Admissions Blog

Undergraduate Admissions Uncensored

2025 Admissions Cycle Brings Change at US Naval Academy

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Dahlgren Hall at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland

Recently, I got to visit the the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, and I was overall impressed. My experience underscores the importance of visiting colleges you are considering to pick up on the vibe of the community you are contemplating living in for four years and being a part of for the rest of your life.

While a lot of USNA traditions are as strong as ever, 2025 is also a time of major change in Annapolis.

For example, the US Naval Academy continues to look for the most highly qualified candidates who are representative of America. Yet, for many years those aims have been pursued by an institution also committed to practicing race, ethnicity, and sex-based preferences to achieve certain demographic goals; however, the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America for the second time is the dawn of a new day at the Naval Academy because executive orders by Trump and an accompanying memo by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bar the USNA from considering race, ethnicity, or sex as a factor for admission moving forward.

To learn more about the United States Naval Academy and its admissions process, watch the full video below.

USC receives 42,000 Early Action applications, will introduce Early Decision

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The University of Southern California will release its Early Action decisions via students’ USC applicant portal​s on Friday, January 17. ​USC received nearly 42,000 applications for Early Action, which is ​about 2% ​m​ore than received last year. ​Of those 42,000, only approximately 3,500 will be offered admission Early Action. All other applicants will be invited to defer to Regular Decision.​

​USC anticipates accepting another 5,200 ​first-year applicants for fall, or ​roughly 60% of the total, ​via Regular Decision in late March. ​Interestingly, Regular Decision volume is also ​u​p roughly 2% ​compared to last year. 

Deferred students ​who want to be considered for Regular Decision must submit an Early Action Deferral form in their USC portal​s​ and submit mid-year grades if they have not already done so. ​USC does not want ​t​o review any additional new materials such as resumes, ​recommendations, essays, or general updates. ​No letters of continued interest at USC!

USC only introduced its Early Action (EA) program for first-year applicants during the 2022-2023 admissions cycle; yet, it will soon formally announce that it is introducing Early Decision for certain applicants during the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. To get an update on scholarship allocation and learn more about USC’s first foray into Early Decision, watch the full video below.

The University of Southern California (USC) stands out as an undergraduate institution for several unique reasons, including:

1. Location in Los Angeles: USC is situated in the heart of Los Angeles, providing students with unparalleled access to the entertainment industry, tech startups, and a diverse cultural landscape. This urban setting offers numerous internship opportunities, networking events, and real-world experiences that are directly integrated into the curriculum.

2. Interdisciplinary Education: USC is known for its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, where students are encouraged to explore across fields. Programs like the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences offer joint majors, minors, and combined degree programs, fostering a comprehensive educational experience.

3. World-Class Faculty and Research Opportunities: The university boasts faculty who are leaders in their fields, many of whom are engaged in groundbreaking research. Undergraduates have opportunities to participate in research from their freshman year, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge projects.

4. Diverse and Inclusive Campus: USC prides itself on its diversity, with students from all 50 U.S. states and over 135 countries. This diversity enriches the academic and social environment, promoting a global perspective among students.

5. Strong Alumni Network and Career Services: USC has an extensive and influential alumni network, which can be beneficial for job placements and career development. The Career Center at USC is one of the best, offering tailored career advice, job fairs, and connections to industry through initiatives like the Marshall School of Business’s Career Treks.

6. Innovative Programs and Facilities: USC offers unique programs like the USC School of Cinematic Arts, which is considered one of the top film schools globally, providing state-of-the-art facilities and technology. Additionally, the university has invested in innovation hubs like the USC Village, enhancing student life with modern amenities and community spaces.

7. Sports and School Spirit: Known for its spirited athletic programs, particularly football, USC fosters a strong sense of community and school pride. The Trojan spirit is a unifying force on campus, with traditions like the Walk of Fame and the Victory Bell.

8 Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: With initiatives like the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Marshall Venture Fund, USC encourages entrepreneurship. Students have access to resources for starting their own businesses, from funding to mentorship.

9. Global Exposure: Through programs like the Global Leadership Program, students can study abroad or participate in international service learning, gaining a global perspective that’s integrated into their academic journey.

10. Focus on the Arts: Beyond its famous film school, USC supports a vibrant arts scene with the Thornton School of Music, the Roski School of Art and Design, and numerous performance venues, providing a rich cultural education.

Good luck to all students who applied Early Action to University of Southern California.

Purdue received more than 63,000 Early Action applications

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This admissions cycle, Purdue University received more than 63,000 applications by its November 1 Early Action deadline, which is an increase of nearly 8,000 applicants from just last year. This increase occurred despite the fact that Purdue is test expected. Yet, only 53,000 Early Action applicants submitted a test score with their applications (!). Purdue is clearly an increasingly popular choice for first-year applicants. For context, In 2021, Purdue received 59,173 undergraduate applications total.

Purdue Early Action decisions will begin to populate in each applicant’s Purdue Application Portal at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 15, 2025. As part of an effort to avoid over-enrolling students, Purdue will rely more heavily on deferred decisions for this application cycle. Defer is not a deny decision but a method of allowing Purdue to assess space and availability before making a final decision later.

Deferred applicants are encouraged to complete the Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) form in their Purdue Application Portal if they are still interested in Purdue. For my advice on how to draft a stellar LOCI, be sure to watch my video on that very topic. Students who do receive the defer decision from Purdue can expect to have their final decision no later than the end of March 2025 when Purdue releases is Regular Decision notifications.

To learn more about Purdue’s most recent first-year admissions stats and student profile, its Early Action decisions that come out on Wednesday, and the university’s unique Summer Start and Spring Start options, watch the full video below – and good luck to all those who applied Early Action to Purdue for its Class of 2029.

Which California public universities receive the most applications?

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California has a lot of public universities, and many of them receive astronomical number of first-year applications each admissions cycle.

We’re talking huge numbers here, but the question you also should be asking if you are an out-of-state student is are some, all, or any of them even worth your consideration when taking into account return on investment? Watch the video below to learn more.

Yale Receives 1,000 Fewer Early Action Applications

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Yale announced early this year that it would return to being a test-required institution for first-year applicants during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, so it should come as no surprise that Yale received 1,000 fewer Single-Choice Early Action applications this fall than it did last fall. Middling athletes, development cases, legacies, and underrepresented applicants are the hardest hit by Yale’s decision to yet again require standardized testing as part of its application review process.

Boston College and Tulane Early Decision Notifications Released Tonight

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Boston College and Tulane University are releasing their Early Decision notifications tonight. Good luck to all who applied Early Decision. Learn more about the latest ED admissions stats at both institutions by watching the video below.

This is what Affirmative Action and Test-Optional looks like at University of Wisconsin-Madison

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What does a decade’s worth of increasingly identity-based admissions look like at University of Wisconsin-Madison? You’re about to find out. But formal Affirmative Action, which was outlawed by The Supreme Court of the United States last year, is just part of the story.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has seen a notable rise in popularity among first-year applicants in recent years driven by several factors including, but not limited to:

Academic Reputation
UW-Madison is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the U.S., known for its strong programs in fields like engineering, business, education, and the sciences. Its research output and faculty achievements have bolstered its appeal.

Diverse Offerings
The university has expanded its academic programs and research initiatives, attracting students with varied interests. New interdisciplinary programs and innovative majors have broadened its appeal.

Campus Experience
The vibrant campus life, with a rich array of extracurricular activities, cultural events, and a strong sense of community, has drawn students looking for a well-rounded college experience.

State and National Recognition
Increased visibility through national media and success stories of alumni have enhanced the university’s reputation. The Badger sports teams also contribute to a sense of pride and community.

Affordability and Financial Aid
Competitive tuition rates for in-state students, along with robust financial aid programs, make UW-Madison an attractive option for many families.

Strategic Enrollment Efforts
The university has implemented targeted outreach and recruitment strategies, including diversity initiatives, to attract a wider range of applicants.

Location
Madison, known for its quality of life, cultural vibrancy, and outdoor activities, is an appealing location for students seeking both academic and personal growth.

As a result of these factors, the number of first-year applicants has surged, leading to increasingly competitive admissions processes in recent years. This trend reflects not only the university’s strengths but also a broader demand for high-quality education and campus experiences. Yet, with more demand, comes lower acceptance rates and harder calls for admissions officers who are also deputized to increase the university’s undergraduate student diversity in an environment increasingly focused on identity.

The result is that University of Wisconsin-Madison has made significant strides in increasing diversity based on race, ethnicity, and the college going history of students’ families. The student body reflects an increasing mix of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. To make this happen, University of Wisconsin-Madison has prioritized:

Recruitment Initiatives
UW-Madison has launched targeted recruitment programs aimed at high schools with significant populations of underrepresented students. This includes partnerships with community organizations and outreach to diverse communities.

Diversity and Inclusion Offices
The university has established offices dedicated to diversity and inclusion, which work on initiatives to support underrepresented students and foster an inclusive campus environment.

Scholarships and Financial Aid
Increased funding for scholarships aimed at underrepresented groups has helped to make the university more accessible. Programs like the Wisconsin Covenant provide opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds.

Cultural Centers
UW-Madison has various cultural centers, such as the Multicultural Student Center and the Black Cultural Center, which provide support, programming, and community for students from diverse backgrounds.

Curriculum and Training
The university has incorporated diversity training into its faculty development programs and has encouraged the inclusion of diverse perspectives in course offerings.

Retention Programs
Initiatives aimed at supporting the success of diverse students, including mentorship programs, academic support, and community-building events, have been implemented to improve retention and graduation rates.

Test Optional Admissions
Under the guise of COVID-19, the university went test optional in 2020, but the pandemic is long gone and UW Madison remains test optional.

Increasing Use of Affirmative Action
The video below illuminates how the university’s admissions officers increasingly harnessed Affirmative Action to grow certain demographics’ presence on campus through the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.

With the results of the Class of 2028 census now in, we can now look holistically at ten years worth (all the way back to the 2014-2015 admissions cycle) of admissions and enrollment data from first-year applicants/students at University of Wisconsin-Madison, which I dissect below. Only time will tell how diverse (in all ways) the university will be over the coming years in our brave new post-Affirmative Action world.

Wesleyan Shares Some 2024 Admissions Statistics

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Wesleyan University, which has just notified Regular Decision applications of whether or not they’ve earned admission, received a grand total of 14,826 first-year applications across all of its 2023-2024 admissions rounds, and it ultimately extended offers of admission to 2,380 students.

Of those accepted, 15% are the first in their family to attend a four-year college, 43% applied for need-based financial aid, 11% are international students, 85% have taken math through calculus, 80% have taken biology, chemistry, and physics, and 77% have studied at least four years (or the equivalent) of a single foreign language.

Meanwhile, the median SAT scores for those who submitted scores were 750 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 780 Math, and the median ACT composite score was 34. Wesleyan has been test-optional for ten admissions cycles, and this year  59% of those admitted elected to have test scores considered.

Wesleyan University is nestled in the quaint town of Middletown, Connecticut. Known for its progressive values and diverse student body, Wesleyan offers a blend of academic rigor and creative exploration. While the university boasts a strong liberal arts tradition, it also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and experimentation across disciplines. With a plethora of student organizations, cultural events, and activism opportunities, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved on campus.

Early Decision applicants to make up nearly 60% of Boston University’s Class of 2028

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Those students who are being reviewed Regular Decision for Boston University’s Class of 2028 will receive their admissions decisions on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Such first-year applicants will receive emails when their decisions are available within their BU web accounts on the MyBU Applicant Portal.

The news comes as Boston University also announced that it received 78,634 applications for its Class of 2028, and 6,916 applications of these applications were submitted through BU’s binding Early Decision and Early Decision 2 programs. The ED numbers represent a 0.4% increase over last admissions cycle, and BU expects to enroll approximately 58-60% of its first-year class through ED1 or ED2. BU’s enrollment target for the Class of 2028 is now 3,300 students, which is 155 more than last year. For context, over 80,400 students applied to join BU’s Class of 2027, which was made up of 57% of students accepted through ED1 or ED2 and 43% of students accepted through Regular Decision. BU’s overall admit rate will end up at roughly 10.7% this year.

In total, only 42% of BU applicants during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle indicated an interest in having standardized test scores considered. Meanwhile, enrollment of first-generation, low-income, and students from underrepresented groups continues to be a priority for BU, and applications from first-generation college students made up 25% of BU’s applicant pool. International students contributed 15,469 applications to the mix, and these applicants hail from 167 countries.

Boston College Accepts 28% of Early Decision II Applicants

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Early Decision II applicants to Boston College will be notified of whether or not they’ve been admitted this evening, Tuesday, February 6, 2024. The news will be delivered through applicants’ Applicant Status Portals, and admitted students living in the United States will also receive paper copies of their admission packets through the US Postal Service.

Boston College reviewed 1,500 Early Decision II applications and anticipates enrolling approximately 415 students from this round. Approximately one quarter of applicants will be deferred to Regular Decision. Given the strong academic profile of BC’s Early Decision applicants this year, the university has extended a slightly larger number of offers during the Early Decision rounds. As of late, Early Decision applicants to Boston College are accepted at roughly twice the rate as Regular Decision applicants.

Total applications to Boston College have remained relatively consistent with last year’s volume. More than 35,000 students have submitted first-year applications, and BC’s admissions committee is currently reviewing 31,000 applications for Regular Decision. Last year BC received a total of 36,537 applications. This year’s Regular Decision notifications will be released in March. BC’s application totals by round for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, are as follows:

Early Decision I 2,808
Early Decision II 1,493
Regular Decision 31,173
Total 35,474
BC has also announced that its financial aid staff will use the data that families submit via the CSS Profile to provide financial aid awards to those admitted this admissions cycle. While these awards don’t yet include specific funding sources and won’t until BC receives FAFSA data, the award amounts will be accurate. Students and families can confidently use any awards that come with acceptance letters to make their decisions. Once BC receives the data from the FAFSA, which is currently delayed due to U.S. Department of Education incompetence, awards will be updated to note whether the scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities in their awards come from federal, state or BC sources.