Streamlined Applications: Several colleges have reduced their essay requirements (Tulane, WashU, UGA, UVA, UNC). This tactic ostensibly reduces barriers, but practically speaking, it succeeds in driving up application volume. Without the essay, we counsel seniors to still justify every school on their list beyond "it was fast to apply.
College Costs: Sallie Mae published its annual report on How America Pays for College, finding that: "College families spent an average of $34,019 on college for the 2025-2026 academic year, up 10% from $30,837 last year." For additional details, see: https://www.salliemae.com/about/leading-research/how-america-pays-for-college/
Tuition Updates: Rice expanded full-tuition grants for families earning up to $200k starting fall 2027. This is a reminder to check net price calculators rather than sticker prices. BU, Hopkins, Notre Dame, Swarthmore, W&L, and Yale also have compelling aid packages for this income bracket.
Focus on the Undergraduate Experience: Michigan's new Pass/No Credit pilot for first-term freshmen highlights the importance of evaluating how colleges support first-year transitions, risk-taking, and advising. MIT, Wellesley, Swarthmore, and Caltech have similar policies.
Two Sides of the Demographic Cliff: High school graduate numbers are predicted to peak and fall by 13% by 2041. However, we contend that this cliff will not make selective national brands easier to enter. List balance remains crucial. Regional private universities tacing demographic drops will likely ofter more aggressive merit scholarships to maintain enrollment. The WSJ's August 29th article on the financial miscalculations by Syracuse University discusses this in detail. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/syracuse-student-application-enrollment-crisis-budget-ff142896
Holistic Admissions: College admissions officers consistently identify a student's academic record, including grades and course rigor, as the most important part of an application and the clearest predictor of success in college-level work. Although most universities use a "holistic" review process and consider the full application, strong academic performance creates the broadest range of options for a student's college list. Please let us know if you need help finding support early, before a difficult grading period makes it much harder to recover.
AI CORNER
Integrity in Review: Admissions offices, such as UNC's, now use Al to flag grammar and transcript rigor so readers can focus on substance. Meanwhile, schools like Caltech are verifying claims via audit teams. Their "Fraud Squad" recently appeared in the WSJ. When completing your application or writing essays, authentic, verifiable work wins over Al-polished perfection. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/college-admissions-caltech-cheating-fraud-squad-f7627aab
Al & College Majors: Washington Monthly writer Paul LeBlanc recently suggested that majors leading to a career in the care economy, creative economy, and Al management are more likely to be insulated from Al disruption. He cites positions like teacher, counselor, designer, and Al supervisor. He also recommended researching "whether the university has clear, coherent policies on Al use.” https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/28/how-to-pick-a-college-in-the-age-of-ai/
Warm regards,
The MCA leam