Updated: Friday, April 25, 2025
Join IvyWise college admissions counselors Amanda and Tasha as they reflect on the 2024-2025 college admissions cycle and share insights into the emerging trends that will shape the landscape in the years to come.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 3pm ET
It’s important for college-bound students to stay up to date on the latest college admissions trends. With the 2024-25 admissions cycle in the rearview mirror, now is an excellent time to reflect on recent updates and keep an eye toward the future.
The 2024-25 admissions cycle continued the trend of tremendous change that affected almost every aspect of college-bound students’ lives — including the college admissions process. Rising application numbers, lower admission rates, test-optional policy updates, and the rise of generative AI have had a profound impact on college admissions.
Throughout the college admissions process, doing your due diligence is essential. The more students know about the process, the better prepared they will be to make decisions that align with their needs and goals. The IvyWise team of expert counselors has compiled a list of the top admissions trends that students should have on their radars throughout 2025 and beyond.
Early applications to some of the most highly selective schools decreased for the 2024-25 admissions cycle, likely due to the reinstatement of standardized test requirements. Brown and Yale, for example, reported fewer early applications compared to the 2023-24 admissions cycle.
Other top schools, however, reported higher numbers of early applications, including Emory, Duke, Northwestern, and UPenn. These schools maintained their test-optional policies for 2024-25. Of these schools, only UPenn at this time has reinstated testing requirements for the upcoming admissions cycle.
Students who apply Early Decision or Early Action often have a statistical advantage over students who apply Regular Decision. Why? Colleges and universities help maintain or improve their yield rates by accepting more students in the early rounds. IvyWise counselor Tasha believes that “college applicants should seriously consider having an early application strategy and including Early Decision in that strategy because it is likely to be advantageous.”
The number of test-optional schools is now on the decline, with many private and public schools — including most of the Ivy Leagues — reinstating standardized testing requirements. Test scores are better than high school grades at indicating a student’s academic preparedness for college and chance for success. And because grading standards are inconsistent, colleges use standardized tests to level the playing field.
Many schools remain test-optional — some have adopted the policy permanently. However, we always recommend submitting test scores whenever possible, especially if they fall within the score range of admitted students.
The ACT made changes to its digital test in April 2025 — most notably, making the Science section optional. However, watch for schools that may require or recommend that students take the Science section. Boston University, for example, announced that students who submit ACT scores for the 2025-26 admissions cycle will be required to include their science section scores.
Additionally, the whole test is shorter, as is each individual section. The overall test time is now 125 minutes, compared to the previous 175 minutes. Students also have an average of 10 additional seconds to answer each question, but this varies by subject.
These changes will be implemented on the paper test in September 2025. It’s worth noting that the ACT will remain linear, meaning the questions on the test will not be adaptive as they are for the digital SAT.
Another recent trend is the addition of a college application video at some schools, allowing students to share more about themselves and their voices beyond the information provided in the rest of their application. Schools that have incorporated videos into the application process include Bowdoin College, WashU, Brown, Case Western, Duke, Vanderbilt, UChicago, and more.
Each school has different requirements. In some cases, they are looking for a video introduction. In other cases, it might be a video essay. These videos are often optional, but we always recommend submitting them. College admissions officers want to get to know who you are as a person — not just as an academic — so this is a great way to add a more depth and personality to your application. It also shows demonstrated interest, since you made the extra effort.
The Common App March 2025 report on first-year application trends shows an increase in applications from first generation, Latinx, low-income, and Black students.
Meanwhile, applications from international students decreased by 1%, a trend that may continue due to the current political climate in the U.S. This is the first time since 2019 that the rate of domestic applicant growth has exceeded that of international applicants.
State schools are generally a more affordable option for students who live in the region, and the Common App data is showing a higher growth rate in applications for public institutions vs. private colleges. Public member schools saw a 10% increase in applications, while private member schools saw a 2% increase overall.
AI has been touching nearly every aspect of our lives, and that includes the college admissions process. Admissions officers are using AI to automate parts of the application review process, such as scanning letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays to pull out key information and transcribing applicant interviews. With some schools receiving tens of thousands of applications, the use of AI is saving admissions officers a lot of time and making the review process more efficient.
The college admissions landscape changes constantly, and we don’t expect the 2025-26 admissions cycle to be any different. U.S. politics is having a profound effect on colleges and universities across the country, and it’s hard to predict what changes we’ll see in the coming months that may impact first-year applicant numbers and demographics.
As you prepare for your admissions journey, information is key. When students are aware of the current college admissions climate, they are in turn more knowledgeable about their application options and best-fit strategies.
At IvyWise, our team of admissions counselors, tutors, and specialists always has its finger on the pulse of college admissions and knows what it takes to gain admission to your top-choice schools. The college application process can seem even more opaque now than ever before. IvyWise is here to help you navigate this process with insight gleaned from experience inside admissions offices. For more information on our college counseling programs and how our team can help you gain admission to your top-choice colleges, contact us today.
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