Key Takeaways At A Glance

• Early rounds remain intensely competitive at selective schools
• Strong standardized test scores are quietly providing an edge
• Southern and Sun Belt schools continue to surge in popularity and outcomes
• Early strategy now rewards clarity, alignment, and institutional fit



A Bright Spot Worth Celebrating. Early Momentum From Our Seniors.

Against this competitive backdrop, there is encouraging news. The seniors we are lucky to work with are already seeing meaningful early momentum. Collectively, they have earned early admission to more than 100 colleges, including many highly selective and nationally competitive institutions.

These early acceptances include Brown, Johns Hopkins, Rice, NYU, Macalester, Case Western, Colorado School of Mines, Georgia, Virginia, and Parsons, along with strong early outcomes at UT Austin and Texas A&M.

What stands out is not just where these students were admitted, but why. Clear academic direction, intentional course selection, strong testing where it mattered, and thoughtful early strategy made a difference. In a cycle where MIT admitted 655 students out of 11,883 early applicants and Yale admitted 779 students from 7,140 applicants, clarity is no longer optional. It is decisive.

Early Is Still Competitive. In Some Cases, Brutally So.

Applying early is often framed as a strategic advantage, but the data tells a different story. Early rounds are no longer a softer landing spot at highly selective institutions.

At MIT, Early Action applicants faced a 6% admit rate, with 655 admits out of 11,883 applicants. Brown admitted 890 students from 5,406 Early Decision applicants, a 17% acceptance rate, lower than prior cycles despite strong applicant credentials. Duke admitted 847 students from 6,159 Early Decision applicants, landing at 14%.

Highly selective liberal arts colleges are seeing similar pressure. Williams admitted 258 students from 1,023 ED applicants, roughly 25%, while Bowdoin and Bucknell reported similarly tight early outcomes.

The takeaway for families is clear. Early does not mean easy. It means committed, aligned, and exceptionally prepared. Students who apply early without a clear academic story or strong academic signals are far more likely to be deferred or denied than helped by timing alone.

Standardized Testing Quietly Matters Again.

One of the most under-discussed trends this cycle is the renewed advantage for students with strong standardized test scores, particularly at institutions that have reinstated testing requirements.

Yale admitted 779 students out of 7,140 applicants, an 11% acceptance rate, in its first fully test required cycle since the pandemic. Brown, also test required, posted a 17% Early Decision admit rate. MIT has remained consistently test required and among the most selective institutions in the country.

While colleges continue to emphasize holistic review, the data suggests that strong test scores function as a confidence signal, especially in early rounds when institutions are shaping their academic core. Strong scores reduce uncertainty. In a cycle with rising application volume, anything that creates clarity works in a student’s favor.

This does not mean every student needs a perfect score. It does mean that thoughtful test preparation, handled early and intentionally, can materially improve outcomes.

Southern and Sun Belt Schools Are Surging. Again.

One of the clearest trends in the early data is the continued rise in popularity of Southern and Southeastern universities.

The University of Tennessee received 59,191 Early Action applications and admitted 20,538 students, a 35% acceptance rate. Florida State admitted 12,900 students from 33,700 resident EA applicants, a 38% rate. UCF admitted 22,090 students from 37,639 applicants, nearly 59%.

Tulane remains a standout example of strategic early admissions. While its Early Action acceptance rate sat at 14%, with 2,000 admits from 14,000 applicants, its Early Decision round admitted 840 students from 1,600 applicants, a striking 53% acceptance rate.

These numbers reflect a broader shift. Families are increasingly drawn to schools with strong outcomes, growing cities, warm climates, and visible investment in student experience and career pathways. Southern schools are no longer regional options. They are national competitors.

Early Strategy Is Becoming More Specialized.

Not all early pathways function the same way anymore, and the data makes that clear.

Restrictive Early Action at Notre Dame resulted in 1,617 admits from 13,711 applicants, a 12% acceptance rate. Georgia admitted 10,760 students from 34,280 EA applicants, roughly 32%, while Georgia Tech admitted 2,640 students from 8,700 EA resident applicants, about 30%.

Meanwhile, private colleges using Early Decision as an enrollment shaping tool continue to offer meaningfully higher admit rates to students who are a clear institutional fit. Hamilton admitted 200 students from 400 ED applicants, a 50% acceptance rate. Santa Clara admitted 6,075 students from 12,150 EA and ED applicants, also 50%.

The message is not simply apply early. It is apply early with purpose.

What This Means For Families Planning Ahead

Early admissions is no longer about gaming the system. It is about clarity, alignment, and preparation over time.

Students who perform best in early rounds tend to share three traits. A coherent academic narrative tied to likely majors. Strong academic signals, including grades and often test scores. And a thoughtful college list built around fit, not prestige alone.

For underclassmen and juniors, this early data offers a roadmap. Build depth, not just activity volume. Treat testing as a long term strategy. Stay open to regions and schools gaining momentum. And plan early with intention rather than urgency.

The early data is clear. The students who thrive are not the ones doing more. They are the ones doing what matters most, earlier, and with clarity.