Dr. Jay Bass is the founder of INSIGHTS College Planning & Advising, with 25+ years of experience in college admissions consulting. He has helped hundreds of students in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland area gain admission to top colleges and universities.

What areas does INSIGHTS serve?

INSIGHTS serves families throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia (Falls Church, Arlington, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County), Maryland (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Montgomery County, Prince George's County), and Washington, DC itself. Virtual consultations are also available nationwide.

What services does INSIGHTS provide?

INSIGHTS provides comprehensive college admissions consulting including college list development, application strategy, essay coaching and editing, interview preparation, Early Decision and Early Action guidance, test strategy (SAT/ACT), financial aid planning, and waitlist strategy.

When should we start working with a college counselor?

The ideal time to begin college counseling is during 9th or 10th grade, which allows time for strategic course selection, extracurricular development, and test preparation. However, INSIGHTS also works with 11th and 12th grade students who are beginning the process. Starting earlier provides more options and reduces stress.

What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?

Early Decision (ED) is binding — your student commits to attending if admitted and withdraws other applications. Early Action (EA) is non-binding — your student applies early but can compare offers before deciding. Both typically offer higher acceptance rates than Regular Decision. The right choice depends on your student's financial situation, readiness, and clarity about their first-choice school.

How do I get started with INSIGHTS?

Contact Dr. Jay Bass directly through the INSIGHTS website at https://www.insights.education/contact. INSIGHTS works with a limited number of families each year to ensure personalized attention, so early contact is recommended.

— INSIGHTS

College Admissions Testing in 2027: Is the SAT or ACT Still Optional?

For several years, students applying to college have benefited from a significant change in the admissions process: the widespread adoption of test-optional admissions policies. Students could apply to many colleges without submitting SAT or ACT scores, allowing their grades, coursework, essays, and extracurricular activities to take center stage.

But as we approach the 2027 admissions cycle, families need to take another look at standardized testing. Some colleges have reinstated testing requirements, while others continue to offer test-optional or test-free admissions.

For families in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, understanding these differences is essential when developing a college application strategy.

Has Test-Optional Admissions Gone Away?

Not at all. In fact, standardized testing remains optional or test-free at the overwhelming majority of colleges.

According to FairTest, approximately 90% of the 2,111 colleges included in its updated 2026–2027 admissions policy database are test-optional or test-free. However, that does not mean students can assume every college on their list follows the same policy.

Some highly selective institutions have returned to requiring standardized test scores, and individual colleges may have different requirements depending on the academic program.

The important point is that testing policies are not uniform.

Understanding the Three Testing Policies

Families should understand the distinction between the following policies:

Test-Required: Students must submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Failure to submit scores can make an application incomplete.

Test-Optional: Students can decide whether to submit scores. A strong score may strengthen an application, but students who choose not to submit scores can still be considered for admission.

Test-Free (Test-Blind): Colleges do not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions decision, even if a student submits them.

These distinctions are important. A student with a strong academic record and a relatively modest SAT score may benefit from applying test-optional, while another student may use an excellent score to reinforce an otherwise competitive application.

Should Your Student Take the SAT or ACT?

Even when applying to test-optional colleges, students should carefully consider taking at least one standardized test.

There are several reasons:

Some colleges on a student's list may require testing.
Strong scores can strengthen an application at test-optional institutions.
Certain scholarship programs and special academic programs may have testing requirements.
Students may discover that their standardized test results provide an additional academic advantage.

Students should also consider taking both the SAT and ACT, at least initially, to determine which examination better suits their strengths.

The Strategic Question: Should Your Student Submit Scores?

There is no universal answer.

A student applying to a highly selective university with a 3.8 GPA and a 1450 SAT may benefit considerably from submitting the score.

On the other hand, a student with a 3.9 GPA and a 1150 SAT might be better served by applying without test scores to colleges that remain test-optional.

The decision should consider:

The student's GPA and rigor of coursework.
The SAT or ACT score relative to the college's admitted student profile.
Whether the college requires standardized testing.
Whether the student is applying to a particular academic program with additional requirements.
The potential impact on merit scholarships.

What About the University of California?

One important example of a test-free admissions policy is the University of California system.

For students applying for fall 2027 admission, the University of California has confirmed that SAT and ACT scores will not be required or considered in admissions decisions.

This is different from test-optional. Students cannot improve their UC admission chances by submitting standardized test scores.

Families should not assume that the UC policy applies to other public universities or private colleges.

The Bottom Line

Standardized testing is still an important part of the college admissions conversation, but it should be approached strategically rather than automatically.

The biggest mistake families can make is assuming that every college is test-optional or that submitting scores is always beneficial.

At INSIGHTS, we evaluate testing decisions as part of an overall admissions strategy, taking into account the student's academic record, college interests, and potential scholarship opportunities.

Ready to develop your student's testing and application strategy? Contact Dr. Bass at INSIGHTS to discuss the best approach for your family.

Dr. Jay Bass is the founder of INSIGHTS College Planning & Advising in Falls Church, Virginia. He has 25+ years of experience helping students throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland gain admission to their top-choice colleges.

The College Landscape Is Changing: What the Latest Enrollment Trends Mean for Students and Families

November 10, 2026

When families begin researching colleges, they often focus on acceptance rates, rankings, academic reputation, and campus life. These are all important considerations, but there is another development worth understanding: the changing enrollment landscape across American colleges and universities.

New preliminary enrollment data released in October 2026 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center provide an interesting snapshot of what is happening in higher education.

The findings reveal differences in enrollment patterns among four-year colleges, community colleges, graduate programs, and academic disciplines.

For families in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, these changes offer another reason to look carefully at college selection and academic interests.

College Enrollment Is Holding Relatively Steady

According to the National Student Clearinghouse's preliminary fall 2026 report, overall postsecondary enrollment is relatively stable.

Undergraduate enrollment increased approximately 0.6% compared with fall 2025, although that represents a slowdown from the 2.4% increase reported the previous year.

Four-year public institutions experienced modest growth, while private nonprofit four-year institutions remained essentially unchanged.

Community colleges were the only sector showing more substantial undergraduate growth, increasing approximately 1.2%.

What does this mean?

It suggests that the college admissions environment is not experiencing the same enrollment patterns across all types of institutions. Some colleges and universities are maintaining enrollment levels, while others are experiencing different degrees of growth or contraction.

An Interesting Development: Computer Science Enrollment Is Declining

One of the more surprising findings involves computer science and information technology programs.

Undergraduate enrollment in Computer and Information Science programs declined approximately 12.4% at four-year institutions and 12.3% at two-year institutions.

Graduate enrollment in these fields also declined.

This is particularly interesting given the enormous attention surrounding artificial intelligence, technology, and the future of the workforce.

It does not necessarily mean that computer science is becoming a less valuable major. Rather, it suggests that student enrollment patterns are changing and that families should look beyond the popularity of a particular academic discipline when evaluating college programs.

Health-Related Majors Are Experiencing Growth

In contrast, health-related academic programs are seeing increased enrollment.

The National Student Clearinghouse reported undergraduate enrollment growth of approximately 6.2% in health-related majors at four-year institutions.

This reflects continued student interest in healthcare, nursing, and related professional fields.

For students considering careers in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other healthcare professions, this is an important trend to watch.

However, families should remember that enrollment growth does not necessarily indicate that a particular major offers better employment prospects or higher salaries. Students should evaluate the quality of individual academic programs, internship opportunities, professional preparation, and graduate-school pathways.

Does the College You Choose Matter More Than the Major?

This is a question families frequently ask during the college search.

The answer depends on the student's goals.

For some students, the specific college or university is extremely important because of its academic reputation, faculty, research opportunities, or professional connections.

For others, the academic program itself should be the primary consideration.

A student interested in business, engineering, communications, psychology, or healthcare should investigate the actual curriculum and opportunities available at each institution.

Important questions include:

Does the college offer a dedicated undergraduate major in the student's intended field?
Are internships and experiential learning opportunities available?
Can undergraduates participate in faculty research?
Does the program have strong professional or graduate-school placement?
Are students able to change majors without significant academic restrictions?

These questions often provide more useful information than a college's overall ranking.

The Importance of Developing a Balanced College List

Another lesson from the changing enrollment landscape is the importance of considering a broad range of institutions.

Families sometimes become overly focused on a small group of highly recognizable colleges and universities.

But excellent academic opportunities exist at many institutions, including smaller private colleges, regional public universities, and specialized undergraduate programs.

A well-developed college list should consider:

Academic fit and intended major.
Admissions selectivity.
Undergraduate enrollment and campus environment.
Internship and career opportunities.
Affordability and financial aid.
Student satisfaction and overall fit.

The INSIGHTS Perspective

College selection should be about more than getting into the most prestigious institution possible.

The best college for a student is one that provides the right combination of academic opportunity, personal development, social environment, and affordability.

As the higher education landscape continues to evolve, families should remain open to institutions that may not initially appear on their radar.

At INSIGHTS, we help students identify colleges that match their academic interests, personal characteristics, and long-term goals—not simply their rankings or name recognition.

Ready to begin developing a thoughtful college list? Contact Dr. Bass at INSIGHTS to discuss your student's options.