The changing college admissions process

“I have no idea how to advise my own child and I was in college counseling!” Rita said.

Sure, it was 20 years ago since Rita last worked at an elite New England college’s admissions’ department.  Still…

Rita then relayed informal advice that she gave to her friend whose son had a 4.3 GPA at Daniel Hand High School.  Since Rita had “read” that tests were optional – and this was truly the case briefly during the Covid years – she told her friend it was fine not to put in energy to improve his SATs (even though he likely could have)  and then gave him a college list that was filled with elite colleges.  Rejected at every college she suggested.  Every one.

He did have a safety school suggested by his guidance counselor and that’s where he is now.  Rita was embarrassed and apologetic to her friend and now would not make the same mistake with her daughter.

I have been immersed in studying our clients’ success (and challenges) and reading/thinking/researching how things have changed.

College admissions aren’t just competitive anymore—they’re chaotic.

In the past, strong grades, a few APs, and solid SATs were enough for smart students from good schools to land at top colleges. Today? That same profile might not even get a second look.  This not simply because of the sheer number of students but also the way that colleges are crafting their classes.

We’ve entered an era where admissions are unpredictable. Test-optional policies, DEI consideration – or maybe not?!s, over-application fueled by the Common App, and AI-assisted essays have created a high-pressure fog around what used to be a clear process.

Parents are stunned when their high-performing kids are waitlisted or rejected at schools they thought were “matches.”

What’s changed?

• Schools are overwhelmed with applications.

• Standardized testing – according to schools trying to generate applications is loudly said to be not be as important—yet still quietly matters a lot, in many studies, even more than grades and even more than before.

• Essays, extracurriculars, and positioning have never been more critical.

At The Learning Consultants, we guide families through this new terrain. We help students craft compelling narratives, make strategic application choices, and build resumes that reasons. And, yes, help improve test scores, particularly because grades have become wildly inflated, not a great predictor of college success due to rampant cheating, and confusing due to different school systems. We know what colleges are really looking for—and how to stand out in a crowded field.

The landscape may be shifting—but we know how to navigate it.