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You may have heard of HYPS, a term representing the elite group of U.S. universities: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. These institutions are among the highest-ranked Ivy League schools. The term HYP, or the Big Three, has been used in American society since the early 20th century. As more students aspire to attend prestigious universities, understanding these trends can greatly improve your chances of acceptance. Often, parents compare study abroad agencies, but remember, these agencies merely facilitate international education; they do not handle admissions. To succeed in gaining admission to top universities, you need to understand each university's trends and tailor your profile accordingly.



HYPS Admissions Trends and Strategies
 

1. Test-Optional Policies: Rising Applications and Lower Acceptance Rates

According to Forbes, one of the most significant trends in college admissions for 2023 is the continued shift toward test-optional policies. Today, 96% of colleges do not require standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT. Columbia and William & Mary have permanently adopted test-optional policies, while MIT still requires test scores. This shift has led to a 7.5% increase in applicants using the Common Application for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle. The State University of New York (SUNY) reported a 110% increase in applications for Fall 2023. 

However, this surge in applications has decreased acceptance rates. Harvard’s regular admission rate fell from 3.43% in 2020-21 to 3.19% in 2021-22. Boston University’s acceptance rate also decreased from 18.3% to 14% in the same period. Lauren Dodington, a college admissions counselor at The BestU, advises that all students should consider applying to colleges with an acceptance rate of 50% or higher, regardless of their GPA or test scores.

 

2. Essays: Video Interviews and Portfolio Submissions

Due to issues with ChatGPT, Common App postponed the release of its 2023-2024 essay prompts. As a result, some colleges are considering alternative methods, such as video interviews or portfolio submissions, instead of traditional essays.
 

Colleges implementing video interviews include:

   - Brown University

   - Tufts University

   - Washington University in St. Louis

   - Goucher College

   - Bowdoin College

   - George Mason University

   - University of Chicago

 

3. Early Admission: Introduction of Early Decision Round 2

Early Admission processes can be subject to delays due to high applicant volumes. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, early admissions accounted for 20-30% of new students. However, post-pandemic, universities like UPenn, Barnard College, and Boston University have increased their early admissions to 51%, 62%, and 50% respectively.

Elite institutions like Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania received record numbers of early applications during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 cycles, leading to historically low early decision acceptance rates. For instance, Duke University’s Early Decision acceptance rate dropped from 21.3% to 16.5%, and Brown University’s from 14.6% to 12.98%. Additionally, over 70 colleges have introduced extra early decision rounds (ED2), allowing applications in December or January, rather than just October or November.

 

4. Legacy Preferences: Trends in Legacy Admissions

With ongoing discussions on affirmative action and recent Supreme Court cases, legacy admissions (where children of alumni have an advantage) are becoming less common. Many schools, including Amherst College in Massachusetts, are moving away from legacy preferences in favor of broader recruitment. While being a legacy may still offer some advantage, it is crucial for students to meet the admission criteria based on their own merits.

 

5. Niche and Concourse Global: New Direct Admission Programs

Niche and Concourse Global now offer direct admission programs that allow students to receive offers from colleges without the traditional lengthy application process. These programs enable colleges to extend offers based on financial aid and other criteria without requiring a prior application.

 

6. Major Selection: Preparing for Competitive Majors

Applying to popular and competitive majors is increasingly challenging. Applicants must carefully research their fit with specific programs and highlight their relevant experiences. Instead of just stating an interest in computer science or biology, applicants should demonstrate a deep understanding and specific focus within their chosen field. How can students achieve this? By aligning their high school experiences, such as research or internships, with their intended major.

 

7. International Student Selection: Increased Preference 

Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 severely impacted international student enrollment, with a 43% decrease in 2020-21. However, enrollment rates for international students increased by 63% in 2021-22. Colleges are expected to continue seeking a diverse student body, valuing students from various backgrounds and perspectives.

8. Portfolio: Emphasis on Research Papers and Internship Experience 

With rising competition and decreasing importance of standardized test scores, extracurriculars (ECs) are becoming increasingly critical. For example, at MIT, where most applicants have near-perfect test scores, having strong qualities beyond test scores is crucial. Creating a “personal creative portfolio” that showcases original research or project experience is essential. This can include:

   - Documented programming projects on GitHub

   - Published research from summer internships

   - Robotics team progress shared via personal websites