptance rates down. Add in nationwide inconsistency in testing requirements after the pandemic, a long-standing lack of transparency in the admission process, and still-ongoing battles over forms of affirmative action and legacy admissions, and you’ve got a college admissions process that feels like trying to read hieroglyphics. This year is one of the toughest on record. If you’re applying to a highly selective private school, you can likely expect testing requirements and an even smaller acceptance rate than previous years. This article did some investigating into Duke’s admissions practices, and it’s not exactly hopeful. With only a 5% acceptance rate, even massively qualified perfect-fit students are going to get denied, likely more often than they get accepted–two thirds to three fourths of applicants get culled during the first round of admissions, meaning that a minimum of 25% seem good enough to make it further into the process. Bigger, less exclusive schools are faring better but only just: there’s widespread inconsistency on testing requirements (changing every day, in fact) and just like the Ivies, they’re seeing a larger pool of applicants every year. Well, I promised some good news, didn’t I? Despite some general opacity in the admissions process, the applications seem to be getting more manageable for students. Several schools which have reinstated testing have done so in a modified form to be more inclusive (Yale now allows subject tests and AP scores instead of only ACT and SAT scores) and others have overhauled some of their admissions entirely, either by adding waitlists, eliminating cumbersome application requirements, or lowering the number of supplemental materials needed. There’s no beating around the bush: the admissions process is both more competitive and more uncertain than it’s ever been, but it’s also (at least theoretically) getting easier on the students to get through. So worry not! Finish your applications diligently and hope for the best, and in the meantime, read College Rover to help take some of the anxiety about all of these decisions. We stay updated on admissions news so you don’t have to, and we’ve got all the info you’ll need to make an informed decision. Best of luck, and try not to worry yourselves sick! Source Article: https://lnkd.in/gU74d2MK

Starting with the fall 2026 undergraduate admissions cycle, Cornell University will once again require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of its admissions process. Cornell cited concerns that applicants withheld scores that could've benefited their applications and mentioned that admitted students who submitted test scores had "somewhat stronger GPAs" in college. #GreatCollegeAdvice #CollegeAdmissions #CornellUniversity #StandardizedTesting

Several prestigious selective universities have reinstated test score mandates in undergraduate admissions. However, whether this will lead to a sea change of other institutions reinstating requirements is questionable. #GreatCollegeAdvice #TestOptional #CollegeAdmissions