Moxie College Counseling

08/18/2026

The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is introducing a new approach for first-year students beginning in Fall 2027.

Under this pilot program, first-semester LSA students will receive a Pass/No Credit designation on their official transcripts. Students will still earn traditional grades and receive instructor feedback internally, but those grades will not appear on external transcripts or impact their GPA.

The goal? To help students adjust to the transition to college, encourage exploration, and reduce some of the pressure often associated with the first semester.

As colleges continue to rethink how they support student success, changes like this highlight a broader conversation about learning, growth, and the college experience.

At Moxie College Counseling, we’ll continue sharing important higher education updates to help students and families stay informed.

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The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is working collaboratively with faculty and staff across campus to design a pilot program that helps foster an environment where college students can acclimate to the demands of a University of Michigan education and pursue new academic challenges.

08/11/2026

Is AI really reading half of all college applications?

Not quite. While that claim has been widely repeated, the documented examples of colleges using AI in admissions are far more limited.

A small number of universities have publicly shared how AI fits into their application review process. In those cases, schools say AI is being used as a tool to support admissions teams, not to replace human judgment. Final decisions are still made by admissions professionals.

As AI becomes more common in education, understanding how colleges actually use the technology matters. Families should look beyond headlines and focus on what schools have confirmed about their own processes.

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A widely repeated statistic traces back to a marketing survey that a sitting vice provost has directly called false. The real cases are fewer, better documented, and more useful to a family.

08/04/2026

Columbia University is bringing standardized testing back into the admissions process.

Beginning with the 2027-28 admissions cycle, Columbia will require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores after several years of test-optional admissions. The university says test scores will be considered as one piece of a broader, holistic application review.

This decision is part of a larger national conversation about the role of standardized testing in college admissions. Colleges continue to weigh questions of fairness, access, and how best to understand a student’s academic preparation.

For families navigating the admissions process, the message is clear: policies are continuing to evolve. Students should stay informed about the requirements at each college on their list and build an application strategy that reflects the latest changes.

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More than three years after deciding to go test-optional permanently, Columbia University will again require applicants to submit standardized test scores, starting fall 2027.

07/28/2026

100 years ago, students across the US took the first SAT. Today, relatively few colleges require the test. Where is it headed?

The standardized exam has evolved over the past century, all in the name of testing for college readiness. Now, it has become a symbol of the American higher education system

07/21/2026

How is AI changing the landscape of college degrees? Read more about the latest trends and what it means for students and universities. https://buff.ly/H5WtQ8o

07/14/2026

The NCAA has approved a five-year eligibility rule change. Read more about how this impacts college sports!

The NCAA announces that the Division I Cabinet unanimously voted on Tuesday to approve a five-year eligibility model for student athletes.

06/23/2026

Hundreds of UC faculty are calling to reinstate SAT and ACT requirements for STEM applicants.

Read more here! https://buff.ly/TiAGfJ1

06/16/2026

Discover the top cities where recent college graduates can truly thrive as they start their careers.

Read more! https://buff.ly/0JbLTdr

05/26/2026

In the face of an admissions process that feels increasingly unpredictable, social media offers elusive clarity, or at least a sense of control. Influencers have built communities around sharing knowledge, but this knowledge isn't always correct.

Students navigating an increasingly competitive college admissions process are turning to an unlikely source: social media influencers. But are they really leveling the playing field?

05/19/2026

Read how these teenagers reacted to an essay about the challenges of raising children today and shared their thoughts on how involved parents should be.

Students react to an essay about the relentlessness of raising children today, and share how involved they think parents should be.