This year’s college admissions cycle left many families surprised — and in some cases, confused. Outcomes didn’t always match expectations, even for strong students. Headlines only tell part of the story, and without context it’s hard to know what these results mean for the year ahead.

Moderated by college admissions expert Lisa Bain Carlton, this session brings together admissions and testing experts to analyze this year’s outcomes and translate the results into practical insights families can use to plan more confidently.

What We’ll Explore

• Acceptance Rate Shifts: Which colleges became harder to get into — and which admitted more students.
• Early Decision Impact: How many seats were filled through early applications before regular decision.
• Testing Trends: When test scores helped, where higher scores were expected, and which policies changed.
• Fit to Major: How a student’s intended major affected their chances of admission.
• Application Volume & Behavior: How the number of applications — and where students applied — shifted this year.
• Looking Ahead: Early signs families should watch as they plan for the next cycle.