AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

In this blog, well break down Rice Universitys acceptance rate and key admissions trends, including Regular and Early Admissions, yield, transfer, and waitlist rates. Youll also get quick tips on building a strong application, from GPA and test scores to extracurriculars and essays.

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

MAY 6, 2025

You should absolutely apply early to UChicago if you can. Applying Early Decision is the best strategic move you can make. Again, while UChicago does not publish their early admissions data, we can speculate from experience that the combined ED/EA/ED2 acceptance rates are around 20-30%, with some speculating it could be as high as 40%.

Early Decision

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Heres how UC Berkeleys admissions cycle works: The UC application opens on August 1 every year. Since there is NO early admission option, all applications are reviewed at the same time. Admissions decisions are typically released by late March. UC Berkeley is test-free. Key things to know No SAT/ACT required.

Early Decision

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 24, 2025

Schools love early admissions because it boosts their yieldthe percentage of admitted students who actually enroll. When you apply early, youre signaling that theyre your top choice, and that makes them more likely to say yes. We love early admission because it takes a huge weight off your shoulders.

Early Decision

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 7, 2025

Scores Harvard requires applicants to submit an ACT or SAT score to meet their testing requirements, but they dont have minimum scores to apply. This is despite Harvard not offering a binding early admissions option. These are hard scores to get, but Harvard is a hard school to get into so its fitting.

Policies

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 22, 2025

That means top-tier grades, impressive test scores, and a set of extracurriculars that reflect real curiosity, impact, and intellectual depth. In addition to being test-optional, UChicago practices a No Harm policy for application review when considering SAT or ACT scores.

Policies

The Koppelman Group

MAY 2, 2025

You need a solid strategy, and likely part of that plan will be applying through their Single-Choice Early Action option. What is Single-Choice Early Action? Often also called Restrictive Early Action (REA), Single-Choice Early Action is a non-binding path to early admission.

Ivy League

Expert Admissions

MAY 29, 2025

Admissions Profile Average GPA: 4.14 Test Scores (mid-50% range): 1370-1530 SAT/30-34 ACT Admit Rate: 14.1% Test-optional? No Offers Early Admissions?

Minor

Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Yale University , an Ivy League institution in New Haven, Connecticut, accepted 728 Early Action applicants to the Class of 2029. These were the first applicants to apply under Yales new test-flexible policy which requires at least one ACT, SAT, AP, or IB set of test scores. Work with one of our expert tutors this spring!

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

JULY 30, 2025

This applies to testing, too. UChicago is test-optional , and they claim to have a “No Harm” policy, which means if your scores wouldn’t help you, they don’t consider them. You need to have great test scores to be competitive. Yes, a 5.0+ is impressive, but if you take away the weighting and it’s not a 4.0, that doesn’t help.

Admissions

Top Tier Admissions

MARCH 15, 2024

UT AUSTIN: STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIRED After four years of test-optional admissions for undergraduate admissions, the University of Texas at Austin will once again require standardized testing scores , beginning with applications for the Fall 2025 semester. News & World Report in 2024.

Testing

College Kickstart

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

That includes active tracking of test-optional schools , recommending situations where test-optional makes sense for you and where in-person or virtual interviews are still required or recommended. And if you haven't been able to take an SAT or ACT, you'll also be able to run College Kickstart with just your GPA or class rank.

Early Decision

Top Tier Admissions

OCTOBER 4, 2024

I recently hosted Top Tier Admissions’ “Ask Me Anything” webinar, where we dove deep into the importance of having a solid early admissions strategy and all the perks that come with it. It was an open floor, where parents and students could literally ask me anything about the college admissions process.

Admissions

Top Tier Admissions

DECEMBER 1, 2022

As we noted last year , there are a number of reasons a college might defer a student, including lower grades/test scores, an extracurricular profile that is not quite “high impact” enough, or an overall rise in the number of applications the school has received. Retaking the SAT or ACT, if necessary.

Letters of Recommendation

Top Tier Admissions

JUNE 14, 2024

University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) UCLA consistently receives some of the highest application volumes of any four-year university in the United States, and this year was no different as UCLA received 146,250 applications for first-year admission. None of the UCs offer early admission or consider standardized test scores.

Acceptance

Expert Admissions

MARCH 30, 2023

Admissions Profile Average GPA: 3.75 Test Scores (mid-50% range): 1370-1530 SAT/ 31-34 ACT Admit Rate: 29% Test-optional? Yes Offers Early Admissions? Yes — Early Decision I and Early Decision II The post Spotlight on Smith College appeared first on Expert Admissions.

Ivy League

Expert Admissions

MARCH 23, 2023

Admissions Profile Average GPA: 4.2 Test Scores (mid-50% range): 1480-1580 SAT/ 33-36 ACT Admit Rate: 3% Test-optional? Yes Offers Early Admissions? Yes — Restrictive Early Action Supplemental Essays Harvard’s Prompt 1: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.

Ivy League

Shemmassian Academic Consulting

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

That said, Muhlenberg’s SAT and ACT minimum requirements for its BS/DDS program are 1360 and 32, which are significantly higher than the average test scores of their general student body (around 1280 and 29). Many BS/DDS programs do publish minimum GPAs and test scores needed to gain admission or averages for successful applicants.

Programs

Top Tier Admissions

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Test-optional policies brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic account for the highly competitive 2020-21 admissions cycle. Princeton announced its test-optional policy in the summer of 2020 and has since renewed the policy into the 2022-23 admissions cycle (for admission to the Class of 2027).

Acceptance

CTK College Coach

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Early Admissions Trends for the Class of 2024: How are colleges handling the massive increase in applications? Sophomores and Juniors: What’s the latest with the test-optional trend? SAT, ACT, and test optional: with Dartmouth now requiring test scores, will the test optional trend reverse?

Acceptance

The Ivy Dean

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

As the pandemic continues to evolve, so does the world of college admissions. Colleges have already made significant changes to their admissions processes, basing their decisions on new criteria, removing the requirement for standardized tests, and transitioning annual recruitment activities to be virtual.

Ivy League

Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office

OCTOBER 11, 2023

It is important to remember that an Early Decision application is a commitment. You may apply ED to only one college or university, but ED applicants can apply to other non-binding early admission programs. When should I plan to take my SAT, Subject Tests, or ACTs if I’m applying for Early Decision?

Early Decision

AHM Advising

MARCH 23, 2022

CMU offers Early Decision and Regular Decision deadlines , as well as an Early Admission plan for high school juniors who are prepared to graduate early and head off to college. While standardized testing was optional for Fall 2022, they have not yet announced their testing policy for Fall 2023 and beyond.

University

Top Tier Admissions

MARCH 1, 2024

Since 2018, the university has ceased disclosing acceptance rates in real time, instead waiting months after admissions decisions have been made to report publicly available data. In the last few years, Stanford has seen widespread debate over the future of legacy admissions, test-optional policies, and race-based affirmative action.

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

A Record Low Early Decision Acceptance Rate Early Decision Acceptance Rates at Duke throughout the Years Should You Apply For Early Decision at Duke? The Early Decision Application Process at Duke Is Duke Test Optional? The Early Decision application is binding, meaning if you’re accepted, you commit to attending.

Early Decision

Next Admit College Admissions Blog

JANUARY 29, 2023

SAT and ACT For first-year and transfer applicants to CC and SEAS matriculating from fall 2023 through fall 2024 , Columbia is maintaining a test-optional policy. Previously, Columbia has required scores from either the SAT or the ACT, but no requirement for the writing section. ACT scores average 34.

Admissions

Top Tier Admissions

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Although the November 1 st early admissions deadlines are behind us, most students are still awaiting their decisions and most colleges have yet to publicly announce the number of early applications they received. For now, the tea leaves suggest a more competitive early admission cycle at top schools.

Applications

Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Last year, 14% of students admitted via early decision were related to Dartmouth alumni. DARTMOUTH REINSTATES STANDARDIZED TESTING Just a few days ago, Dartmouth announced that it would be reinstating its standardized testing requirements , beginning with next year’s Class of 2029.

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Tulane cares a lot about demonstrated interest, going so far as to label it as an “important” factor in admissions decisions. Getting a deferral decision in the early admissions round tells you that you are the type of person they look for. They want students who want them. After reaching out, you’ll need to be patient.

Early Decision

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

You’re still working on test scores. You’re planning to take or retake standardized tests and want to include your improved scores. Why Apply to Restrictive Early Action? Applying to Stanford through Restrictive Early Action (REA) can boost your chances of acceptance. You’re busy with something big. that same year.

Letters of Recommendation

Admissions Madness

JUNE 4, 2022

The first early admissions deadlines arose in the 1950s. The 2003 book The Early Admissions Game: Joining the Elite found that applying ED confers a 100 point SAT advantage, which subsequent 2012 research by Antecol & Kiholm supports.

Early Decision

SSA Online College Prep

DECEMBER 26, 2023

These include application questions, ones that might affect how you write your essay or what tests you sign up for. This section is designed for juniors who have time to take standardized tests and have not yet applied. Is there any advantage to applying Early Decision/Early Action? Are outside scholarships accepted?

Financial Aid

StandOut College Prep

MARCH 3, 2023

According to NYU’s Office of Institutional Research, the middle 50% of admitted students had SAT scores between 1350-1510 and ACT scores between 31-34. By applying Early Decision, you show NYU that you are committed to attending their institution and that it is your top choice, which can positively impact your chances of getting in.

Early Decision

Great College Advice

JULY 24, 2023

The student agrees to withdraw all other applications, and not accept any other offers of admission. Early action programs are a hybrid. Students may apply early under these early action (EA) programs and receive an early admissions decision. So why, then, do colleges like the early decision process?

Early Decision

Top Tier Admissions

MAY 19, 2023

Caltech Admissions Highlight: Caltech is one of the most selective “test blind” schools, meaning they do not consider the SAT or ACT. UChicago Admissions Highlight: Today, UChicago is stronger than ever and attracts students through three early admissions rounds: EA, ED1, and ED2. We won’t see it.”

Ivy League

BestColleges

MARCH 15, 2023

Despite more than 300 schools extending their admission deadlines as well as waiving SAT/ACT requirements in hopes of retaining numbers, undergraduate enrollment dropped considerably. Number of Standardized Test-Takers, 2019-2022 Year SAT ACT GRE 2019 2.2 back to content ⤶ ) SAT Suite Data and Reports Archive.

Standardized Testing

StandOut College Prep

MARCH 24, 2023

Your official transcript Test scores (optional) A recommendation letter from a teacher or counselor In addition to those items, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if you’re planning to go to school in person. Average ACT scores for accepted Early Action applicants ranged from 24 to 30, with an overall average of 27.

Acceptance