Every year, there are high-achieving students who have done everything “right”: earned stellar grades, scored well on standardized tests, and stayed out of trouble. And yet, when application season rolls around, many are shocked when those dream schools — the ones with the prestigious names and single-digit admit rates — don’t say “Yes.”

It’s not because these students aren’t smart or capable. Quite the opposite.

The college admissions landscape has changed more in the past five years than in the previous decade. Yet, many families still operate under outdated assumptions, leading to unrealistic expectations about where their student will be admitted and what it takes to get there.

Each admissions cycle brings new challenges, shifting priorities, and policy changes that impact students’ college applications. We closely follow these evolving trends to give families an insider view of what’s happening across U.S. colleges and universities.