Class of 2025 Admissions Update: A New Landscape Emerges

An Exclusive Analysis for Our Families

As we analyze the outcomes from this year's admissions cycle, we're compelled to share what we've learned. The Class of 2025 results surprised some families as students dealt with unexpected outcomes at schools once considered “safeties.” Some majors were more selective than ever. More students applied and students applied to more colleges. Early applications - early action, restrictive early action, early decision - again played a significant role in admissions decisions. We want to ensure our current and prospective families understand the evolving landscape of selective college admissions. 

The Numbers Tell a Story

This year's admission rates at many of the nation's most competitive institutions reached historic lows, while application numbers reached new highs. When Caltech admits fewer than 3% of applicants and UCLA Engineering becomes more selective than some Ivy League schools (6% acceptance rate), we're witnessing a changing admissions landscape. More schools than ever accepted fewer than 10% of applicants. Here is that list:

Acceptance Range	Universities & Colleges
<3%	California Institute of Technology (2.7%)
3% to 4%	Harvard University (3.2%) Stanford University (3.7%)
4% to 5%	Columbia University (4.3%)  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (4.5%) Yale University (4.6%)
5% to 6%	Brown University (5.1%) University of Chicago (5.4%) Princeton University (5.7%)
6% to 7%	Duke University (6.3%) Dartmouth College (6.4%) University of Pennsylvania (6.5%) Vanderbilt University (6.7%) Bowdoin College (6.8%) Northeastern University (6.8%) Swarthmore College (6.9%)
7% to 8%	Pomona College (7.0%) Northwestern University (7.2%) Johns Hopkins University (7.3%), Amherst College (7.3%) Swarthmore College (7.4%) Cornell University (7.5%) Colby College (7.6%) New York University (7.7%)
8% to 9%	University of Southern California (8.5%) Williams College (8.5%) UCLA (8.6%) Rice University (8.7%) Barnard College (8.8%)
9% to 10%	Notre Dame University (9%*) Claremont McKenna College (9.6%) Tulane University (9.6%)

*Regular Decision data, does not include Restrictive Early Action applicants

This data reveals how selectivity has intensified across the spectrum of elite institutions, from technical institutes to liberal arts colleges to major research universities.

Six Key Trends Impacting Elite Admissions

Application Inflation Is Driving Down Acceptance Rates

More students are applying to college, and students are applying to more colleges. Through March 1, 2025, applications submitted via the Common Application increased by 4%. And, applicants applied to more schools: the average is now 6.14 applications per student. Collegiate class sizes are fixed, so more applications lead to reduced acceptance rates.

Institutional Priorities Create Unpredictable Outcomes

We've observed that institutional priorities significantly influence admission decisions. Institutional priorities are the objectives, values, and strategic needs that influence who colleges admit each year. These priorities are set by college leadership and faculty and often reflect long-term planning efforts, financial realities, donor preferences, and mission-driven commitments. Students with nearly identical profiles experienced vastly different outcomes based on how their interests and backgrounds aligned with specific institutional priorities. 

Personal Narratives Drive Decisions

Our most successful applicants crafted uniquely personal narratives that revealed character and growth through an authentic voice. These essays and focused activities transformed two-dimensional profiles into compelling individual stories that captured admissions officers’ attention.

Public Universities Match Private Selectivity

The distinction between public and private institution selectivity has decreased. UCLA's 8.6% acceptance rate exemplifies how state flagships now demand the same strategic approach as the most elite private colleges. We are seeing similar selectivity for out-of-state students at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Texas-Austin, and the University of Michigan. In addition, southern institutions have become increasingly popular. Vanderbilt, Rice, and Duke have emerged as nationally competitive alternatives to traditional Northeast elite colleges. 

Meaningful Engagement Supersedes Broad Participation

Admissions committees prioritize depth over breadth in extracurriculars. Our successful applicants typically focused on one or two significant activities where they were able to demonstrate considerable initiative and measurable impact rather than accumulating lengthy lists of peripheral involvement. Additionally, most successful applicants demonstrated clear connections between their intended major and their academic preparation. This “fit to major” is becoming increasingly important in admissions. Whether through outside coursework, research experiences, internships or summer programs, these students showed genuine engagement with their chosen fields long before submitting their applications.

The Early Application Advantage Has Intensified

Our review of admissions results reveals that strategic early applications have become increasingly important for admission at elite institutions. The data confirms this trend: Many of the most selective colleges are now filling more than 50%—and sometimes up to 60%—of their incoming classes through early rounds. In the 2025 cycle, we saw major increases in early applications across highly selective schools: Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, NYU, and Emory reported double-digit growth in Early Decision applicants. The University of Virginia (15%) and the University of Georgia (27%) continued to see a sharp rise in Early Action applications. At Duke, Early Decision candidates were accepted at a rate that is nearly triple that of Regular Decision applicants—a pattern we observed across multiple elite institutions. This trend demands targeted college research and visits, earlier decision-making, and more focused application strategies.

Standardized Testing Has Quietly Regained Influence

Despite test-optional policies, our most successful applicants consistently submitted very high test scores. Those gaining admission to institutions like Rice, Dartmouth, and Northwestern typically had SAT scores above 1500 or ACT scores above 34. While not absolute requirements, these scores provide crucial differentiation in an increasingly competitive pool. More students are realizing this: through March 31, 2025, the number of applicants not reporting any test scores in the Common Application decreased by 1%, while the number of applicants reporting test scores has increased by 11%.

Strategic Guidance for Our Families

Invest in Essay Development

The personal essay process requires significant time. We recommend beginning this work during the summer before senior year, allowing adequate time for reflection, drafting, and refinement. 

Construct Thoughtful College Lists

Even our highest-achieving students require balanced college lists that include target and likely schools. We recommend identifying institutions with higher acceptance rates that meet the student’s criteria such as a wide array of academic options, robust research opportunities, appealing locations, study abroad programs, and strong alumni networks. A balanced college list will ideally include 2-3 highly selective, 5-6 target, and 3-4 high probability of acceptance schools based upon our analysis of the student’s qualifications relative to the college’s admitted student profiles.

Focus on Authentic Impact

Rather than accumulating activities, we encourage students to explore their interests early in high school to identify one or two areas they care about where they can create genuine change. Students need to know why they are doing things and how it fits into their story. Colleges increasingly ask not what students have done, but what has changed because of their involvement. 

Redefine Success Metrics

We encourage families to measure success through growth, self-discovery, and finding the right institutional fit rather than solely through admission outcomes. Outstanding applicants get rejected from highly selective schools not because of anything they didn’t do, but because what they offered was not what the college needed. Many famous, successful people (Warren Buffet, Barack Obama, and Ted Turner to name a few) were rejected to their first-choice colleges. Success is finding and being accepted to a college that is a great fit!

Begin Planning & Preparing in Ninth Grade

Successful outcomes require multi-year preparation. Our most successful students begin exploring and identifying interests and building relevant experiences during the early high school years. Much of our work takes place in 9th to 11th grade because selecting appropriate coursework (particularly important for STEM), identifying meaningful leadership and summer opportunities, and developing expertise in areas of genuine interest have a significant impact on admissions results.

Leverage Early Decision Strategically

Early Decision remains the most powerful application strategy for students with clear first-choice preferences. However, this approach requires careful financial planning, an earlier application deadline, and genuine institutional fit assessment.

Looking Forward

The Class of 2025 cycle has revealed a more complex, competitive, and unpredictable admissions environment. However, students who approach this process with authentic self-presentation, strategic thinking, and realistic expectations can still achieve remarkable outcomes.

We remain committed to guiding our families through this evolving landscape with personalized strategies that honor each student's unique strengths and aspirations. The fundamentals of strong academic preparation, meaningful engagement, and authenticity in applications remain constant, even as the competitive environment continues to intensify.

As we prepare for the Class of 2026 cycle and beyond, we're here to help you navigate these changes with confidence and clarity.

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This analysis reflects our observations from the Class of 2025 admissions cycle. For personalized guidance tailored to your student's profile and goals, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team.