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Hanover counselors outline shifting college-admissions landscape; more students applying early and staying in-state
Summary
Hanover County counselors told the school board that national trends — including growth in early-action applications, test-optional shifts and direct-admit programs — are reflected locally, where most students apply to Virginia schools and the district saw increased early-action admits in 2025.
A team of Hanover County school counselors briefed the school board on national and local college-admissions trends, saying the process has changed substantially since the pre-pandemic era.
“All of us are really into learning and bettering ourselves in this career, and so we work really hard to stay up to date with the trends,” said Allison Bolander, career counselor at Mechanicsville High School. Counselors said national shifts include a rise in early-action applications (this year surpassing regular decision), wider use of test-optional policies with some selective institutions returning to testing, and emergent practices such as direct-admission pathways that guarantee admission given minimal information and simple application steps.
The presenters noted local patterns captured by the district’s School Links platform: most Hanover students apply in-state (top destinations included James Madison University and Virginia Tech), a high share use early-action, and the division is seeing some movement from 4‑year toward 2‑year colleges—often driven by cost concerns. “A primary reason for that has to do with finances,” one presenter said, summarizing counselor feedback from families.
Board members asked whether these trends affect cost and long-term student outcomes. Counselors said they do not yet track Hanover students’ college graduation rates directly — universities publish graduation data — but the district is expanding postsecondary tracking capabilities now that School Links is implemented. The board heard that dual-enrollment expansion and guaranteed-admission partnerships are part of the district’s strategy to improve access and affordability.
The presentation closed with counselors encouraging families to research individual institutions because admissions priorities and testing policies vary by school. The board did not take action; counselors offered to provide follow-up data if requested.
