Emerging Trends in Common App Reveal the Future of Admissions

Analyzing Common App Data

Admission to colleges in the U.S. is becoming increasingly complex year after year. If you had applied for admission a decade ago, your story would be completely different from students who are applying now. The early trends that we saw in the yet-to-be-completed application season of 2024-25 tell a story of increased competition and how colleges and universities are raising their bars, accepting high-achieving students. College admissions officers are flooded with applications from such students. If you feel you are one of them, then that is not enough. The entire game plan is to look at ways to showcase your story. Authentic!

At Ivy Central, since we are constantly analyzing data, let us take a look at the information we have gathered from the Common App to ascertain certain trends for the next year. This will become important for students as they build their college list.

Increase in number of applicants for the same number of seats.

The Common App reports show that their first-year applicants have increased by 5%, with an insight that most of them are applying to more than 5 colleges. Surprisingly, not only have applications from rural areas outnumbered their wealthier counterparts, but there has also been a substantial rise in applications from the U.S. as compared to international applications. With colleges receiving such a diverse application pool, the admissions officers are perhaps looking more for authentic profiles with real stories rather than a polished one. Clearly the applications that are able to showcase their genuineness in terms of what they would be contributing to the college campus and to the community will be the ones who will clearly stand out.

Increase in Students Reporting Test Scores

With the pandemic behind us, more colleges are reinstating the testing requirement. The data reveals a 9% increase in students reporting SAT or ACT scores, indicating a shift in the perceived importance of standardized tests. The report brings to the fore how students from affluent backgrounds and demographic areas are reporting high test scores, giving yet another matrix for admissions officers to consider. Students without test scores must carefully balance their college lists to avoid being at a disadvantage when applying to selective institutions.

Public Universities Are Receiving More Applications Than Private Institutions

There is an increased awareness among students and families that private colleges are over selective; hence, to balance their applications, they are opting to apply to public universities. Data reveals that applications to public universities have risen by 11%, compared to a 5% increase at private colleges. Hence the competitiveness of public universities, especially those with national reputations, is increasing. Hence, out-of-state applicants are finding it increasingly difficult to gain admission. Going forward, these students need to be extremely strategic when applying to the public universities and craft their application the way they would do for any Ivy League college.

Early Action and Early Decision Applications Are on the Rise

The application season begins with Early Decision and Early Action applications. Most students prefer to apply during this time as they can potentially relax if they get admission to their dream school. However, the early applications have surged by 17%, with more students than ever opting to apply in this round, thereby making competition intense. However, many Early Action decisions are released after Regular Decision deadlines, leaving limited time for students to adjust their college lists if needed. We advise students to begin early and include EA and ED in their plan. This provides a lot of flexibility and clarity to students to tweak their application strategy.

Though there is still a lot of time till we get complete clarity, a few important takeaways that we can glean from this trend are that applications can no longer follow a formula, for the simple reason that everyone is following the same one. Admissions officers can sense when activities are done to tick the boxes and when they are done due to genuine interests that a student has. Having clarity about how you want to present your story is critical. As a student you need to find your own voice. Creating a story that is relevant to where you belong is extremely important.

Navigating college admissions is complex, with new factors influencing the process every year. Understanding these trends is essential for success, and at Ivy Central, we’re here to help.