Today, we will analyze the shifting admissions trends based on Early results.

You may have seen fragmented reports on Early trends through articles, Common Data Set (CDS) reports, or school websites. However, based on the data we have compiled, we provide a comprehensive analysis of Early admissions trends for the Class of 2029.

Key Discussion Points:

• Changes in the number of applicants

• The significance of being deferred

• Strategies universities are adopting to ensure diversity after the repeal of affirmative action

Early Admissions Policies: Test-Required vs. Test-Optional

Early admissions schools fall into two broad categories:

• Schools requiring SAT/ACT submission

• Schools with a Test-Optional policy

We will examine how applicant numbers differ between these two categories and analyze what it means for students who are deferred from Early admission.

We will also assess how diversity initiatives are evolving post-affirmative action by analyzing Early admissions data from the Top 20 universities, excluding UC Berkeley and UCLA, which do not release detailed data.

Admissions Data by School

The following schools are categorized based on their testing policies:

• Schools highlighted in red maintain a Test-Optional policy.

• Schools highlighted in blue require SAT/ACT submission.

The order follows the latest U.S. rankings but does not hold significant meaning beyond that.

Princeton

Princeton is known for not disclosing much admissions data. The only available information is that in the 2019-2020 cycle (Class of 2024), its Early acceptance rate was 15.82%.

MIT

MIT reinstated its SAT/ACT requirement for the Class of 2028 (2022-23 cycle). The number of applicants surged when test scores were optional for the Class of 2025 (2020-21 cycle) due to GPA inflation. However, after reinstating testing requirements for the Class of 2027, applicant numbers dropped significantly, stabilizing the Early Action acceptance rate at the high 5% range.

MIT’s Defer Policy:

• MIT defers a large number of students, meaning they are considered promising but will be reevaluated in Regular Decision.

• However, the acceptance rate for deferred applicants is extremely low.

Predicting the Acceptance Rate for Deferred Students

Deferred applicants' chances in Regular Decision depend on the relationship between a school’s Early acceptance rate and deferral rate.

• If the deferral rate is similar to the Early acceptance rate, deferred students have a strong chance in RD.

• If the deferral rate is significantly higher, the chances of later admission are much lower.

For example:

• If the Early acceptance rate is 20% but 80% of applicants are deferred, RD chances are low.

• If only 10% of applicants are deferred, RD chances are much higher.

Ivy League Early Decision Data

Several Ivy League schools have opted not to disclose Class of 2029 Early Decision results, including:

• Harvard

• UPenn

• Cornell

• Princeton

A possible explanation for Harvard’s decision is the scrutiny it has faced due to affirmative action lawsuits, leading the university to withhold its data to avoid further controversy.

Stanford

Stanford does not release much data, so limited insights are available.

Harvard

Harvard reinstated SAT/ACT requirements for the Class of 2029. Following the pandemic, applicant numbers surged, but with testing reinstated, applications slightly declined to an estimated 6,000–7,000 applicants. The acceptance rate is expected to remain stable.

Harvard’s Defer Policy:

• For the Class of 2028, 83.06% of Early applicants were deferred.

• The acceptance rate for deferred applicants was only 8.74%, making post-deferral admission highly unlikely.

 

Caltech

Caltech does not disclose admissions data.

Yale

Yale reinstated SAT/ACT requirements but adopted a Test-Flexible Policy, allowing AP/IB scores as an alternative. Applicants must submit all available scores, which may deter students with weaker results.

Yale & Affirmative Action: Prior to the repeal of affirmative action, 34% of Yale’s freshman class was Black/Hispanic. Projections suggested this percentage could drop to as low as 6% without race-conscious admissions. To maintain diversity, Yale now prioritizes socioeconomic factors over race, with a key focus on low-income students through programs like QuestBridge.

QuestBridge Admissions at Yale:

• Class of 2027: 66 admits

• Class of 2028: 72 admits

• Class of 2029: 66 admits (final adjustment)

Trends at Other Schools

Duke

Due to its Test-Optional policy, Duke saw a high number of Early applicants, leading to a lower acceptance rate.

Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

JHU requires SAT/ACT scores for the Class of 2029. Although official defer rate data is unavailable, JHU typically rejects many applicants outright rather than deferring them. A deferral from JHU still carries a reasonable chance in Regular Decision.

Northwestern

Northwestern remains Test-Optional, resulting in increased applicants and a declining acceptance rate.

UPenn

While UPenn has not disclosed data, its Test-Optional policy likely increased applicants, with an estimated Early acceptance rate in the high 13% range. Since UPenn’s defer rate closely mirrors its acceptance rate, deferred students have a solid chance in RD.

 

Cornell

After reinstating SAT/ACT requirements, Cornell saw a drop in applicants, with an expected acceptance rate of around 20%, similar to pre-pandemic trends.

Brown

Brown saw a decrease in applicants after reinstating testing requirements, leading to a slight increase in acceptance rates. The school also relies on QuestBridge and prioritizes First-Generation students to maintain diversity.

 

Columbia

Columbia remains Test-Optional, and applicant numbers are stable.

Dartmouth

Despite reinstating SAT/ACT requirements, Dartmouth’s applicant numbers remained steady, likely due to its small student body size.

 

Rice / Notre Dame / Vanderbilt

These schools maintain Test-Optional policies, leading to:

• High applicant numbers

• Lower acceptance rates

• Higher chances for deferred students at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame

 

Final Conclusions

• Test-Required schools saw a decline in Early applicants.

• Test-Optional schools saw increased Early applicants, resulting in slightly lower acceptance rates.

Deferred Applicant Strategy

If a school’s deferral rate is similar to its Early acceptance rate, deferred students have a strong RD chance. If deferred, take additional steps to improve your application.

Post-Affirmative Action Diversity Strategies

Schools are maintaining diversity through:

• QuestBridge

• First-Generation Admissions

Returning to Pre-Pandemic Standards

With SAT/ACT requirements reinstated at many universities, admissions trends are stabilizing to pre-pandemic norms.

This concludes our analysis of Early admissions trends. For further inquiries, please contact A-One Institute.

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