Google gives you namebrand, but highly selective colleges.

Your friends and family recommend what they know - which can be helpful, but is often a very small slice of the ~2,400 primarily 4-year degree granting institutions in the USA.

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And ChatGPT can do a pretty good job if you want to spend a LOT of time crafting custom prompts and going back-and-forth to refine your searches.

Here are 4 books that make the process easy, and are a great addition to any high school student’s library.

Fiske Guide To Colleges

https://a.co/d/2ji40O9

I’m not saying that if a college isn’t in this book it is not a good college. But, I am saying that if a college is listed in this book it is a very good college.

If you only get one college guidebook - this is it.

Pro tip: Use the lists at the front of the book (before the individual college pages). These often-overlooked lists help you narrow by state, price band, and even common majors. Also, walk the overlaps - like the Amazon shopping “people who looked at this also looked at that” - to find comparable colleges you may not be as familiar with.

Princeton Review - The Best 391 Colleges

https://a.co/d/hGAKrTU

TBH, there’s a lot of overlap between this book and the Fiske Guide.

What sets this book apart from the rest are the campus culture blurbs.

I’ve visited a LOT of colleges, and generally find these write-ups re: campus life and vibe to be spot-on representations of what it is actually like on those campuses.

Given that most high school students and families aren’t going to be able to travel and tour extensively to cross-compare, these write-ups are more than worth the $20 price of admission.

Colleges That Change Lives

https://a.co/d/4lUBOxy

If you are looking for smaller, liberal arts colleges this is your guidebook.

Also, you can see more about these colleges via the organisation’s website -

https://ctcl.org/

. This group of schools does attend college fairs/tours each year. Definitely worthwhile getting face time with their admissions staff to learn more.

Dream School

https://a.co/d/h0Swseg

This is a bad title (maybe an editor optimising for book sales?) for a good book.

The premise is one you’ve probably heard many times - almost all college students could benefit from looking outside a small handful of “named” colleges when searching for their best fit options.

What sets this book apart is that it actually names names.

You get a long list of colleges that are both really good schools and reasonable for most high school students to actually get admitted to.

But, even if you missed these - even if you haven’t started your applications yet - know that there is still plenty of time to apply to college.

Most colleges are still accepting applications well into winter and even spring.

• Yes, many ED/EA (that’s Early Decision and Early Action) deadlines are in late Oct/early Nov.

• No, that doesn’t mean options are gone.

• There are at least three more big chances to apply.

1. More Early Application Dates (in early January)

A quick recap:

• Early Decision (EDI, EDII). These are binding: if admitted, you enroll and withdraw other apps. Colleges like ED because it helps them manage yield and build their class early. Yield is the % of admitted students who actually enroll. Believe it or not, even Harvard has more than 15% of admitted students choose to enroll elsewhere (most colleges are below 50% yield).

• Early Action (EA). Earlier deadline, earlier decision (you hear back sooner, typically in December or early January). Decisions are non-binding, and you have more time to make up your mind about where to go.

Now because Early Decision is binding, you can only apply to one ED college at a time. And what if you don’t get admitted? Well, some colleges have realised this is an opportunity :), and so they offer a second chance to apply Early Decision, called EDII. In other words, you applied to College_A EDI, didn’t get in, but now have the opportunity to apply EDII at a College_B. EDII dates happen after students should have heard back from EDI and on/before the Regular Decision deadline.

Examples of schools that offer EDII include NYU (EDII: 1/1/2026), Boston College (EDII: 1/2/2026), Scripps College (EDII: 1/8/2026), Whitman College in my home state of Washington (EDII: 1/10/2026), and Tulane University (EDII: 1/15/2026).

Pro tip: I use the features in the Common App to find these deadlines. Choose ‘College Search’, then ‘Application Requirements’, and then sort the list by EDII.

2. Regular Decision (Mostly January, Some February)

Regular Decision is still the main path into many colleges, including very selective ones. For most students, this is where the bulk of the admissions action happens.

• You apply by a winter deadline (often around January 1–15, sometimes as late as early February).

• Decisions are released in March or early April.

• You can compare offers and financial aid packages before committing by May 1.

You still have months - literally - until these deadlines, so plenty of time to complete your Common App essay, get a letter of recommendation or two from a teacher, and submit your application.

3: Rolling Admission & Late Deadlines (Spring… and Sometimes Summer)

Some schools review applications as they arrive and keep admitting students into late spring, sometimes summer. Space fills over time. Earlier is better, but there is still a path usually late into spring.

Some very big name, nationally known schools often admit students well into spring: Penn State University, Arizona State University, and even Washington State University in my home state.

Important Fine Print: Deadlines Beyond “Just” the Application

Now, the one caution I will callout is that there can be other deadlines beyond the application, most notably around scholarships and financial aid. And, high-demand majors (nursing, engineering, business) can sometimes fill up before final application cut-off. And, on some campuses earlier admission -> earlier housing choice (better odds for first-choice dorms).

So, if you have the opportunity to apply earlier in the year that’s better. Don’t wait just because you don’t see a posted deadline.

Build your calendar around the earliest date you can get your apps complete and turned in, not just the last possible date to apply.

But the bottom line is that between ED II, Regular Decision, and rolling admission, there is still plenty of time, and plenty of choice, for you to put together a thoughtful, well-researched college list and submit strong applications.

According to an issue brief from the Strada Education Foundation, the share of first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving institutional grant aid at public four-year institutions increased from 49 percent to 62 percent between 2014–15 and 2021–22. The average discount rates increased from 24 percent to 31 percent over the same period.

Strada argued in the brief that tuition discounting sows confusion about the real cost of college among students and their parents. The practice also fuels increased public skepticism about the value of a college degree. It warned that growing financial uncertainty for public higher education could make the problem worse.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/10/03/report-tuition-discounts-fuel-higher-ed-skepticism

Fewer and fewer students are paying full price for college.

The average institutional tuition discount at private nonprofits: 56.3% for first-time, full-time freshmen; 51.4% across all undergrads (2024-25).

If you aren’t (yet) shopping for tuition discounts, you should be.

1. Run each school’s Net Price Calculator (NPC) to estimate your cost.

2. Check the school’s merit grid/scholarship page (automatic vs. competitive).

3. Apply Early to maximise your aid chances, and file FAFSA (for SAI, federal/state aid) and CSS Profile where required.

4. If circumstances change or you have a better peer offer, appeal politely

Two types of aid - fast definitions

• Merit aid (scholarships/tuition discounts): Awarded for academics, test scores, talent, leadership, athletics, arts, etc. Often funded by the college itself as institutional discounts (automatic grids or competitive awards), plus outside/private scholarships. Renewal usually requires a minimum GPA or credit completion.

• Need-based aid (from federal/state/institutional sources): Awarded based on family finances. Federal Student Aid uses the FAFSA to compute a Student Aid Index (SAI); many privates also use the CSS Profile for institutional aid. Packages can include grants (don’t repay), work-study, and loans. The net price is cost of attendance minus grants/scholarships. 

  • 100% demonstrated need met. A college promises to cover the entire gap between its cost of attendance and your family’s demonstrated ability to pay (based on FAFSA/CSS Profile). The aid package may include grants/scholarships, work-study, and—at some schools—loans. (Some colleges are “no-loan,” but many are not.) Here is a list: https://blog.collegevine.com/schools-that-meet-100-percent-financial-need

  • Need-blind admissions. A college reviews your application without looking at your ability to pay. Finances aren’t used in the admit/deny decision; aid is figured out after you’re admitted. Most colleges don’t do this! Again, here’s a list: https://blog.prepscholar.com/need-blind-colleges-list.

Helpful overview: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid

Merit aid

Automatic vs. competitive

Some colleges post transparent GPA/test-based awards (automatic merit). Others run named, competitive scholarships. Example of cost-clarity + public grid: Whitworth’s new model and GPA scale: https://www.whitworth.edu/cost-clarity/

News context: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/financial-aid/2025/10/02/whitworth-resets-tuition-amid-pleas-cost-transparency

How colleges use merit

Merit is an enrollment strategy - widen the funnel, shape the class, and compete on price/fit (especially outside the most selective, need-only schools). Translation: strong GPA/testers often see significant awards.

Stacking with outside scholarships

Policies differ. Many colleges will reduce loans/work first; some adjust institutional grants (meaning they reduce your scholarship amount). Read the school’s scholarship/financial-aid FAQ for “outside scholarship coordination.”

Renewal rules

Know the GPA/credit requirements to keep your award each year. Put renewal criteria and any “use-it-or-lose-it” fine print on your tracker.

Important caveat - who doesn’t offer merit?

A number of highly selective, need-only institutions (e.g., Harvard, Princeton) do not offer merit scholarships; aid is 100% need-based. If merit is essential to affordability, build a list with merit-friendly schools.

A list of schools that do NOT offer merit aid: https://www.successkoach.com/post/schools-that-offer-no-merit-scholarships.

A list of schools that are generous with merit aid: https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/63ec4747-bbde-42d5-802b-afc8b9bb505a/page/dFARD.

Need-based aid

FAFSA → SAI

File the FAFSA to unlock federal grants (e.g., Pell), work-study, and many state/institutional funds. Info hub: https://studentaid.gov/

State programs

Most states offer grants/scholarships (example for WA families: WSAC). Search your state higher-ed site.

Institutional need-based aid

Colleges allocate their own grants. Some publicize “meets full need” and/or “no-loan” policies. Action: verify on each college’s financial-aid page (meets-full-need? no-loan? need-blind vs. need-aware?).

CSS Profile at many privates

The CSS Profile (College Board) collects a deeper financial picture (assets, home equity, business ownership). Deadlines can be earlier than admissions.

Start here: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

How to Compare Financial Aid Offers

• Grants first, then work-study/loans.

• Compare net price across colleges using each school’s NPC and cross-check with College Scorecard (typical net price by income band, grad rates, and earnings).

  • NPC Center (finder): https://collegecost.ed.gov/net-price

  • College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Discounting + “tuition resets”: What It Means

Sticker vs. net price

Record discounting across both public and private colleges means published prices are poor predictors of what you’ll pay; use Net Price Calculators and College Scorecard data instead to estimate what you may pay.

“Cost clarity” models

Whitworth’s reset pairs a lower list price with transparent GPA-based scholarships - you can estimate earlier and avoid “apply first, price later.” Other schools have these as well: e.g. at Arizona State University: https://financialaid.asu.edu/estimator.

Expect more schools to experiment with transparency.

• Whitworth: https://www.whitworth.edu/cost-clarity/

• NACUBO TDS summary: https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2025/Tuition-Discounting-Study-Summary

• IHE overview on discounting/skepticism: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/10/03/report-tuition-discounts-fuel-higher-ed-skepticism

Timing & Ethics: Apply Early, Decide On Time

Apply early; file aid forms early

Priority aid and scholarship deadlines often hit before Regular Decision (think: fall of Senior year for best scholarship and financial aid opportunities). Put FAFSA/CSS/Profile and scholarship dates on your calendar.

Appeal politely (3-step script)

1. What changed: new financial info or special circumstances.

2. Comparable data: attach a peer offer (if appropriate) or clarify what $ you need

3. Respectful ask: “If possible, could you reconsider my grant to close the gap?”

Early Decision (ED) basics

ED is binding. Use each school’s NPC beforehand. If the package is not affordable, you may request a reconsideration with documentation; if unresolved, you can decline on affordability grounds. Note that while ED may give an admissions boost (at some highly selective schools), it often limits financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Deposits and deadlines

Compare offers through April. It can be okay to place a refundable housing deposit (if the college allows) while you compare, but do not double-deposit for admission. Decide by May 1 (or the college’s reply date).

More and more, colleges are “sweetening the deal” as the May 1 deadline approaches (and sometimes even past the deadline - ahem, Syracuse University) so it can literally pay to wait to make your enrollment decision.

There is a large “cast of characters” who specialise in different aspects of the college admissions process that can and will help you. And many of these resources are free (like this Substack).

Know who does what - school-based, community/nonprofit, college-side, outside pros, peer/family.

Engage help at the right time. This is (usually) 9th–12th grade, though can be post-enrollment for aid and success services.

Start with free resources, then add targeted paid help only where it moves the needle.

Verify credentials and ethics before hiring anyone.

The cast (who helps, when, and how)

1/ In-school team (usually free)

• School Counselor / College & Career Counselor. Course planning, graduation requirements, post-secondary advising, recommendation letters. Students generally have access in 9–12 grades; but the heaviest engagement tends to be in 11–12. Support is provided both 1:1 + group. 

• Teachers (Recommenders).Instruction, mentorship, authentic rec letters. 11–12; 1:1.

• 504/IEP Case Manager; School Psychologist. Accommodations and documentation pathway. Engage early; 1:1 + team.

• Testing/AP/IB Coordinator; Librarian/Media Specialist. Testing logistics and research help. 10–12 (testing); all years for research.

• High School Coach / Athletic Director (recruited athletes). Fit assessment, film, outreach aligned to NCAA recruiting calendars, connections with certain colleges. 10–12; 1:1.

• Music Director / Choir Director / Theatre Director / Art Teacher (fine arts pathways). Portfolio/audition guidance (repertoire, prescreens, adjudications), advice on BA vs BFA/BM pathways, summer intensives, recommendation letters, competition calendars. 9–12; 1:1 + ensemble/studio.

2/ Outside professionals (paid or mixed; use selectively)

• Independent Educational Consultant (IEC). Expert admissions guidance, project-manage apps, lists, timelines, essays, financial/aid, recruiting, and more; coaching; should not ghostwrite. SAT/ACT prep is usually a separate thing. 10–12; 1:1. Verify ethics and capabilities via IECA/HECA membership. 

• Essay Coach / Writing Tutor. Brainstorm, structure, feedback (your voice, not theirs). Rising 12–12; 1:1 (or sometimes group workshops).

• Test Prep (class/tutor/platform). For both SAT/ACT and sometimes subject-specific tests like AP/IB. Strategy, pacing, practice. 10–12; 1:1 or group.

• Financial Aid Specialist. FAFSA/CSS, award comparison, appeals. 12; 1:1. Though, consider leveraging official tools first (see below). 

• Scholarship Strategist. Local search focus, calendar, essay reuse plan. 11–12; 1:1 or group (avoid “guarantees”).

• Arts Portfolio / Audition Coach. Curation, prescreens, repertoire. 11–12; 1:1.

• Athletic Recruiting Advisor. Contact strategy, camps, rules literacy. 10–12; 1:1. Align to NCAA rules.

• Executive-Function/ADHD Coach; Mental Health Counselor. Planning systems; stress/anxiety management. Any year; 1:1.

• Neuropsych Evaluator (LD/ADHD). Formal testing for testing/college accommodations. As needed; 1:1.

• Interview / Communication Coach. Mock interviews, clarity, confidence. 12; 1:1.

• Gap-Year Advisor; Career Counselor/Aptitude. Structured alternatives; major/career clarity. 11–post-grad; 1:1.

3/ Free community & nonprofit supports

• Federal TRIO (e.g., Upward Bound, Talent Search). Long-term advising/tutoring for eligible students; college & aid navigation. Free; cohort + 1:1. Ask if your school hosts TRIO. 

• GEAR UP. Cohort-based college readiness beginning by 7th grade; free; school/district/state partners.

• College Advising Corps (near-peer advisers in high schools). Full-time, whole-school advising in partner schools; free to students. 

• Libraries, youth orgs, faith/community groups, state agencies. FAFSA nights, scholarship lists, workshops. Free or low cost.

4/ College-side helpers (pre- and post-admission)

• Admissions Representative. Your Q&A contact at a college; events; sometimes nuanced context (you can send them direct email, ask questions specific to your circumstances). Free; 10–12.

• Financial Aid Office. Policies, special circumstances, verification, professional judgment/appeals. Use the college’s Net Price Calculator (NPC) and the Federal Student Aid Estimator first. NPCs are required at Title IV schools, which is just about every college you’re like to consider; the FSA Estimator gives an early federal-aid estimate. 

• After you enroll. Orientation, academic advising, first-year success centers, writing/math centers, disability/access services, study abroad, career services, alumni mentors (tuition-funded).

5/ Peer & family & community network

• Parents/Guardians. Logistics, deadlines, forms, encouragement.

• Older Students/Alums. Fresh insights on majors, campus life, classes.

• Clubs/Student Leaders. Activity ideas; competition calendars.

• Online Communities (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc…). Verify tips against official sources; pay close attention to dates of posts as advice that could have been accurate may no longer be.

Takeaways (do these next)

Decide where you could use extra help and support. It is most likely not in all areas listed above.

List your free team (names + emails): school counselor, key teachers, and your top colleges’ admissions + aid contacts. 

If adding paid help, verify ethics (IECA or HECA), insist on clear scope/timeline, and keep the student’s voice in all writing. 

Athletes: map outreach to NCAA recruiting calendars (you can Google these) before you spend on showcases/camps, which generally don’t help. 

Arts, Music, Theatre, Architecture, Design, etc…: make sure to factor in portfolio creation and proof-points of your abilities well ahead of college admissions deadlines.

Your time (and patience) is finite. And requirements vary wildly across colleges and universities.

Knowing the workload helps you prioritise deadlines, and avoid last-minute surprises (e.g. honours apps, portfolios, letters of recommendation, etc…).

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Knowing the workload also helps you build your sequence.

Submit “Easy” apps first to bank early admits. Many colleges, especially large public universities, give you answers back in the first few weeks after you’ve submitted your app. Everyone likes a YES answer, and building early wins helps with momentum and motivation.

Progress also feels different when effort equals a finished application and not just a portion of an app. If you start with 10 schools, spending a few hours to submit 3 complete apps beats spending the same time on one crucial essay and ending the day with all 10 apps remaining.

Then, schedule “Normal” apps next.

Last, reserve dedicated blocks for “Difficult”, with earlier internal deadlines so that you’re continuing to make steady progress along the way.

Bucket A - “Easy” (single app, minimal writing, no SAT/ACT)

Schools in this category do not require any essays - not even the Common App essay (personal statement). They are test-optional, or in some cases test-blind. They don’t require letters of recommendation. And admission decisions are generally formula-driven, e.g. GPA + college prep courses = admit.

You can complete and submit these apps very quickly, usually in hours.

And, almost all schools in this category use the Common App, which saves you even more time. With the Common App you only have to fill out your personal information once, and then it is sent to all schools.

Examples:

• Arizona State University. No personal essay; no rec letters required; test-optional.

• University of Montana. No essay; no LORs required; test-optional (scores may be used for placement).

Bucket B - “Normal” (one essay, sometimes a bit of extra writing, no SAT/ACT)

Plan on writing one strong personal essay, the Common App essay (personal statement). And, occasionally, a short-answer question or two for school-specific responses about major choice or activities.

Letters of recommendation requirements vary, but if you’ve secured just one from a core subject teacher (English, math, science, social studies) you’ll usually be golden.

And colleges and universities in this bucket are all test-optional, or test-blind.

Examples:

• University of Washington. Required personal statement; no letters of recommendation accepted.

• University of Oregon. Personal essay required; test-optional; letters generally not required for baseline admission (honors adds writing).

Bucket C - “Difficult” (custom rules, multiple essays, special policies)

Colleges in this bucket are - quite unfortunately - the drivers of most of the info about admissions you read on social media and the internet. They’re complicated!

You may need to: (a) calculate/understand a custom high-school GPA formula to know if you’re a competitive applicant, (b) pick specific colleges and/or majors, and understand how these choices impact your admission chances, (c) write multiple essays, (d) track major-specific add-on questions and info, (e) decide on an admission plan such as Early Decision vs Early Action vs Regular Decision, and more…

Testing policies vary by university, but you’re more likely to encounter colleges that require standardised tests.

Expect a lot more pre-work to gauge competitiveness (e.g., UC GPA, UT rank context) and all the hoops you’ll need to jump through just to be able to fully submit your application.

Examples:

• University of California (all campuses). UC application (not Common App); 4 of 8 Personal Insight Questions (max 350 words each); no LORs at time of application (some campuses may later request); test-free (SAT/ACT not considered). UC-specific GPA rules (10–11th “a-g,” weighted/capped), UC-specific high-school course requirements (called “A-G requirements”).

• University of Michigan. Common App personal essay plus two UM supplements; one teacher evaluation required; choose a U-M school/college (LSA, Engineering, etc.) on the app; some colleges have extra steps. Test-optional. Also, different admission plans - e.g. Early Decision vs Early Action vs Regular Decision.

• University of Texas at Austin. Main essay + several short answers; choose first/second-choice majors; SAT/ACT required starting Fall 2025 entry. LORs optional; portfolios/auditions for some majors.

Honours Colleges and Special Programs

If you’re applying to honours, you need to treat it like a separate “normal/difficult” mini-app. There are often extra essays, required letters of recommendation, and earlier deadlines.

As an example, the Barrett honours college at Arizona State University requires two letters of recommendation and essays even though the general ASU app requires neither.

And arts/architecture/music and sometimes even business programs may require portfolios or auditions.

A Quick Triage Checklist To Gauge Level of Effort

1. App platform & baseline writing: Common App vs custom application platform; # of required essays.

2. Testing policy: Test-required, test-optional, or test-free this cycle. (Policies change, so confirm on their website.)

3. Recommendations: Required/optional/not accepted? How many? Who? 

4. College/major choice on app: Y/N; any extra steps (e.g., Michigan college selection, UT major choice).  

5. Extras: Honors deadlines, portfolios, auditions, custom application pre-reqs, custom GPA calculations, high-school course requirements (e.g. UC A-G requirements).

“The University of Michigan has announced it will offer an Early Decision (ED) option to high school students applying to the school in the coming application cycle, a move that secures enrollments for the university at an earlier stage.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/annaesakismith/2025/07/10/university-of-michigan-to-offer-early-decision-option-to-upcoming-applicants/

This is an acceleration of a trend.

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Michigan is of course the flagship state university in Michigan. But, did you know that 45% of their incoming freshman class is actually made up of non-Michigan residents? And this doesn’t even include international students.

In other words, the state school of Michigan is largely made up of students from elsewhere.

Michigan, like many other states, isn’t (or can’t) fully fund its state institutions, and so those schools use full-pay out-of-state and international students to make up for budget shortfalls. Yes, I’m picking on them a bit. But their out-of-state cost of attendance is $84K/year for lower school students and goes up to $88K/year for juniors and seniors!

Adding an ED option ensures Michigan is able to “lock-in”, early in the class of 2026 enrollment process, these full-pay out-of-state and international students. And as more of their incoming class fills up via early decision applicants, there will be less available to those students who choose to apply later and weigh their options.

Most colleges - not just Michigan - will continue to strongly prefer candidates who apply early, through any of the available application plans (ED, EA, RD, rolling, etc…).

I’ve talked about the importance of getting apps into colleges as early as possible senior year (here and here).

But this deserves repeating…

The single most important way to maximise your chances, and choices, in college admissions is to apply early.

“Early” means having your applications submitted by Oct-31.

And it doesn’t just mean Early Decision. It means regardless of admission plan, turn in your app.

Let me break this down into three simple parts:

1. Why colleges reward early applicants

2. What fills early (and why you’ll want to submit by Oct-31)

3. A small list of exceptions

Why Colleges Reward Early Applicants

Capacity & shaping: Earlier files are read when the incoming class, majors, scholarships, and special programs are most open.

Budget timing: Merit money and program spots are allocated throughout the cycle, and more is available earlier. Also, colleges are businesses - and securing paying customers early (enrolled students) means greater budget certainty for the institution.

Operational reality: Complete, early files reduce uncertainty; colleges love them and often move them faster.

And by admission plan -

• Early Decision, aka ED (binding): Historically higher admit rates; earliest read; strongest interest signal.

• Early Action, aka EA (non-binding): Often priority for merit/honors/programs and also typically comes with an admissions boost while keeping options open. Seen by colleges as “demonstrating interest”.

• Regular Decisions, aka RD submitted early: You’re in the front half of the queue while more seats and dollars remain. Plus, many colleges give you an answer within a few weeks of submitting your app. Getting back “yes” answers early in your senior year can feel great!

• Rolling: Truly first-come, first-served. Programs and scholarships can fill by late fall.

More on the trend towards preferencing early applicants…

In 2018-2019, Middlebury College admitted 26% of all its incoming freshmen via early admission plans. In 2024, it was 68%.

In 2018-2019, Claremont McKenna College admitted 33% of all its incoming freshmen via early admission plans. In 2024, it was 67%.

In 2018-2019, Boston University admitted 9% of all its incoming freshmen via early admission plans. In 2024, it was 59%.

What fills early (and why you’ll want to be in line by Oct-31)

Direct-admit / impacted majors (CS, nursing, business, engineering).

Honors colleges, living-learning communities, scholars programs.

Priority scholarship deadlines (often Nov 1/Nov 15/Dec 1).

Housing selection order (at some schools).

Large publics with early “regular” deadlines. Some examples: University of Washington, University of California system, etc… These can be surprisingly early. University of Washington in my home state, for example, has a regular decision deadline of Nov-15.

The older, assumed deadline of applying to colleges by Jan-1 just isn’t how many colleges operate today.

Exceptions, e.g. “I’m waiting on SAT/ACT or fall grades—now what?”

Don’t let one pending data point impact your whole college list.

Split your colleges into two buckets: (1) schools that you can apply to right now that are test-optional, accept scores after submission, or don’t need first-semester grades (or where a change in grades is likely to have little impact); (2) schools that truly require the new info for a realistic bump.

Submit every app in bucket 1 by Oct-31.

And be realistic with bucket 2. Is getting a small GPA boost or a higher SAT score really going to significantly increase your chances?

Here’s how to segment your list:

• Apply early to schools that are test-optional, accept scores later, or don’t need fall grades to decide.

• Hold back only the few that truly require new scores/grades for a realistic bump.

• Submit, then update:

  • Most colleges allow scores to arrive after the app; counselor documents often follow.

  • Use portals to upload new scores and let colleges know when to expect them.

  • Maximize EA/Rolling: Lock in early reads of your apps where available while you gather new data for a small remainder list.

  • If testing again: Keep your app moving. Don’t delay essays, activities, and recs; only the score report waits.

There’s a college (maybe more than one) that is “right” for every college-bound student.

The difficulty lies in finding matches.

Let me give a concrete example using three different public colleges with similar sounding names.

1. Arizona State University (ASU)

2. Oregon State University (OSU)

3. Florida State University (FSU)

Many of us would assume that universities with “State” in their name are broadly similar… large public schools with comparable admissions, costs, and campus experiences.

But in reality these schools are wildly different in how hard they are to get into, what they cost, and what life is like once you’re there.

If you base your college list only on name recognition or assumptions, you could overlook better-fit options or misunderstand what a school will actually be like.

1. Admissions

Acceptance Rates

• ASU: 88% (63,756 admitted of 70,928 applicants)

  • In-state: 92% (17,519 admitted of 19,121 applicants)

  • Out-of-State: 89% (38,249 admitted of 42,895 applicants)

• OSU: 77% (23,418 admitted of 30,293 applicants)

  • In-state: 85% (7,298 admitted of 8,582 applicants)

  • Out-of-State: 77% (15,681 admitted of 20,268 applicants)

• FSU: 24% (18,954 admitted of 78,272 applicants)

  • In-state: 32% (13,108 admitted of 41,156 applicants)

  • Out-of-State: 17% (5,308 of 32,018 applicants)

Middle 50% SAT/ACT (Enrolled First-Year Students)

• ASU: Didn’t publish this data last year

• OSU: SAT 1160–1390; ACT 24–31

  • Only 10% of enrolled students submitted SAT, 4% submitted ACT

• FSU: SAT 1290–1400; ACT 29–32

  • 64% of enrolled students submitted SAT; 36% submitted ACT

Test Policy

• ASU: Test-optional

• OSU: Test-optional

• FSU: Test-required (SAT or ACT mandatory for admission)

Average GPA (this is most likely weighted)

• ASU: 3.5

  • 37% of students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher

  • 15% of students were in the bottom half of their graduating HS class

• OSU: 3.7

  • 51% of students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher

  • 14% of students were in the bottom half of their graduating HS class

• FSU: 4.26 (3.71 unweighted)

  • 51% of students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher

  • 1.6% of students were in the bottom half of their graduating HS class

Percent of Out-of-State Students Enrolled

• ASU: 31%

• OSU: 46%

• FSU: 20%

Notable Differences

ASU offers assured admission for in-state students meeting GPA/class rank benchmarks and is home to the well-regarded Barrett Honors College. OSU uses holistic review and participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) out-of-state discounted tuition program for some majors. FSU is much more selective, with required testing and a competitive honors program.

Takeaway

These schools live in different admissions worlds.

ASU is open to a wide range of students, especially in-state applicants who meet GPA or class rank thresholds.

OSU sits in the middle—more selective than ASU but still broadly accessible, and its WUE program is a draw for many out-of-state students.

FSU is an entirely different conversation: highly selective, test-required, and admitting only a small fraction of out-of-state applicants.

FSU is a reach for almost everyone out-of-state, OSU is a realistic option for strong students, and ASU is accessible to most who meet baseline criteria.

2. Cost & Value

Tuition & Fees (2024–25)

• ASU: In-state $11,478; Out-of-state $32,394

• OSU: In-state $12,675; Out-of-state $37,860; WUE $18,068

• FSU: In-state $4,640; Out-of-state $19,806

Room & Board

• ASU: $16,712

• OSU: $18,168

• FSU: $13,474

Average Non-Need Based Aid (aka Scholarship)

• ASU: $8,687

  • 36% of non-need freshman received a scholarship

• OSU: $9,250

  • 42% of non-need freshman received a scholarship

• FSU: $4,447

  • 14% of non-need freshman received a scholarship

Special Programs

• ASU: Strong merit aid, including for out-of-state students.

• OSU: WUE tuition discount for eligible students from participating western states/majors.

• FSU: Bright Futures can nearly cover tuition for qualifying Florida residents.

Takeaway

Cost changes dramatically depending on where you live.

For Florida residents, FSU is almost unbeatable on price, and Bright Futures can make it close to free. This helps to explain why FSU is so competitive to get into… it’s a great deal for in-state students.

And, even FSU’s out-of-state cost makes it attractive to some students - e.g. FSU out-of-state is $41K while UC Santa Barbara is $78K and University of Michigan is $84K / year!

OSU’s WUE discount can be a game-changer for students from participating western states - sometimes bringing the cost below ASU.

ASU’s generous merit aid can shrink the out-of-state gap for strong applicants.

The big takeaway is don’t look at sticker prices in isolation.

Your actual cost will depend on residency, merit aid, and whether you qualify for special programs.

3. Graduation & Retention

First-Year Retention

• ASU: 87%

• OSU: 88%

• FSU: 96%

4-Year Graduation Rate

• ASU: 56%

• OSU: 47%

• FSU: 74%

6-Year Graduation Rate

• ASU: 70%

• OSU: 70%

• FSU: 86%

Takeaway

FSU’s retention and graduation rates are exceptional. Students not only stay but also finish on time at rates that beat most public universities.

I think there is a reasonable discussion to be had about whether FSU’s successes are because of the school or because the school only admits high-calibre students (it’s probably a bit of both).

ASU and OSU lag in four-year completion, which may reflect more students switching majors, working while in school, or taking advantage of co-ops and internships. It may also, again, be a factor of ASU and OSU admitting more students who may not be as strong academically (e.g. providing more opportunity).

If graduating in four years is a priority, the numbers suggest FSU has the edge, but all three will get most students across the finish line if they persist.

4. Campus & Culture

Arizona State University (Tempe)

Urban setting in Phoenix metro; 642-acre campus. Known for innovation, research, arts, and its Barrett Honors College, which may be the best at any public college in the USA. Also has a large online education offering, which in recent years has meant that many on-campus students have ended up taking some online courses.

Oregon State University (Corvallis)

Classic college-town feel in a 420-acre arboretum-like campus in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Over 400 student organizations, strong outdoor culture, and active student media.

Florida State University (Tallahassee)

Historic campus in Florida’s capital city, 486 acres. More than 750 student organizations, ranked top in Florida and #6 nationally for student life. Exceptional retention and graduation rates signal strong academic support.

Takeaway

The vibes could not be more different.

ASU offers a sprawling, urban, innovation-driven experience with a major honors college and lots of flexibility. But, sometimes that means taking online classes even while living on campus. Ample sunshine though!

OSU leans into the quintessential college-town feel, with an outdoorsy, tight-knit community. Expect lots of rain and cloudy days. It’s also a much smaller student population.

FSU blends tradition, big-school spirit, and a capital-city location with standout student life rankings. Student life and athletic events are top-notch.

5. ROI & Outcomes

Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry

• ASU: $62,668

• OSU: $64,010

• FSU: $61,675

20-Year NPV

• ASU: $492,000

• OSU: $464,000

• FSU: $460,000

Takeaway

I think this may be the most surprising statistic to many: long-term earnings are almost identical across the three schools.

Graduates from each make roughly the same ten years out, and 20-year net present values are within $30K of each other.

This tells you that prestige and selectivity aren’t the only drivers of financial payoff.

If all else is equal, pick based on cost, academic fit, and the environment where you’ll thrive, because the earnings data says you can get to a similar place from any of them.

Putting It All Together

“State” in the name doesn’t necessarily mean similar.

Admissions competitiveness, cost, student outcomes, and campus experience vary dramatically.

ASU is broadly accessible with strong merit aid and a large, dynamic campus.

OSU blends a classic college-town setting with access-oriented admissions and WUE discounts.

FSU is highly selective with exceptional retention and graduation rates.

Interestingly, ROI across these three schools is surprisingly similar, which means fit—academic, financial, and cultural—should drive decision-making more than brand familiarity alone.

APPENDIX: Data Sources

You might be wondering where this data came from. Sadly, it requires quite a bit of cobbling things together.

• Common Data Sets for each college: ASU, OSU, FSU

• College Scorecard, e.g. OSU

• Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce

• Google searches and summaries for campus life and culture

https://www.commonapp.org/files/Whats-New-25-26.pdf

If you’re a rising High School Senior - the Class of 2026 (college Class of 2030) - your turn is now.

Subscribe now

The Common App opened for you on August 1.

It’s time to create your account, add your colleges, and start applying.

What’s Different This Year?

Three changes:

1. Fresh visual design (navigation renamed My Common Application, progress bars everywhere). Screenshots in each guide below have been updated so you know where every button lives.

2. Additional Information question trimmed from 650 → 300 words.

3. “Community Disruption” prompt renamed and broadened to “Challenges & Circumstances”.

What’s Stayed the Same?

Also noting what didn’t change… the Common App essay prompts (also known as your “personal statement”) are the same prompts as last year.

The distribution of what prompts students are choosing to answer (or link their essay to) is very interesting!

https://www.commonapp.org/files/Whats-New-25-26.pdf

Section-by-Section Playbook

Every post has been refreshed for the 2025-26 user experience update.

• Profile – demographics, pronouns, citizenship tips

• Family – how (and when) to list step-parents

• Education – transcript quirks, IB/dual-enrollment hacks

• Testing – self-report vs official scores, ACT “science-optional” update

• Activities – 150-character power verbs & the new Responsibilities checklist

• Writing Essays – main essay framework + fresh examples

• Courses & Grades – self-reporting and official transcript submits

• College Questions – decoding “preferred start term,” direct-admit majors

• Supplemental Essays – school-specific prompts

• Recommenders & FERPA – waive or not? And how to nudge tardy teachers

• Submitting – payment, preview PDF, final once-over checklist

This is particularly true of the class of 2026 (rising high school seniors who will begin applying to colleges in just a few short weeks), who have never known a world without iPhones.

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Generation Beta, the generation born starting this year, is set to be the first generation to be raised in a world where AI is embedded into daily life, making them "AI natives".

Today’s college-bound students must learn to work with AI on a compressed timeline. And this impacts how they approach college.

Two questions I hear often:

1. Will my college degree still matter?

2. Is AI’s impact over- or under-hyped?

Will My College Degree Matter?

We read about AI already being better at math than most, providing more accurate medical diagnoses than most, and potentially obviating many other esteemed knowledge-based career paths. We also read about AI “agents”, AI already doing the work of, and obviating the need for, humans.

And of course we read warnings about computer science as a career path.

We don’t yet know which jobs AI will replace, and which it will transform.

But college has always been about two things:

1. Learning how to learn.

“Gen Z can expect to have 16-17 jobs across 5-7 careers.”

https://study.uq.edu.au/stories/how-many-career-changes-lifetime

In high school, many of us sped through assignments just to check a box.

I don’t think this is the fault of students - it's a systemic issue.

Today’s college students will travel many paths over the course of their careers. And they will need to retool. Again and again.

The ability for students to teach themselves will outlast any specific AI skill.

A lifelong desire to learn will outlast any short term gains.

So it’s probably not so much what college students learn re: specific domain knowledge or expertise. In time, AI will probably do better than the majority of experts across just about every domain.

It is instead that college students have discovered how they learn, and to embrace learning opportunities.

2. Building human relationships.

You also go to college to meet and discover how to get along with people.

You broaden your horizons. You cross paths with other students from different backgrounds and with different stories from your own. You experience inter-personal conflict (e.g. roommate drama, group projects, etc…) and how to navigate it.

And you start building your network.

I met my wife in college.

Relationships paved my way to jobs post graduate school.

In the age of AI, human-to-human relationships are likely to have even more value.

College is the place to forge networks that will last far longer than any AI algorithm’s memory.

Is AI’s impact over- or under-hyped?

I’m reminded of this Bill Gates line:

"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years."

In one year’s time, we’re probably not going to have AI systems that can do everything you and I can do. Or see the arrival of the much-hyped “Superintelligence”.

But over a longer period of time? It does seem pretty likely.

I continue to argue that AI’s impact is under-hyped.

Today’s AI models are impressive, and they’re only going to get better. We’re probably under-estimating how deeply AI will reshape every field.

Which is why college-bound students need to focus on skills machines can’t easily replicate - resilience and authenticity.

Resilience

When (“when”, not “if”...) AI upends your chosen field, you won’t panic… you’ll pivot.

As just one recent example of “wait… AI can now do that???” - Isomorphic Labs Prepares to Launch Human Trials for AI-Designed Drugs.

If you're a student planning a career in everything from medicine to philosophy, this probably impacts you and your future. There will be many more advances like this in the future.

A life-skill for the college-bound student is resilience.

Practice recovery. Treat failures as data, and analyze, iterate, and advance.

Treat advances in technology that impact you as moments to invest in yourself.

It’s a human life skill to be able to bounce back stronger.

Authenticity

AI can draft essays, solve equations, even brainstorm ideas.

But it cannot fully replicate your authentic self.

Use AI as a tool, not a substitute.

Honor course policies. Some professors embrace AI; others forbid it. The same goes for completing college apps (the University of Michigan’s law school application now has a question specifically designed so that applicants *must* use AI; Cal Tech outlines “ethical use” in order to encourage authenticity).

Own your voice and submit work that reflects your perspective, not just an AI’s.

Your quirks, values, and insights are assets.

Don’t seed these to AI.

Students, What Should You Do Next?

1. Choose growth-oriented colleges.

This means seeking schools that best cultivate your ability to learn how to learn, build relationships, foster resilience, and speak with your authentic voice.

Admittedly, these attributes aren’t necessarily hard facts and figures that you can compare (sure, many of you would prefer to zoom-in on a college’s admission % for applying ED vs RD, but these other less measurable attributes may be more important).

To do this well you’re going to need to go a click deeper, and talk to the schools. Visit them. And even hear from other students who attend.

It might also require looking beyond the “best” label other people have assigned to a college or university and really being honest with yourself about what is “best” - for you.

2. Invest in relationships.

Prioritize communities where you will need to grow socially, and that have active student engagement.

3. Build your resilience muscle.

Embrace challenges, solicit feedback, iterate.

4. Adopt AI responsibly, now.

Think of all the ways AI use can help you as college-bound students right now:

• Research topics

• Refine arguments

• Study

• Communicate with clarity

• Plan

• Ideate

• More…

Experiment with tools, learn ethical guidelines, but always add your human touch.

For example -

Our brain wants to translate this into “… so I have an X% chance of getting admitted”.

Actually, it’s “...so I have an X% chance of getting admitted… just like everyone else does”.

But this is incorrect.

Everyone does not have the stated X% chance of getting admitted.

Because X% does not take into account context.

Context

Context is your unique circumstances matched to a college’s unique circumstances.

Every student has a story to tell. Their story includes academic profile, home life, choices of activities out of school, and so on. This is a student’s context.

Every college and university has a story to tell. Their story includes short-term needs - e.g. more students who are business majors, more students living on campus so they can max-out capacity in that new dorm, etc… - and long-term needs that reflect their priorities, goals, and mission. This is the college’s context.

Colleges admit students when there is really strong overlap between the two stories.

The amount of overlap, and the weight given by colleges and universities to certain stories, is your actual admission chance.

Admissions rates are an aggregate - they don’t distinguish between different types of applicants.

Context happens across the following dimensions (and this is not a complete list).

Academics

Colleges look at GPA, the strength of your coursework, and (if submitted) test scores to assess readiness for college-level work.

This is highly variable by major, as you might expect. Trying to major in Computer Science or Engineering and didn’t do well in math? Or didn’t take AP Calculus? Or maybe your high school didn’t even offer Calculus?

Context.

Time Spent Outside the Classroom

Activities - like clubs, jobs, caregiving, or community service - help colleges understand what matters to you and how you’ve spent your time. This includes how deeply you participated, whether you held leadership roles, and so on.

Context.

Application Materials

Essays and recommendations give insight into your character, voice, values, and how others see you.

Context.

Awards and Recognition

Honors at the school, state, or national level can help distinguish your application and highlight excellence in a specific area.

Context.

Athletics, Arts, and Other Special Talents

Exceptional ability in sports, music, dance, or other areas may make you a priority if the college needs your talent.

Context.

First Generation

If your parents didn’t graduate from college (or didn’t graduate from college in the USA), that can help admissions officers better understand your path.

Context.

Income

Some colleges seek to enroll more low-income students, while others rely heavily on students who can pay full tuition.

Context.

State and/or Country of Residence

Where you live can impact your odds, especially at public universities or colleges seeking geographic diversity.

Context.

Alumni Relation

If your parent or close relative attended the college, that legacy connection may be a factor in your favor.

Context.

Religious Affiliation

At some colleges, a shared religious background can be viewed positively, particularly when aligned with institutional values.

Context.

Demonstrated Interest

When colleges track it, visiting campus, attending info sessions, or applying early can show that you’re genuinely excited to attend.

Context.

Institutional Priorities

Every college has goals it’s trying to meet - like boosting enrollment in certain majors or increasing diversity or paying its bills - which shape who gets admitted.

Context.

When “3.59%” Doesn’t Mean You Have a 3.59% Chance

A treasure trove of data has been released about elite college’s admissions process as a result of recent court cases. (What I’m about to describe most certainly is the case at many other colleges and universities, we just don’t have access to the same detailed data as schools aren’t typically willingly to volunteer this type of information.)

What it shows is the distinct advantages given to applicants with certain contexts.

Not surprisingly, context around a student’s financial situation has an outsized impact. Wealth is a big boost. But perhaps what is surprising is that this wealth boost comes not at the expense of students with the least means, but rather the upper middle class cohort.

Recruited athletes are often admitted with lower academic qualifications than their peers, and tend to come from higher-income families. This is true not only of “bougie” sports like squash and fencing, but also mainstream sports like track and field, basketball, football, and the like.

The money quote from the research study -

Admissions is nuanced, and so context matters

• A 3.9 GPA student from New Jersey applying to NYU may have different odds than a 3.9 GPA student from rural Idaho.

• A student applying in-state to a large flagship university may face entirely different admissions odds than out-of-state applicants.

• A nationally ranked oboist applying to a college with a top music program could be admitted even if their academic metrics are slightly below average.

• A student applying to a highly-competitive program (or major) may face different odds than if they apply to a less-competitive program.

• A student whose parent attended the college, or who applies Early Decision, might be considered differently than others in the same pool.

• A student from a low-income background applying test-optional and with below mid-point grades may still be very competitive if the college values economic diversity.

• And students from very wealthy families probably have a distinct advantage just about everywhere.

Instead of chasing a single admissions number, focus on what you can control.

Your academic and extracurricular growth.

The quality of your application materials.

The depth of your college research.

There is a surprisingly big difference between a college’s “exclusivity”, e.g. accepting a very low % of applicants and/or being very “desirable”, and a college’s proven ability to produce the highest-achieving members of society.

Research shows that only a narrow set of institutions—the “Elite 34”—truly dominate when it comes to producing the nation’s most powerful and influential people.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03547-8

The most influential people in many sectors of American society—politics, the military, business, science, academia, arts, and the media—often wield considerable power, and their decision-making and gatekeeping activities have bearing on the broader culture.

…

Attending one of just 34 institutions of higher education out of the roughly 4000 in the U.S. appears to be a critical and surprising factor separating extraordinary achievers from others in their fields.

…

We found that exceptional achievement is surprisingly strongly associated with“elite” education, especially obtaining a degree from Harvard, and the general public tends to underestimate the size of this effect.

What the Research Found

This peer-reviewed study examined over 26,000 extraordinary achievers across 30 fields—politics, media, business, academia, science, and the arts .

• Over half (54%) of these top achievers attended just 34 institutions out of the nearly 4,000 in the U.S.

• Harvard alone accounted for 16%—an 80x overrepresentation compared to the general U.S. population

• These schools aren’t just “hard to get into”, they’re pipelines to power

The List: Who Are the ‘Elite 34’?

(listed alphabetically)

Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Caltech, Carleton, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Harvey Mudd, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMichigan, Notre Dame, UPenn, UVA, Vanderbilt, WashU St. Louis, Williams, Yale.

False Equivalencies: Not All Selective Colleges Are the Same

An example: UC Berkeley makes the Elite 34. But all other UC campuses—even highly selective ones like UCLA, which BTW is the most applied to college in the USA—don’t.

The same concept applies to: elite-adjacent privates (e.g., Boston College, USC, Wake Forest, Emory), other prestigious publics (University of Texas, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech, etc…), or honors colleges at flagship publics.

These schools no doubt offer fantastic educations, but they do not have the same representation amongst societal leaders.

So, What Should High-Achieving Students Do?

Don’t confuse prestige with power. A college can be rigorous, well-known, and beloved, and still not be part of this elite power cluster.

If your goals include leadership in politics, media, science, or big business, consider targeting schools from this list—but be realistic about competitiveness.

Also, be honest about goals. For many students, a strong undergraduate experience, personalized attention, and career prep may matter more than elite-network access. Keep this in mind when crafting your college list.

Last, if you’re drawn to one of these 34 schools because of their prestige, but aren’t aiming to be a public-facing leader, that’s okay too. Just make sure your decision is grounded in academic fit, campus culture, and the kind of four-year experience you want. These schools can offer exceptional resources and opportunities, but they aren’t automatically the “best” for every student.

If we want a society where leadership reflects more than a handful of institutions, we have work to do. But for now, the data is clear: “elite” has a specific, and narrow, meaning. Knowing this truth can help you make better, more informed choices.

Let’s get to discovering more of these to help you find your best fit.

Southwest CS Leaders

Colleges in the Southwest with leading computer science programs

YouTube link

1. University of Texas [Austin, TX]

2. Arizona State University [Tempe, AZ]

3. Rice University [Houston, TX]

4. UT Dallas [Dallas, TX]

5. Colorado School of Mines [Golden, CO]

Southeast Design Innovators

Colleges in the Southeast known for innovative art or design programs

YouTube link

1. Savannah College of Art & Design [Savannah, GA]

2. Ringling College of Art & Design [Sarasota, FL]

3. Auburn University [Auburn, AL]

4. Centre College [Danville, KY]

5. UNC Asheville [Asheville, NC]

West Coast Niche Majors

Colleges on the West Coast with unique niche majors rarely found elsewhere

YouTube link

1. Cal Poly Humboldt [Arcata, CA] - Botany

2. University of Washington [Seattle, WA] - Astrobiology

3. UC Davis [Davis, CA] - Viticulture & Enology

4. University of Oregon [Eugene, OR] - Sports Product Design

5. UC Riverside [Riverside, CA] - Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations

“Chinese AI companies have temporarily paused some of their chatbot features to prevent students from using them to cheat during nationwide college exams, Bloomberg reports.

…

When asked to explain the suspension, Bloomberg reports the Yuanbao and Kimi chatbots responded that functions had been disabled “to ensure the fairness of the college entrance examinations.”

…

The rigorous multi-day “gaokao” exams are sat by more than 13.3 million Chinese students between June 7-10th, each fighting to secure one of the limited spots at universities across the country.

…

The gaokao entrance exam incites fierce competition as it’s the only means to secure a college placement in China, driving concerns that students may try to improve their chances with AI tools.”

While there are undoubtedly downsides to a college admission system based mostly, or entirely, on objective measures like standardised tests, there is a certain predictability to it. What you see is what you get.

In just about every way, such a highly predictable system could not be more different than the college admissions system in place at most USA universities, which relies on a combination of objective and subjective measures to determine admissions.

This system is called “holistic admissions”.

For parents in the USA, this means the college admissions process won’t just evaluate your student’s grades or test scores. It will also consider character, activities, interests, challenges, and how they’ve grown. That can feel empowering. Or, exhausting.

https://www.nacacnet.org/factors-in-the-admission-decision/

What do colleges look at in holistic admissions?

“Holistic admissions” means that colleges look not just at grades and test scores when determining who to admit, but a combination of factors drawn from academic background and performance, socioeconomics, and even personality and character traits.

Each college gives different weight (importance) to each of these factors, making it more difficult to understand what factors are most important in determining your chances of admission.

Which factors exactly?

Here’s a list (yes, it is intentionally long) -

Academic:

• Rigor of secondary school

• Class rank

• Academic GPA

• Standardised test scores

• Application essay

• Recommendation(s)

Non-Academic:

• Interview

• Extracurricular activities

• Talent/Ability

• Character/personal

• First generation

• Alumni relation

• Geographical residence

• State residency

• Religious affiliation

• Volunteer work

• Work experience

• Level of applicant’s interest (aka demonstrated interest)

• Applicant’s financial situation and ability to pay

• Other “hooks” (e.g. fame and fortune)

Colleges often describe “holistic admissions” as a consideration of a wider range of factors that take into account academic achievements but also the recommendations of others (teachers, counselors), how you spend your time outside of school (extracurricular activities), and even personal qualities and life experiences.

It is true that opportunity is very uneven across the United States. Access to what most probably consider basic amenities in a public high school setting is not on-par (or even close to fair) across school districts in the USA.

Those in favour of “holistic admissions” often point to better understanding of a student’s academic performance given their unique context and circumstances as an important role of this admissions practice.

But, on the other hand, the practice of “holistic admissions” only seems to fuel the race to “do more”. In an attempt to really shine - when how you spend all hours of your high school life are seemingly part of the admissions decision - students and their families can often look to the more is better ethos.

Sure, you could take an AP course, but wouldn’t taking 5 AP courses “do more” to help your chances than taking just 4?

Sure, you may be interested in drawing just for fun, but wouldn’t joining your school’s art club (in a leadership position!) “do more” to help your chances?

Sure, you could mainly focus on your academic performance, but wouldn’t volunteering outside of school or participating in varsity sports “do more” to help your chances?

Now at this point you may be asking about which colleges actually use “holistic admissions”. Perhaps you can just circumvent all of this by just focusing on those colleges.

And the answer is pretty much every 4-year college you’re likely to read about in the news or hear about in college athletics uses “holistic admissions” for at least some of their admission decisions.

This includes -

• Highly selective private colleges, such as the Ivy League (Harvard, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, etc…) and others nearly adjacent (Duke, Stanford, MIT, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Washington University of St. Louis, Cal Tech, etc…).

• Large flagship public universities (University of Washington, University of Michigan, University of Texas, University of Virginia, University of California Berkeley, etc…)

• Other very well-known public universities (Virginia Tech, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, Auburn, etc…)

• Many, many other colleges, big and small, public and private (Washington State University, Gonzaga University, Whitman College, Seattle University,… just to name a few from my home state of Washington)

So yeah… pretty much most colleges you can think of use “holistic admissions”, with the exception being colleges who admit just about everyone (think: your local community college).

So what should you do, knowing most colleges use holistic admissions?

Let me suggest three points for you to consider:

1. Don’t chase perfection. There’s no formula for admission—even “perfect” students get rejected. Remember that colleges are run more and more like businesses today, and their admissions systems exist for their benefit, not yours. You can do seemingly everything “right”, and not get in. As an example, it is almost certain that of the 140K+ applicants to UCLA this past year, many more than the 13K+ admitted students had straight As (in fact, only perhaps 7K+ of the admitted 14k+ had straight As? meaning almost half of the admitted class was offered a spot in spite of the fact that their objective high school academic performance was less than other applicants, all of whom were denied). Admission decisions aren’t always fair, and colleges are operating in their own best interest. That’s frustrating, but it’s also freeing: your job isn’t to be perfect.

2. Follow your own path. Take the classes in high school you want to take. Participate in the activities that give you joy. The primary goal is to discover what you are passionate about, and what you may be good at. Doing so will help you grow, which is the ultimate goal of education. Trust me that admissions officers can tell which pursuits you are genuinely interested in vs which seem like resume padding.

3. Make sure your story comes through. Whether in essays, interviews, or recommendations, colleges are looking to understand who the student is. Reflect, communicate, and take ownership of your journey.

Let’s get to discovering more of these to help you find your best fit.

West Coast Conservation Campuses

Colleges on the West Coast with unique environmental studies and conservation programs

YouTube Link

1. UC Davis [Davis, CA]

2. UC Santa Cruz [Santa Cruz, CA]

3. Santa Clara University [Santa Clara, CA]

4. The Evergreen State College [Olympia, WA]

5. University of Washington [Seattle, WA]

Midwest Drama Stars

Colleges in the Midwest renowned for their theater and drama programs

YouTube Link

1. Knox College [Galesburg, IL]

2. Kenyon College [Gambier, OH]

3. DePaul University [Chicago, IL]

4. University of Iowa [Iowa City, IA]

5. Northwestern University [Evanston, IL]

Northeast Sports Management

Colleges in the Northeast with strong programs in sports management

YouTube Link

1. UMass Amherst [Amherst, MA]

2. Syracuse University [Syracuse, NY]

3. Ithica College [Ithica, NY]

4. Quinnipiac University [Hamden, CT]

5. University of Delaware [Newark, DE]

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APPLICATION DEADLINES

Old school → Regular decision. Apps due in January.

New school → Early applications. Apps due in early November.

Emphasis on Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED), with many deadlines in November. Applying early can enhance admission chances and access to scholarships.

TESTING

Old school → Mandatory SAT/ACT.

New school → Optional SAT/ACT.

Predominantly test-optional policies, though some elite institutions have reinstated requirements. As of 2025, over 80% of U.S. colleges remain test-optional or test-blind. Most students are not submitting test scores.

George Mason’s campus in the 1970s, which once occupied this Fairfax High School building, and today.

ADMISSIONS REVIEWS

Old school → GPA and grades, test scores, maybe extracurriculars.

New school → “Holistic review”.

Elevated interest in what is communicated about you via essays (and the overall application). Elevated importance of character traits.

APPLICATION VOLUME

Old school → Apply to a few schools

New school → Apply to many schools.

Students are now applying to an average of 6.65 colleges (via just the Common App - they may in fact be applying to more when you factor in UCs, Apply Texas, etc…).

DEMONSTRATED INTEREST

Old school → Minimal consideration of applicant’s interest.

New school → Active tracking of applicant’s engagement.

The consequence of almost all colleges being available on the Common App is students applying to more and more colleges. But, they can still attend only one.

Technology has enabled tracking, and colleges have embraced this. More colleges now care whether you are serious about attending, or not.

LEGACY ADMISSIONS

Old school → Legacy status provided a significant advantage.

New school → Don’t count on it.

There’s a growing movement to eliminate legacy preferences (e.g. an immediate relative such as a parent or grandparent graduated from the college); currently, states like Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, California, and Illinois have bans or restrictions on legacy admissions and many more higher ed institutions are under pressure to eliminate the practice.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES

Old school → Race-conscious admissions policies in place.

New school → Not allowed (a Supreme Court decision), and implications are still unfolding…

FINANCIAL AID CONSIDERATIONS

Old school → College is expensive

New school → Inflation-adjusted costs overall have decreased, but sticker-shock is real… Wellesley’s annual cost is >$100k!!!

Studies continue to show that a college degree is worth it (see - my previous blog). This is true whether you major in English or Engineering.

It doesn’t make it any easier to write those big checks, though.

And recent shake-ups in our government, coupled with new legislative proposals that change the college loans picture, mostly mean that paying for college is still going to be an issue for most.

AI + ADMISSIONS

Old school → Humans did all the work.

New school → Everyone is using AI.

Anyone can use ChatGPT to create a pretty compelling essay.

And any college can, and probably will, use AI to review your app, if only to try to tell if you used ChatGPT to write your essay.

The volume of applications is going up, and colleges are already starting to turn to AI to help with classification, summarisation, note taking, and even reviews of apps.

AI will predict which students will / won’t attend. It’ll also probably predict which students are most likely to be successful in college. And AI will certainly be used to figure out how much your family is willing to pay to attend college <sigh>, which will impact any financial aid and scholarship offers you receive.

There’s no going back… only looking forward.

Let’s get to discovering more of these to help you find your best fit.

Southeast Mental Health Picks

Colleges in the Southeast offering highly supportive mental health resources

YouTube Link

1. UNC Chapel Hill [Chapel Hill, NC]

2. Tulane University [New Orleans, LA]

3. Spelman College [Atlanta, GA]

4. University of North Florida [Jacksonville, FL]

5. University of Florida [Gainesville, FL]

Northeast Startup Launch Pads

Colleges in the Northeast with programs tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs

YouTube Link

1. Babson College [Wellesley, MA]

2. Northeastern University [Boston, MA]

3. Drexel University [Philadelphia, PA]

4. Pace University [New York, NY]

5. Bentley University [Waltham, MA]

West Coast Interdisciplinary Innovators

Colleges on the West Coast offering unique interdisciplinary programs

YouTube Link

1. California Institute of Technology [Pasadena, CA]

2. University of California San Diego [La Jolla, CA]

3. Reed College [Portland, OR]

4. Cal Poly SLO [San Luis Obispo, CA]

5. Cal State University Chico [Chico, CA]

Mike Tyson famously said: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Well, America’s colleges and universities have been getting punched. Hard.

The U.S. government is now wielding financial threats and immigration policy (which also has financial implications) as weapons against institutions of higher learning. Colleges have had their federal contracts pulled. Visa sponsorships revoked. Investigations launched. Public shaming from the highest levels of political leadership.

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These actions have the ultimate goal of… well, who knows?

But the punches are landing.

What may be more concerning is that these institutions—places that once prided themselves on protecting free speech and fostering hard conversations—are in many cases folding. As I noted above… it can be difficult to stick to your principles when there’s money involved.

This shouldn’t surprise us. America’s most prominent universities increasingly operate more like global corporations than centers of learning, and they’re led accordingly.

Don’t believe me? Using just one high-profile example from the news in the last week or so - NYU.

Leading their institution (the board of trustees) is -

• Evan R. Chesler, partner at prestigious Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where profits per equity partner top $6.8 million

• Phyllis Putter Barasch, investment banker at Bank of New York

• William R. Berkley, billionaire founder of a Fortune 500 insurance giant and world’s ~300th richest person

• Kenneth G. Langone, venture capitalist and Home Depot co-founder

Does this sound like the board you would expect leading an institution of higher education whose mission is to “be a top-quality international center of scholarship, teaching, and research… [and] encompasses attracting and retaining outstanding faculty and students, fostering an environment of academic excellence, and contributing to the advancement of knowledge across various disciplines”?

We’ve not yet seen the end of attacks on higher education.

And we’ve not yet seen the end of actions by leaders in higher education who will fiercely protect their institution (read: financial means and reputation above the needs of any one, or group, of students).

Which brings us to our uncomfortable truth: if you’re a student—or advising one—you can no longer afford to take a college’s mission statement at face value.

Specifically, this means:

• If you see yourself as an “activist” - whatever your cause…

• If you are a member of a marginalized group…

• If you have strongly held religious, ethical, or societal beliefs…

• If you want to deeply understand, research, and debate…

• If you want to do great things…

• If you’d like to learn by doing, sometimes “learning the hard way”...

• If you are just a curious young person and want to learn new things…

… in short, if you want to be a student in college today…

You need to look not at what colleges say, but what they actually do. The actions they take. Particularly when they are facing adversity.

Because in the end, the real test of a university’s values isn’t what’s written in its brochures or its website—it’s what happens when a powerful competing voice comes knocking.

And lately, that knocking has turned into pounding.

Let’s get to discovering more of these to help you find your best fit.

West Coast Generous Scholarships

Colleges on the West Coast offering most students merit aid scholarships

YouTube Link

1. University of Puget Sound [Tacoma, WA]

2. Lewis & Clark College [Portland, OR]

3. Willamette University [Salem, OR]

4. Westmont College [Santa Barbara, CA]

5. Saint Mary's College of California [Moraga, CA]

Southwest Unconventional Majors

Colleges in the Southwest known for quirky and unconventional majors

YouTube Link

1. Cal Poly Pomona [Pomona, CA]

2. UNLV [Las Vegas, NV]

3. Texas Tech University [Lubbock, TX]

4. Texas State University [San Marcos, TX]

5. Northern Arizona University [Flagstaff, AZ]

West Coast Education Excellence

Colleges on the West Coast with strong education and teaching programs

YouTube Link

1. Central Washington University [Ellensburg, WA]

2. Washington State University [Pullman, WA]

3. Cal State - Fullerton [Fullerton, CA]

4. Cal State - Sacramento [Sacramento, CA]

5. San Jose State University [San Jose, CA]

Midwest Robotics

Colleges in the Midwest with significant opportunities in robotics

YouTube Link

1. Purdue University [West Lafayette, IN]

2. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology [Terre Haute, IN]

3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [Champaign, IL]

4. University of Michigan [Ann Arbor, MI]

5. Case Western Reserve University [Cleveland, OH]

A surprising number of colleges and universities, including some big names, still have space in their incoming class.

Why do colleges still have open spots?

Colleges are facing unpredictable enrollment numbers.

As students apply to more schools, yield rates have dropped. Yield is the % of accepted students who chose to enroll.

Between 2001 and 2023, college applications rose 211%, while enrollment increased just 43% (source). In other words, students are applying - and getting accepted to - more colleges and universities, but they can still attend only one. The result is more uncertainty and more open seats.

Think of it like this: if you invite 10 friends to a birthday party and only 3 show up, next time you’ll probably send 20 invites just to be safe. That’s what colleges are doing—admitting more students because fewer are saying yes.

Colleges try to predict their yield rates, but it is an imperfect science. Hence, there are still openings for students in the fall.

Where can I find colleges still accepting applications?

Start with the Common App’s Explore tool, which is found on the College Search tab.

You can filter by application deadline and availability. Use the location fields to find colleges near you, or in a state where you’d like to attend college.

A quick search for colleges still accepting applications for students in Washington state (where I live) shows openings at really great schools such as Washington State University and Evergreen State College.

Tips for applying now

1. Prioritize schools with rolling admissions—they admit students until classes fill.

2. Contact admissions offices directly to confirm availability and show interest.

3. Take the time to submit a strong application. A rushed app helps no one.

Bottom Line: If you want to go to college, you haven’t missed your chance. But, be thoughtful—and be quick. Fall is closer than it looks.

Let’s get to discovering more of these to help you find your best fit.

Just 5 Colleges - West Coast Veteran Friendly

Colleges on the West Coast that offer robust veteran support programs

YouTube Link

1. Boise State University [Boise, ID]

2. University of Colorado, Colorado Springs [Colorado Springs, CO]

3. University of Nevada, Las Vegas [Las Vegas, NV]

4. Pacific Lutheran University [Tacoma, WA]

5. University of Alaska Anchorage [Anchorage, AK]

Just 5 Colleges - Midwest Language Leaders

Colleges in the Midwest with strong language and international studies programs

YouTube Link

1. Carleton College [Northfield, MN]

2. Lawrence University [Appleton, WI]

3. Oberlin College [Oberlin, OH]

4. Indiana University - Bloomington [Bloomington, IN]

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities [Minneapolis, MN]

Just 5 Colleges - Southeast Scenic Campuses

Colleges in the Southeast with beautiful campuses and stunning architecture

YouTube Link

1. High Point University [High Point, NC]

2. Berry College [Mt Berry, GA]

3. University of Virginia [Charlottesville, VA]

4. Florida Southern College [Lakeland, FL]

5. Rhodes College [Memphis, TN]

Just 5 Colleges - Northeast Music & Arts

Colleges in the Northeast with robust music and performing arts programs

YouTube Link

1. Berklee College of Music [Boston, MA]

2. The Juilliard School [New York, NY]

3. New England Conservatory of Music [Boston, MA]

4. University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music) [Rochester, NY]

5. Bard College [Annandale-on-Hudson, NY]