A lot is shifting in the college admissions world right now, and staying informed can make a real difference for families planning ahead. Here is what caught our attention this week.
Test Scores Are Back: More Than Half of Applicants Now Submit
For the first time since the 2019-2020 cycle, more students submitted standardized test scores than opted out, with 52% of Common App applicants including scores as of March 2026. This reflects a broader return to testing requirements at highly selective schools, with Harvard already requiring scores and Princeton announcing a mandate for Fall 2027 entry. Families should treat strong SAT or ACT preparation as a meaningful part of a competitive application strategy going forward.
Source: [IvyWise](https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/college-admissions-trends/)
Early Decision Is No Longer Optional at Selective Colleges
Selective colleges are now filling between 40% and 70% of their incoming classes through Early Decision and Early Action programs, leaving significantly fewer spots available in the Regular Decision round. Students who apply early also tend to receive more generous merit scholarship offers, since financial aid budgets are distributed earlier in the cycle. If a student has a clear first-choice school and their application is ready, applying early has become one of the most impactful strategic decisions they can make.
Source: [AppleRouth](https://www.applerouth.com/blog/8-predictions-for-college-admissions-in-2026)
FAFSA Submissions Up 150% After Earlier Launch This Cycle
The 2026-27 FAFSA launched on September 24, 2025, earlier than in previous years, and the results have been notable: more than 5 million submissions were completed by December 2025, representing a 150% increase over the same period the prior year. The form also includes usability improvements designed to reduce confusion and errors that slowed families down in past cycles. Getting the FAFSA submitted early remains one of the simplest ways to maximize a student’s financial aid eligibility.
Source: [Ellucian](https://www.ellucian.com/blog/fafsa-2026-financial-aid-trends-challenges-solutions)
Admissions Officers Are Flagging AI-Written Essays More Often
Colleges are increasingly using tools to identify essays that feel sanitized, over-polished, or AI-assisted, and admissions officers say they are actively filtering out writing that does not sound like a real teenager. Applications that stand out this cycle are ones where the student’s genuine voice, specific experiences, and individual perspective come through clearly. The takeaway for students: write like yourself, not like a finished product.
Source: [CollegeData](https://www.collegedata.com/resources/getting-in/6-college-admission-trends-to-watch-in-2026)
Where You Live May Now Work in Your Favor at Top Schools
Highly selective colleges are paying closer attention to geographic diversity as their applicant pools have become increasingly concentrated on the coasts, which means students from the Midwest, South, and rural areas may carry a quiet advantage in the admissions process. At the same time, applications to Southern colleges have surged 30% since 2021 from out-of-region students, making schools in states like Texas and Arizona more competitive than they were just a few years ago. Understanding how geography fits into a school’s enrollment goals is a worthwhile part of building a balanced college list.
Source: [AcceptU](https://www.acceptu.com/blog/whats-really-changing-in-college-admissions-in-2026/)
Have questions about how any of this affects your student’s college journey? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Sadia — no commitment, just a conversation.
