As the last early application decisions are released, we wanted to share the trends we are seeing as well as our students’ success.
Trends during the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle
We have written many times in the past about the increases in application pools. This year is no exception. One of the biggest increases we saw was at the University of Virginia, who reported a 37% increase in total applications and 43.7% increase in out-of-state applications. There could have been many factors that contributed to this increase but none more important than the fact that UVA removed their supplemental essay this year. By removing a barrier to apply, they ensured their application pool would increase.
One trend that is picking up steam is universities offering alternative start programs to applicants. As application pools increase and spaces for fall admission on main campuses become harder to secure, we see schools utilizing programs to ensure a steady stream of students joining their communities. There are many different types of programs, such as Clemson’s Bridge Program, where students take classes at Tri-County Technical College while living on the Clemson campus in their first year, Northeastern’s N.U.in Program, where students start their Northeastern experience by spending fall semester abroad and then heading to Boston for their second semester, and one of the oldest and most established programs, Middlebury’s Feb Program, where students take a gap semester in the fall and start their Middlebury experience in February.
When application pools and competition increase, it’s essential to take a strategic, intentional approach to the college application process. That’s what we help our students do. Our goal is for students to have a tailored, layered approach to their college list and application timing so they can get good news early in the process, which we find lowers stress, and secure a spot at a best-fit institution. This year, over 95% of our Senior Comprehensive students received good news in Early Decision I and II, Early Action, and/or Rolling admissions pools.
Class of 2026 Early Admissions List
Below is a list of the 110 schools to which our students have been admitted so far this year. We have our fingers crossed for more good news to come next month when the remaining decisions are released.
- American University
- Arizona State University
- Auburn University
- Bard College
- Barnard College
- Baylor University
- Binghamton University
- Bocconi University (Italy)
- Boston College
- Bowling Green State University
- Brandeis University
- Bucknell University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Clemson University
- College of Charleston
- College of Wooster
- Cornell University
- Dickinson College
- Duke University
- Elon University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach
- Emory University
- Florida State University
- Fordham University
- George Mason University
- George Washington University
- Gonzaga University
- Hamilton College
- Harvard University
- Howard University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- James Madison University
- Kansas State University
- Kent State University
- Kenyon College
- King’s College London (UK)
- Lawrence University
- Lehigh University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Macalester College
- Marquette University
- McGill University (Canada)
- Mississippi State University
- Muhlenberg College
- New York University
- North Carolina State University
- Northeastern University
- Northwestern University
- Oberlin College
- Ohio State University
- Oklahoma State University
- Pennsylvania State University-University Park
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Saint Louis University
- San Diego State University
- Sarah Lawrence University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Seton Hall University
- Skidmore College
- South Dakota State University
- Southern Methodist University
- St. John’s University
- Texas Christian University
- Towson University
- Trinity College
- Trinity University
- Union College
- University at Buffalo
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Arizona
- University of Arkansas
- University of Austin
- University of California, Merced
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Delaware
- University of Edinburgh (UK)
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Glasgow (UK)
- University of Kansas
- University of Kentucky
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Miami
- University of Michigan
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- University of Mississippi
- University of Nebraska
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Oregon
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Richmond
- University of San Diego
- University of South Carolina
- University of St Andrews (UK)
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- University of Toronto (Canada)
- University of Vermont
- University of Virginia
- University of Virginia’s College at Wise
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Vanderbilt University
- Villanova University
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)