The hottest College Admissions Substack posts right now

Longstanding score gaps between well‑identified demographic groups remain essentially unchanged and are at levels seen for decades.
Most racial/ethnic groups show similar score variability, but Asian students have much higher variance, possibly because the category is more diverse or because high performers are more spread out.
Male scores are slightly higher and more variable at the national level, but that male advantage disappears in Michigan — where all students take the SAT — highlighting that selective test participation shapes national patterns.

College admissions are often about who can play the game better, rather than just academic achievements. This makes the process feel unfair to many students who meet traditional qualifications.
Writing a college application essay is very different from simply sharing your true self. Many students feel pressured to write what they think admissions officers want to hear, sometimes leading to dishonesty.
The current admissions system rewards conformity and doesn't always recognize exceptional talent. Some students spend their high school years gaming the system instead of focusing on genuine achievements.

Colleges face a choice: be transparent in admissions or continue with murky criteria.
Removing test scores can worsen inequality in admissions, favoring the rich even more.
Making college more accessible and transparent can benefit disadvantaged students and improve trust in higher education.

SAT is a valuable tool for predicting a high school student's future college performance.
It's not inherently racist if certain racial groups perform differently on standardized tests.
Reducing reliance on SATs in college admissions can disproportionately affect students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Girls are performing better than boys in high school, especially when it comes to GPA. Most top students with high grades are girls.
While boys do better on the math section of the SAT, they struggle with the verbal section. This shows that their strengths and weaknesses vary across different subjects.
Boys are less likely to take Advanced Placement exams compared to girls. Encouraging more boys to participate in these tests could help improve their academic standing.

MIT continues to require the SAT for admissions, which can be a significant factor for students like the girl from foster care who surpassed expectations in the math section.
The SAT is seen as an equalizer by some institutions like MIT, serving to identify potential in students who may face extreme challenges and fears, like the brilliant girl from foster care.
The story highlights the importance of recognizing exceptional talents and potential in students from diverse backgrounds, even when facing adversities like lack of stability and basic needs.

Affirmative action has been abolished, which some view as a positive change.
The demographics of the country have changed since affirmative action began, making it a challenge to implement fairly.
An alternative to affirmative action could be focusing on class-based admissions to address inequalities in college admissions.

Critique high-stakes college admissions, but note its importance in landing top jobs.
Consider admissions at other universities beyond Ivy League for equality.
Explore different mechanisms like transferring students or standardized tests for hiring.