State legislatures can make college admission a guarantee...

Earlier this week, the University of Wisconsin system joined Tennessee and Texas in guaranteeing in-state students admission to colleges in their system, by passing a bill in the state legislature. According to the Associated Press,the University of Wisconsin-Madison would be required to admit all high school students who finish in the top 5% of their class. Other campuses would be required to admit the top 10%, as described in a bill passed by the state legislature.

Texas has had a similar program in effect since 1997 and Tennessee just instituted their policy in September 2023. The goal, according to Wisconsin officials, is to encourage Wisconsin students to stay in Wisconsin after graduation. This bill is not without some questionable exchanges.

With Republican state legislators driving negotiations, the university system conceded to mandated cuts and modifications to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In return, the system will receive an estimated $800 million to compensate for staff raises and construction projects. This trade off is timely given conversations about the pending enrollment decline in higher education that is expected to peak in the next two years nationwide. In order to prevent closures or consolidation, these deals within states with declining population may become more popular.

What does this mean for students? If you are the student of state where the legislature is considering "guaranteed" admission to in-state colleges, be sure to read the fine print. Once bills are enacted, be sure to understand the parameters such as minimum GPA, class standing/rank, any restrictions on academic major or program, requirements to transfer to in-state four year programs if admission to two-year school is guaranteed and others.

On the other hand, there are some genuine benefits to this program that may be reflected in a response to guaranteed admission. Requirements for standardized test scores may become optional or no longer required at more schools. AP and dual enrollment programs may expand to include more degree or program options. Financial aid, grants and funding may change in response to enrollment trends. Declines in out of state applications may encourage more aggressive recruiting and outreach. This is something to watch for sure...in the meantime, if your state has an opportunity for FREE education, take advantage and make a plan!

What are the factors in college admission decisions?

As the acceptance, deferral and non-acceptance letters are rolling out, it begs the question: what factors do colleges consider in their admission decisions?

The National Association for College Admission Counseling has published data from fall 2023. The top two factors are high school grades in college prep courses and total high school grades in all courses - reflected initially in the GPA. While sample size is 185 students and you'll have to dig a little deeper into the data to investigate types of schools reporting data, these two factors mirror previous reporting.

COVID-19 forced colleges and universities to adapt their standardized test score policy. Many are returning to requiring submission of scores, while others are remaining test-optional. Standardized test scores fall way lower on the list of admission factors than one might expect. The recent data suggests schools are more interested in a student's ability to successfully complete college coursework/degree as indicated by academic rigor at the high school and the student's GPA. The student's interest in attending the school ranks higher than the standardized test scores!

What about the essay for writing sample? This factor rounded out the top 5 and it is noteworthy that Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores ranked higher than standardized test scores for many schools. This difference might be attributed to the school and/or program applied for...so keep that in mind when registering for high school classes next year.

I highly encourage rising juniors and seniors to reach out to the schools they intend to apply to (grad class 2025 and grade class 2026 seniors, I'm looking at you) to begin the conversation about what AP/IB and dual-enrolled classes will transfer. Please check out my other blog posts on this topic, linked below. It is not uncommon for top-tier schools to limit the amount of AP credit and dual-credit they will allow which makes registering for high school classes part of the strategy. It may be best to speak with the high school counselors or if you want more detailed assistance, a college consultant can help.

Ultimately, colleges and universities are more likely to look at your student holistically rather than just one factor. That's a good thing!

Deadlines for Student Commitments Extended

Great news for students waiting on financial aid packages! Schools are starting to extend commitment deadlines due to the late release of FAFSA information to colleges. FAFSA data is used by college admission and financial aid teams to evaluate need based and institutional aid. Without FAFSA data, many schools have nothing to work from...

Some schools do not require the FAFSA for institutional aid (merit), while others require a FAFSA be on file the first year. Be sure to check with your admissions rep for the schools you have been accepted and make a note of any commitment deadlines. Additionally, some schools require a housing deposit before joining the assignment list. Be sure to verify if the deposit is refundable (or a portion) if you choose not to attend that school...the kicker is some schools, like Purdue University, have a first come-first served mentality when making residential hall assignments. Better to pay the deposit, lose a small amount if there is a change of heart than to wait and get waitlisted for a preferred dorm - or any dorm at all! There are some east coast schools facing housing shortages as well.

So far, California's University system, Oregon State University and the University of Illinois-Chicago have extended commitment deadlines. I suspect more schools will follow with May 15 or later deadlines.