Twist in College Admissions: Students Don't Apply, Get In

Colleges are increasingly flipping the script on admissions: Instead of teenagers applying to them, the schools are making the first move. The Wall Street Journal reports that more and more colleges—typically less-selective private schools—are embracing the concept of "direct admissions" amid a shrinking pool of 18-year-olds and intense pressure to keep enrollment numbers up. On the Common App, a platform for college applications, participating schools have more than tripled since 2023-24. Under the system, students fill out a form on sites "that essentially act as matchmakers," the Journal explains. They also submit their high school transcripts, and interested schools then send out acceptance letters, forgoing the need for full applications or essays.

"Instead of a student applying to the institution, the institution applies to them," explains Angel Perez of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. "It's a way for students not to have to jump through hoops in order to get into college." Early data from platforms like Niche suggest these offers are reaching more first-generation and nonwhite students than the traditional admissions route. But critics warn that a flood of "you're in" emails can confuse families, especially when cost isn't clear. For a closer look at how the system works, read the full story by Roshan Fernandez.