On Sunday, March 23rd, I’ll be off to meet with admissions reps at 9 PA colleges: Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Penn State, Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, and Muhlenberg to learn the latest about admissions (including data, any upcoming changes/ requirements), new majors/programs, and of course, to tour campuses and say hi to some of my students! Let me know if you have specific questions about any of these colleges.
Please visit the updated Less College Stress Consulting website! Here’s what’s new:
I’m offering a free “destressing” strategy session for families who are ready to tune out the buzz and get professional advice on how to approach the college process. Click on the “Get Started” link on the homepage to schedule. We’ve also added plenty of college tour photos to the website.
See the “New for 2025 Offerings,” including an honest college list appraisal, Parent/Student Survey “Brag Sheet” editing, and final Common App Essay review for students who do not have an LCS Comprehensive or Essay Package. Please spread the word about these options to families handling the college process on their own.
Contact me for a list appraisal after mid-April once the 2025 admissions numbers are in. “Brag Sheets,” which school counselors use to compose their letters for colleges, can be completed now or as soon as they can be accessed in Naviance or Scoir–get them off your plate. (By the way, no real “bragging” is recommended, but examples of your student’s best character traits in action are!)
It’s busy, but I still have a few spots left for juniors. Message me or email at lesscollegestress@gmail.com to set up a Zoom meeting.
UMaryland: 30K undergrads; middle 50% of admitted students GPA 3.8-4.3(weighted); SAT 1440-1540/ACT 33-35. These scores are up from last year. Honors college middle 50% is 4.37-4.58 (weighted). About a 70% admit rate to the Honors College. We still are offering spring admission and saw an 11% increase in in-state apps this year with the same class size, so it was much more competitive. Over 90% of the class is admitted in the EA round.
Engineering, Public Policy, CompSci, Nursing, Business, and Social Data Science are the most popular majors. A new AI major is launching. Create your own major! If current students who want to transfer meet the course requirements, they are still subject to a competitive review, especially for Computer Science. It was a more competitive year than in the past, as we saw another increase in applications and our class size remained the same. We do review major blind for general admission. For limited enrollment programs, students must meet gateway requirements.
UDelaware: 17,642 undergraduates; average GPA 3.85-4.32; SAT: 1280-1430/ACT: 27-32. We admit directly to a major. Only 1/3 of students are from Delaware. Jewish students are invited to the summer session to bond. Business is more manageable to switch into as the majors in that college are less restrictive than those in the college of engineering (lab space, size of college, etc). 18 units of core subjects, 2 years of a foreign language is adequate, precalculus is required for business and engineering. There are thousands of nursing applicants for 200 spots.
Just added Hospitality Event Management and Art Conservation/History, Applied Physics and Mathematics, and Data Science majors this year! Our top Programs are Business, Biology, Nursing (direct admit), Kinesiology (also competitive PT program), UD has an excellent, popular Sport Management program with great hands-on learning opportunities. D1 athletics and competitive club teams; Just added women’s D1 Hockey!
UVermont: Hit 100,000 applicationss this year! 88% are from out of state. 11,000 undergrads/1600 graduate including med school. Average GPA 3.9 SAT; 1310-1420/ ACT 29-32. Won NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. Designated R1 Research Institution. We are only in our 4th year of Early Decision, and have received about 500 applications. EA much larger w/ 20K. EDII - new this year - received about 200. We are more generous with merit aid in the Early Decsion rounds (about 75% admit rate) where EA admit rate is between 50-60%.
Rutgers-Over 80,000 applications this year; deadlines are firm. 36K undergraduates, 4.05 average GPA 1380-1510 School of Arts and Science. The Honors College has become highly selective. Top Majors are Computer Science, Business, Engineering, Biology, Professional Health Majors. Odds of admissions are better for Business Analytics and Info Technology than CompSci. The most competitive majors are 7 year BS/MD (20 students), Dentistry, DPT programs; 6 year PharmD and PA programs; 3+3 Law options, and 5 year Master's options, including 5th year MBA for Engineers. Direct admit programs all require Calculus; do not take Statistics only as a senior because you will not be prepared for college Calculus. Students enjoy internship and job opportunities in Philadelphia and NYC.
SUNY Binghamton-14,000 undergrad students/5,000 undergrads 38% admit rate.
93-98 GPA/1300-1450/29-33 ACT. Over 50K applications this year. Remaining test optional; first year research programs and publishing opportunities. Introducing a new School of the Arts offering BFA’s. Eligible students who apply to the School of Management are automatically considered for Harpur (A & S), but not for Watson (ENG and CS) or Decker (direct admit Nursing). Demonstrate interest-take at least Pre-Calculus. If you’re not eligible for SOM, the spot in Harpur will not be offered. Harpur students come in as undecided. Nursing requires the upper end of GPA and test scores.
Stony Brook-Early 10/15 EA deadline 4.05/29-33 ACT 1420 average SAT.
60K apps this year, 4,000 admitted. Letters of Recommendation appreciated. Received 500,000,00 donation in 2024. Established Climate Solutions Center on Governor’s Island and Marine Research Center. Take the highest level math and science for Engineering and Computer Science, both restricted majors. Growing programs: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Sustainability Studies, Mass Communications and Communications, Globalization Studies and Human Relations. Everyone should take a minimum of PreCalculus. Easy travel from NYC by Long Island Railroad to suburban campus; close to beaches. Stony Brook does not track DI but encourages future Sea Wolves to visit campus.
UConn-Offered ED for the first time admitted 700 out of 1100 apps (16% of class); no EA, RD only. SAT 1410-1370/29-33. 19,000 students on the Storrs campus. Marine sciences are on the waterfront campuses. Top 5 majors are Computer Science, Biology, Management, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences. Merit aid for all students, and the Stamford campus has become more popular. The School of Nursing is growing as is the Engineering major. Admit directly to major.
Next week: Updates from UDel, UMD, and UVM!