Higher education is constantly evolving. Universities update their policies, deadlines, and testing requirements more often than many students expect. These changes can affect your college list, your application strategy, and even your chances of getting in. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay informed and flexible.

Colleges Are Updating—All the Time

A good example is the University of Michigan, which recently added Early Decision (ED I) to its existing Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) options. This gives students another pathway to apply—but it’s also a reminder that schools often update how they admit students. If you don’t stay up to date, you could miss an opportunity or make the wrong choice for your goals – this is true even among people like myself that work in the industry – as the expression goes, ‘the only constant is change’.

More Ways to Apply Early

Other schools are also expanding early admissions choices. You may have seen that Early Decision II (ED II) is becoming more common. This allows students to apply in a second binding round if they are denied or deferred when hearing back from their ED I schools (or if they didn’t apply ED I). This can be a smart move for students who are ready to commit, but need more time to finalize their list or polish their application.

A small number of schools also allow students to apply via Restrictive Early Action (REA), also known as Single-Choice Early Action, or SCEA. This option is non-binding, but limits where else you can apply early. Knowing the rules for each early round is key to avoiding mistakes and making the most of your options.

Testing Policies Have Changed, Too

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities quickly introduced test-optional or test-blind policies to ensure that students could still apply that were not able to access the SAT or ACT. Test-optional schools let you decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores, while test-blind schools won’t consider scores at all. These changes give students more flexibility—but they also mean you need to think carefully about how to present your strengths.

More Countries, More Complexity

If you’re applying to schools in more than one country, the process is even more complex. Different systems have different rules, deadlines, and expectations. Creating a strong application strategy today requires careful planning, good research, and a clear understanding of how schools are changing.

Stay Informed to Stay Ahead

University websites, mailing lists, and your college counsellor are all great tools to help you keep up. With so many moving parts in higher education, the students who succeed are the ones who stay aware and adapt their strategy as things change.