Admissions Competition

The classes of 2031 at Harvard and Columbia will get between 50,000 and 60,000 applicants this fall with a historically 5% acceptance rate.

Changing Admissions Landscape

Universities are revising standardized testing requirements and evaluating how applicants use artificial intelligence.

When to Start Preparing

Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education, says parents should let kids explore projects and activities without pressure.

“it’s wild that parents starting as early as middle school [are] already thinking about this, but that just shows how competitive it is.”

Admissions Factors

Academic performance, standardized tests, recommendations, extracurriculars, and personal essays influence admissions decisions.

Standardized Testing Return

Yale University requires applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 application cycle.

Fostering Independence

Public school counselors handle 405 students per counselor, far exceeding the recommended 250.

AI Tools in Education

AI can help students research colleges and organize deadlines but should not replace authentic personal essays.

“you want to be authentic, and don’t try to just do anything involved with ai.”

Authentic Interests Matter

A student who waited hours in the rain to buy limited edition sneakers for resale got into top schools through initiative.

“we had a student who was very much interested in sneakers. [he] was waiting outside of a sneaker store, and they were doing a limited edition drop of 200 sneakers worldwide.”

Princeton's Approach

Princeton evaluates how applicants spend time both inside and outside the classroom.

“i have so many students and so many parents tell me, ‘chris, like what can we do with ai?’”

Key to Success

Admissions officers want students who demonstrate resilience, emotional intelligence, and authentic interests.

“the ability to ask questions, develop ideas and communicate ideas independently not only helps prepare students for princeton’s academic requirements, but it also shows through in their applications.”

Parental Support

Parents should help students find academic weaknesses and develop study habits without pressuring them.

“i would say the first thing is let your kid really be a kid. allow him or her to explore different projects, different sports, different activities.”

AI vs. Authenticity

Using AI for personal essays can create problems as it cannot communicate experiences and motivations.

“an ai-generated essay may be grammatically polished, but it can’t independently communicate the experiences, motivations and judgment that make an individual applicant stand out.”

What Matters Next

Students should focus on genuine interests and initiative to stand out in the admissions process.