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 Yet, many families still operate under outdated assumptions, leading to unrealistic expectations about where their student will be admitted and what it takes to get there.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.

Receiving an Early Decision acceptance is a huge milestone—congrats! But before you kick back and celebrate, there are a few critical steps to wrap up your college application journey. From updating your school’s admissions office to withdrawing applications from other colleges, we guide you through it all.