1. Standardized Testing Is Making a Comeback
The great test-optional experiment, supercharged by the pandemic, is beginning to recede. A growing number of influential universities, including Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, and MIT, have reinstated SAT/ACT requirements for applicants. Their reasoning? After
years of research, they’ve concluded that standardized test scores—when viewed in context with a student’s high school environment—are actually a valuable predictor of college success and can help identify high-achieving, lower-income students who might otherwise be overlooked. For the Class of 2026, this means you can’t assume your dream school will be test-optional. The smart move is to prepare for and take the SAT or ACT, even if you’re not yet sure you’ll submit your scores. Having a strong score in your back pocket provides maximum flexibility as more schools continue to re-evaluate their policies.
2. The Application Essay Has New Weight
Following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that effectively ended race-based affirmative action, the personal essay has become the primary venue for students to share their unique background and experiences. Colleges are no longer able to use a checkbox to understand an applicant’s racial identity, but Chief Justice John Roberts noted that applicants could still discuss how race has affected their lives. This puts immense pressure on the essay. Admissions officers will be looking for authentic, personal stories that reveal character, resilience, and perspective. For you, this means brainstorming for your essay should start now. Think about the challenges you’ve overcome, the communities that have shaped you, and the experiences that have defined your identity. The goal is to show, not just tell, who you are beyond your grades and test scores.
3. The SAT Itself Has Changed
The paper-and-pencil SAT is officially a thing of the past in the U.S. As of spring 2024, the test is now fully digital and adaptive. This is a seismic shift with real consequences. The new test is shorter (about two hours instead of three), with shorter reading passages and a built-in graphing calculator for the math section. The “adaptive” part is key: how you perform on the first module of questions determines the difficulty of the second. This format can feel less like a marathon, but it also means there’s less room to recover from a slow start. Students in the Class of 2026 will be the first cohort to have only known this digital version. It’s crucial to take practice tests in the new digital format on the College Board’s Bluebook app to get comfortable with the interface and pacing.
4. The AI Question Looms Large
With the rise of powerful AI tools like ChatGPT, admissions offices are on high alert for essays that aren't fully human-written. While AI can be a great tool for brainstorming or checking grammar, relying on it to write your essay is a major risk. Colleges are developing more sophisticated ways to detect AI-generated text, but more importantly, they are looking for your authentic voice. An essay that sounds polished but lacks personal insight or a unique perspective is a red flag. The Common Application has even updated its guidelines to affirm that student work must be their own. The takeaway for you is to use AI as a co-pilot, not an autopilot. The story, the voice, and the core ideas must be unequivocally yours.
5. 'Demonstrated Interest' Is More Than a Buzzword
As colleges navigate a landscape with less data (from test-optional policies and the affirmative action ruling), they’re placing more emphasis on whether an applicant is genuinely interested in attending. They want to protect their “yield”—the percentage of admitted students who enroll. For you, this means engaging with the schools on your list long before you apply. Sign up for their mailing list, attend virtual or in-person information sessions, and if a regional admissions officer visits your high school, make sure you’re there. For schools that track it, this “demonstrated interest” can be a tiebreaker between two otherwise similar applicants. It shows them you’re not just applying on a whim; you’re making an informed choice.
