Tips for the 2025-2026 season

[Anonymous]

I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP’s post is a psy-op to derail the competition ….

+1 Terrible advice.

I’m here. Really I am not. I am just looking at all of the different places that I’ve found relevant information for this specific cycle - things have changed dramatically with college funding issues, WL to secure more full pay, AI usage, and universities that want less controversial, but equally ambitious students. Podcasts, online forums, webcasts and private IEC are all offering eye-opening intel.

Every expert you talk to says that “full pay” is more important now than ever. That Bloomberg article that was posted earlier shows how dire the funding situation is at top universities.

If you are a public high school student, you need to find creative ways to show your full pay status. Full stop.

AI and polished essays are more of a concern today than ever before..,. do none of you spend time on the Reddit subforums? They are way more active than this place and it’s eye-opening to see the prompts kids are using to continue to refine refine refine their essays often in the “voice” of model essays without noticeable AI markers. The results are essays that would never trigger AI and don’t have the classic markers but are just way too polished. So now there’s proliferation of advice on what to do. The same level of polish that perhaps come from it comes with an overedited professional essay is seen as a red flag - esp at places like Stanford and Yale?

Anyway it seems like most people disagree w/me. Which is ok.

Curious if there are any other tips that you are gleaning from other sources this cycle. That was the whole point of this exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

💯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

Funny enough, they’ll likely look at boarding schools and private schools. The top boarding schools are incredibly diverse and the students have high scores. The top universities can’t currently take shots at poor students who might have potential, because they want a similar SAT across races.

Harvard, who just joined questbridge, may look for more white and Asian first gen’s than black or Hispanic now that they’re being heavily scrutinized

[Anonymous]

No, I think they'll be eager to take any of these kids as long as they have test scores that are over 1500. Harvard has no problem making half their student body full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I think they'll be eager to take any of these kids as long as they have test scores that are over 1500. Harvard has no problem making half their student body full pay.

Agree

[Anonymous]

I don’t know why everyone thinks they’re going to up and abandon their missions.

Harvard and co are not tuition dependent colleges- they’re driven by their endowments. They don’t run their expensive institutions by collecting full pay checks- the money is nice for paying staff expenses, but they’re cutting those to preserve their financial aid programs- some are expanding their financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know why everyone thinks they’re going to up and abandon their missions.

Harvard and co are not tuition dependent colleges- they’re driven by their endowments. They don’t run their expensive institutions by collecting full pay checks- the money is nice for paying staff expenses, but they’re cutting those to preserve their financial aid programs- some are expanding their financial aid.

They are moving further in the direction of financial aid and extremely extremely wealthy. No one in btw….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admittedly post today on IG and his recent podcast supports #1.

Yes just saw it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know why everyone thinks they’re going to up and abandon their missions.

Harvard and co are not tuition dependent colleges- they’re driven by their endowments. They don’t run their expensive institutions by collecting full pay checks- the money is nice for paying staff expenses, but they’re cutting those to preserve their financial aid programs- some are expanding their financial aid.

They are moving further in the direction of financial aid and extremely extremely wealthy. No one in btw….

This is a lie. Every higher ed institution is figuring out how to deal with the barbell distribution. If you’re curious, here’s an example: https://magazine.pomona.edu/2024/spring/opening-pomonas-doors-wider-for-middle-income-students/.

You can’t seriously look at princetons financial aid, for example, and tell me they’re doing nothing for the middle class.

[Anonymous]

I have a tip for you, OP, as I go through this process yet again with my 4th and final child.

Enjoy it. It really can be a fun process and a new way to get to know your kid. I'm actually having fun with it this time - the random campus visits, the what-the-hell-just-apply random and not strategic applications, the SAT retakes to inch up the scores, because why not.

What I have learned is that there are no perfect schools, and that there are no schools that are a "perfect fit" for your student. There are, however, many, many great schools and places that your child can thrive. And if s/he makes a mistake? So what - you can always transfer, as many of them will end up doing.

Chill out, relax and enjoy this last year with your child at home. It will be over before you know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

What about private school full pay URM? It's a little unclear to us. Is TO still safe for this category?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

What about private school full pay URM? It's a little unclear to us. Is TO still safe for this category?

It could be if the kid had something else that is unique/special. I’d suggest starting a new post with your stats to get tailored advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a tip for you, OP, as I go through this process yet again with my 4th and final child.

Enjoy it. It really can be a fun process and a new way to get to know your kid. I'm actually having fun with it this time - the random campus visits, the what-the-hell-just-apply random and not strategic applications, the SAT retakes to inch up the scores, because why not.

What I have learned is that there are no perfect schools, and that there are no schools that are a "perfect fit" for your student. There are, however, many, many great schools and places that your child can thrive. And if s/he makes a mistake? So what - you can always transfer, as many of them will end up doing.

Chill out, relax and enjoy this last year with your child at home. It will be over before you know it.

This is great advice! Enjoy the ride. It goes by very fast.
There’s a lot you cannot control for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges who used to rely on fly-in programs for URM will be looking for signs of diversity in applications. But URM with lower test scores will be dangerous for colleges. Trump admin is tracking this. So if this is your kid, TO is the way to go

What about private school full pay URM? It's a little unclear to us. Is TO still safe for this category?

Absolutely not, that’s the category of students they’re relying on having scores comparable to Asian and white students.