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Students applying to colleges are experiencing a unique procedural shift due to the introduction of the New Digital SAT, the transition to test-optional policies, increasing numbers of applicants, and expanding lists of accepted colleges. All these factors have led to a highly competitive year for top U.S. colleges, with other schools planning to admit more students than ever to manage enrollment. For students aiming for acceptance, understanding these trends and knowing where to focus on their applications is crucial.


 

Trends and Strategies for the Class of 2027

1. Admissions Competitiveness

College admissions continue to be fiercely competitive at the most popular universities in the U.S., with many schools recording record-high numbers of applicants for the Class of 2027. According to Common App, the number of first-year applicants for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle increased by 30% compared to the 2019-2020 cycle.
 

Schools such as University of Virginia (55,845 applicants), University of Pennsylvania (59,000+ applicants), NYU (~120,000 applicants), and Bowdoin (10,934 applicants) have all set new records for applicant numbers. Additionally, Boston University has seen record-high numbers for Early Decision and Early Action applicants.

 

2. Acceptance Rates 

As the number of applicants grows, acceptance rates for individual schools are expected to decrease. Additionally, colleges continue to manage yield rates, which could lead to more students being placed on waitlists. Here's a comparison of acceptance rates for top U.S. colleges over the years:
 



3. Early Decision Applicants

The introduction of SAT-Optional policies has led to an increase in the number of applicants applying Early Decision (ED). The addition of Early Decision Round 2 has further contributed to this trend. The percentage of freshmen admitted through Early Decision at many schools has increased as well. For instance, University of Pennsylvania admitted 50% of its freshmen through ED. Statistics show that students applying Early Decision have a higher chance of admission. According to Collegevine, ED applicants have a 1.6 times (or 60%) higher chance of being admitted to top schools. This effect decreases for schools with lower rankings.  

Early Action provides some advantage, though not as significant as Early Decision. Single-choice or restrictive Early Action often offers more benefits than general Early Action. For example, Harvard’s restrictive Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 7.56%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 3.41%. The difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision acceptance rates varies by school. For instance, MIT’s non-restrictive Early Action acceptance rate difference is 0.9%, whereas Yale’s restrictive Early Action difference is 5.6%.
 

Early Decision and Early Action Acceptance Rates (2022-23)
 

Why Do Colleges Admit More Early Decision Applicants?

Colleges strive to accurately predict yield rates—the percentage of admitted students who will enroll. This prediction is crucial for financial and national ranking reasons. Early Decision applicants, who commit to a school before receiving their acceptance, help colleges forecast yields more accurately. Therefore, one reason colleges often admit more Early Decision applicants is to improve their yield predictions.

 

The Importance of Extracurricular Activities 

However, Early Decision applicants do not always guarantee better outcomes. While ED applicants might appear to have a significant advantage, other factors influencing these numbers should be considered. Even if applying ED, students who lack competitive profiles may still face low acceptance chances. Applicants must possess strong extracurricular activities that reflect their unique qualities. Therefore, having a “personal creative portfolio” that showcases individual strengths is key to success in the admissions process.