Taking the Temperature on College Applications: Class of 2027
Every fall, I like to take the temperature of the application season. Now that we've made it to October 7th, I can report that…the kids are doing OK. In fact, my students have already submitted more than half of their applications, with the biggest deadline of the year still weeks away.
Every year, I get asked about the trends I'm seeing in college admissions. The process changes every year, but here are 5 big things I think parents should know right now:
Your RESUME matters more than ever. Many colleges have dropped their supplemental "Why this Major" essays to drive up application numbers, but plenty of those schools still care about what they call "fit to major." So where are they looking for proof of that fit…the Activities list or Resume. This is why I start building the resume with my students from day 1.
What's old is new again, and SAT/ACT testing matters. A quick search of college news will show you that many of the colleges that went test-optional are requiring scores again. Like it or not, test scores are a predictor of freshman academic success. Mapping out a test prep and test-taking strategy early in high school is KEY.
The process is more complicated than ever. Every college seems to handle each part of the admissions process differently. Couple that with the Common App, high school software systems, third-party grade reporting systems like the STARS, and complicated "score choice" reporting from the testing agencies, and it is overwhelming. Navigating it all without a guide is tough. My tip: make a master list of every school's requirements and deadlines before senior year starts, so nothing slips through the cracks.
ROI is a big driver in college list building. For now, the prestigious schools are still in high demand, but I'm seeing more and more of my top-performing students drop them from their lists. Why? Because an almost $400,000 price tag for an undergraduate degree is overwhelming for most families. Many of these students live in states with flagship "public ivies," where they can join the Honors Program, get an incredible education and experiences, and do it all with the bonus of Rah-Rah school spirit. I recommend starting the college list conversation with cost in mind, and take a hard look at your own state's flagship.
AI is the new wild card. Last year, some colleges had policies about how you should or shouldn't use AI in your application. This year, most have dropped that language, and it's simply "up to the student." Colleges would much rather see an authentic essay in a student's own voice than a beautifully written canned one. And trust me, admissions officers (and I) can spot it from a mile away. On the flip side, very few colleges are being open about how they use AI in their own review process, which leaves families with a lot of unanswered questions. My policy: don't use AI beyond brainstorming or a grammar check.
So how are my Class of 2027 students handling all of this? This year, I'm working with 40 amazing high school students who are submitting 357 applications (about 9 per student). To date, they've submitted 193 of them (54%), which is HUGE, because we haven't even hit November 1, the biggest college deadline of the year.
So, what's the temperature on applications…I'd say hot. This class is running a marathon in the heat, on a course that keeps changing. Keep up the pace & stay hydrated…you are almost there!
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