 I'm thrilled to celebrate my seniors this year, who were collectively admitted to the following schools:
Arizona State University (Barrett Honors College) | Bard College | Barnard College | Cal Poly Humboldt | Cal Poly Pomona | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | Cal State Long Beach | Case Western Reserve University | College of Charleston | Colorado School of Mines | Davidson College | Emory University | Indiana University | Michigan State University | Northeastern University | Oregon State University | Purdue University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) | Rice University | Southern Methodist University (SMU) | Syracuse University | Texas A&M University | Texas Christian University (TCU) | Tufts University | Tulane University | University of California, Berkeley (Regent and SEED Scholar) | University of California, Davis | University of California, Irvine | University of California, Merced | University of California, Riverside | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) | University of California, Santa Cruz | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | University of Colorado Boulder | University of Kansas | University of Maryland | University of Miami | University of Missouri | University of Oklahoma | University of Oregon | University of Southern California (USC) | University of Washington | University of Wisconsin–Madison | Washington State University About half of my students applied and were accepted Early Decision to their top-choice schools back in December, and they withdrew all other applications. While this resulted in a smaller sample size for Regular Decision outcomes, some clear trends still emerged — along with important takeaways I’ll be sharing with future students. Major Matters — But Don’t Game the System Applicants targeting competitive majors, especially in STEM fields like engineering and biology, continued to face more roadblocks than those applying to less selective programs. However, I strongly advise students to pursue their true interests rather than try to “game” the system by selecting a different major. Ultimately, students should pursue the major they’re most passionate about — not settle for something they think will make them more competitive. The “best” college is the one that supports a student’s interests and goals, which is why it’s so important to cast a wide net and evaluate schools based on overall fit and long-term value — not just name recognition or hearsay. Standardized Testing Is Making a Comeback Test scores will play a bigger role next year at many highly selective institutions. For example, among the Ivy League schools:
During the pandemic, when test-optional and test-blind policies were widespread, application numbers to selective schools skyrocketed. Students with high GPAs but low test scores could now throw their hat in the ring. But as testing requirements return, I anticipate seeing a drop in applications to those schools — while test-optional institutions may see their applicant pools grow even more, further intensifying competition for admission. Grades Still Reign Supreme According to the latest College Admission Report from NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling), the top three most important admissions factors, according to college admissions representatives, are:
No matter how impressive a student’s extracurriculars, essays, letters of recommendation, or test scores are, grades and course rigor remain the most critical elements in college admissions. Students must aim to take the most rigorous classes they can handle — and ideally earn As. The same applies to activities: students should follow their passions, get involved in leadership roles, and give back — but never at the expense of their academic performance.  Congratulations to my six Early Decision students who have been admitted to their first-choice colleges! These seniors can now enjoy the rest of their final high school year free from the stress of college applications. Here’s where they’re headed:
🎉 Barnard College 🎉 Emory University 🎉 Northeastern University 🎉 Tufts University 🎉 Tulane University 🎉 University of Miami Early Decision is a fantastic option for families who are full-pay and do not need or want to compare financial aid offers. Not only does it allow students to show their commitment to a particular school, but Early Decision admit rates are often significantly higher than Regular Decision rates. However, Early Decision is not a magic ticket—it’s part of a thoughtful and strategic process. Why Early Decision Can Work: A college’s yield rate—the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll—is an important metric that can influence its rankings and reputation. Early Decision applicants, by committing to attend if accepted, help boost a school’s yield rate. This guaranteed enrollment makes Early Decision an appealing option for colleges looking to secure a strong and predictable incoming class. That said, it’s crucial to remember that a strong application is still essential. The higher admit rates of Early Decision pools are often a reflection of the applicant strength; students applying Early Decision need to have competitive profiles that align with the school’s standards. Choosing the right school for Early Decision is one of the most critical steps in the process. Applying to a reach-for-everyone school like Harvard or Stanford isn’t advantageous if a student’s academic profile doesn’t match their rigorous standards. A well-researched Early Decision strategy involves carefully evaluating where the student is a strong candidate, where they see themselves thriving, and whether they truly love the school. The Importance of Campus Visits: Committing to a school through Early Decision is a significant choice. Students are not only pledging their intent to attend but also agreeing to withdraw all other college applications upon admission. This is why it’s essential that students visit the school beforehand and can genuinely see themselves spending four years there. Feeling confident in their choice transforms the binding Early Decision commitment into an exciting milestone, not a stressful obligation.  I'm proud of the hard work and commitment my seniors put into their applications this year and am thrilled to share that my Class of 2024 was admitted to the following schools:
American University Arizona State University Boston University Cal Poly Humboldt Cal Ply SLO Cal State East Bay Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Colorado State University Elon University Franklin University Switzerland Gonzaga University Harvard University Indiana University, Bloomington Iowa State University Marist College Michigan State University Muhlenberg College NYU Ohio State University Oregon State University (Honors College) Penn State University (University Park) Pepperdine University Purdue University (Honors College) San Diego State University Southern Methodist University (SMU) Syracuse University Texas Christian University (TCU) Texas Tech University Tulane University University of Alabama University College London (UK) UC Berkeley (Regent Scholar Engineering) UC Davis UCLA UC Irvine UC Riverside UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz University of Arizona University of Bristol (UK) University of British Columbia University of Chicago University of Colorado, Boulder University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Edinburgh University of Hawaii University of Illinois Urbana Champaign University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Manchester (UK) University of Maryland University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Oregon (Honors College) University of Puget Sound University of Reno Nevada (Honors College) University of South Carolina USC University of Toronto University of Utah University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Washington State University Western Washington University (Honors College) This year's results yielded similar patterns to last year's. Students with notable talents, whether they were recruited athletes or showcased their artistic abilities through optional arts supplements in music, dance, or visual arts, tended to fare better with the more selective colleges. And students whose application stories shone through, where their academic rigor, summer activities, research experiences, community service, and leadership roles all followed a coherent and compelling narrative, had better results compared to those with disjointed extracurricular profiles. This emphasizes how important it is for the application to reflect the student’s genuine passions. One notable trend this year was the continued reliance on waitlists by the UCs and selective Cal State campuses. Many of my students are waitlisted at numerous UC campuses. Last year many students came off those waitlists, so I am hopeful we will see the same results in the coming weeks and months. I also saw some perplexing results. Most notable is a highly accomplished student who was accepted to Harvard, Berkeley, UCLA and others, yet DENIED at Cal Poly Slo. It’s important for CA students and families to remember that all UC campuses except Merced are selective, and they are considered the most selective for students that come from high achieving high schools. For example, University High School in Irvine is filled with high achieving students who max out AP courses, score 5s on all AP exams, are national merit finalists, and more. In Uni's class of 2023, 249 students applied to UC Berkeley with an average GPA of 4.01, and just 29 were admitted. 289 applied to UCLA with an average GPA of 3.97, and just 26 were admitted. 291 applied to UCSD with an average GPA of 3.94, and 53 were admitted. While students can do things like take dual enrollment courses, earn 5s on AP exams, and max out AP and honors classes to make themselves more competitive, there are no guarantees, no matter how accomplished a student is. So my message remains the same. Apply to a balanced list of colleges. In fact, I require my students to apply to at least two favorable schools and two target schools. When assessing admission chances, it's helpful to consider the admit rate in a variety of contexts. For private colleges, look at the overall admit rate. For public out-of-state colleges, focus on their out-of-state admit rate. Public universities typically have different admission standards and admit rates for in-state and out-of-state applicants. The out-of-state admit rate can give you a better idea of your chances as a non-resident applicant. Try to research the program or major specific admit rates. You can often find this information on the college's website or by contacting the admissions office. Also, pay attention to each university’s standardized test policy. If the college is test optional, look at the percentage of students admitted with test scores. If more than 50% of accepted students submitted test scores, not having one lowers your chances. Also, if the school requires tests, or you plan to submit a score to a test-optional college, having a score in the 75 percentile or above will increase your chance and vice-versa. While this is not an exhaustive list by any means, by considering these and similar factors, you can gain insights into the level of competition and the likelihood of admission at different colleges. 
Congrats to high school seniors and their parents on making it past the November 1 early college application deadlines. YAY! Rick Clark, Director of Admissions at Georgia Tech, recently published this insightful and timely blog reminding seniors and their families celebrate every acceptance as a victory.
https://sites.gatech.edu/admission-blog/ Some of my favorite lines include: "I hear too many students get into a college and say, “Yea. But it is just the University of X.” C’mon, man. You applied there. You worked hard to assemble an application– and you paid to send it in. Now you’ve been offered a spot. AMAZING!" "And look- the entire goal here is to have choices and options. YOU just got another one. That is awesome. I’m proud of you and you should be proud of yourself too. Don’t let a school’s ranking or admit rate diminish your excitement." 
So much of my job has become managing the expectations of parents and students, trying to get parents to see that the college rankings have little value (they are based on a flawed methodology), helping students find colleges that go beyond those 50 most well-known and difficult to get into, and making sure my students put a few favorable and target schools on their lists so that they have great options! This season I had the pleasure of working with many thoughtful, smart, and dedicated seniors who received acceptances to the following schools: American University Arizona State University Ball State University Baylor University Belmont University Boston College Boston University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Cal State Long Beach Chapman University Chico State University Colorado State University Emerson College Fordham University Indiana University James Madison University Loyola Marymount University Michigan State University Molloy University Muhlenberg College Northeastern University NYU Oakland University Ohio State University Oregon State University Pace University Penn State University (Main Campus) Purdue University Rider University Rutgers University San Diego State University Syracuse University TCU Tufts University UCLA UC Davis UC Irvine UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz University of Arizona University of Colorado Boulder University of Iowa University of Michigan University of Nevada Reno University of Oregon University of the Arts University of Utah University of Wisconsin Madison Washington State University Several people have reached out to me in the last week asking if this year was more brutal for my students and, honestly, I don't think this year was any different than the past couple of brutal years. In CA, the UCs and more competitive Cal States continue to have WAY more qualified CA applicants than there are spots, and students are being compared to their classmates within their own high school in terms of rigor (# of AP and IB and college courses), GPA, activities, etc. Students in competitive public high schools, like here in Irvine and Tustin, are at a disadvantage because there are so many accomplished students taking those same classes and earning stellar grades. And since test scores can no longer be used, more students apply, and the admit rate remains low. For these reasons, the most desirable UC campuses: UCLA, UCSB, UCI, Cal, UCSC, UCD will continue to be selective schools for ALL students. Ivies and other highly rejective schools that boast single digit admit rates are ALWAYS huge reach schools unless the student has an extraordinary accomplishment (nationally or internationally recognized talent, recruited athlete, published research, designed or created something and got a patent approved, etc.). Then it becomes a reach instead of a huge reach. Rather than focusing on what they can do to have a chance at these schools, I try to get my students to focus on what they like to do, the classes they are interested in, the activities that appeal to them. If they follow their passions, they will have an authentic story to tell, and if they go into the admissions process with an open mind and heart, they will find a college where they will be happy and flourish. |