📚 Trends in US College Early Applications and Strategies for Submitting Standardized Test Scores | 美国大学早申请趋势与标化成绩提交策略
The US college admissions process has become more complex and competitive than ever, with early application rounds playing a pivotal role. At the same time, standardized testing requirements are in flux, with many institutions shifting away from test-optional policies. For international students, navigating these trends and deciding whether to submit SAT or ACT scores requires careful analysis of data and institutional context.
美国大学申请流程比以往任何时候都更加复杂和竞争激烈，早申请轮次扮演着关键角色。与此同时，标准化考试要求变幻不定，许多院校正在摆脱可选考试政策。对于国际学生而言，驾驭这些趋势并决定是否提交 SAT 或 ACT 成绩，需要仔细分析数据和院校背景。
1. Understanding Early Application Options | 理解早申请选项
Early Decision (ED) is a binding agreement: if accepted, you must withdraw all other applications and enroll. ED deadlines are usually November 1 or 15, with decisions released in mid-December. Because it shows strong commitment, ED can yield a higher acceptance rate—often two to three times the regular decision rate at elite schools.
早申决定（ED）是绑定的：如果被录取，你必须撤回所有其他申请并入学。ED 截止日期通常为 11 月 1 日或 15 日，12 月中旬放榜。由于体现出强烈的承诺，ED 会带来更高的录取率——在精英院校中通常是常规申请的两到三倍。
Early Action (EA) is non-binding; you apply early, receive a decision early, but can wait until May 1 to commit. Some EA programs are "restrictive" (REA) or "single-choice," meaning you cannot apply ED or EA to other private universities, though public EA is usually allowed. Examples include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford.
早行动（EA）无约束力；你提前申请，提前收到决定，但可以在 5 月 1 日前选择入学。部分 EA 项目为"限制性早行动"（REA）或"单选早行动"，意味着你不能同时向其他私立大学申请 ED 或 EA，但通常允许申请公立大学 EA。例如哈佛、耶鲁、普林斯顿和斯坦福。
Regular Decision (RD) has later deadlines, typically January 1-15, and decisions by late March/early April. RD is not binding and allows you to compare financial aid offers.
常规决定（RD）截止日期较晚，通常为 1 月 1 日至 15 日，3 月底/4 月初放榜。RD 不具约束力，允许你比较经济资助方案。
2. Recent Trends in Early Applications | 早申请最新趋势
The number of early applications has surged over the past decade. According to Common App data, early action and early decision applications increased by 20% in the 2023-2024 cycle compared to the previous year. At highly selective colleges, early application pools are larger and more competitive, while acceptance rates continue to drop.
过去十年间，早申请数量激增。根据 Common App 数据，2023-2024 申请周期的早行动和早决定申请量比前一年增加了 20%。在高度选拔性院校，早申请池更大、竞争更激烈，而录取率持续下降。
One reason is that students perceive a strategic advantage in demonstrating interest early. Colleges also favor early applicants because they help manage enrollment yield. As a result, schools are increasingly filling a larger portion of their incoming class through early rounds — sometimes 40-60% of the class.
原因之一是学生认为提早展现兴趣有战略优势。大学也青睐早申请者，因为他们有助于管理入学率。因此，许多学校将越来越大的新生班级份额通过早申轮次招满——有时达到 40-60%。
3. The Return of Standardized Testing Requirements | 标化考试要求的回归
During the COVID-19 pandemic, most US universities adopted test-optional policies. However, starting with the 2024-2025 admission cycle, several prominent institutions have announced a return to requiring SAT or ACT scores. For instance, MIT reinstated its requirement in 2022. Dartmouth College will require scores for fall 2025 entry. Yale University has announced a test-flexible policy requiring scores but allowing AP or IB in place of SAT/ACT for some. Harvard and Brown are also moving back to requiring standardized tests.
在 COVID-19 疫情期间，大多数美国大学采用可选考试政策。但从 2024-2025 录取周期开始，多所知名院校已宣布恢复要求 SAT 或 ACT 成绩。例如，MIT 在 2022 年恢复要求。达特茅斯学院将要求 2025 年秋季入学提交分数。耶鲁大学宣布了一项灵活测试政策，要求提交成绩，但允许用 AP 或 IB 替代 SAT/ACT（部分情况）。哈佛和布朗也正在回归要求标化考试。
This shift is driven by research suggesting that standardized tests, when considered in context, can help identify talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds and predict college success more effectively than grades alone.
这一转变是基于研究表明，在结合背景的情况下，标准化考试能够帮助识别来自弱势背景的优秀学生，并且比单独成绩更能预测大学成功。
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