Spill the Tea: Pulling Back the Curtain on College Admissions

On a breezy afternoon on Martha’s Vineyard, far from the bustle of city streets and college campuses, a packed room of parents, students, and community members gathered for one purpose: to get the real story on college admissions. College Board’s Spill the Tea: Real Talk on College Admissions, Financial Aid & More panel promised a candid conversation, and it delivered.

Dr. Kedra Ishop, College Board’s senior vice president of Higher Education, Membership, and Access, welcomed the crowd with a smile and a warning: “This isn’t the college admissions process you remember.” She introduced an all-star panel of admissions leaders whose collective experience spanned decades, institutions, and student populations. 

The group of admissions directors, Ronné  P. Turner of Washington University in St. Louis, Adele C. Brumfield from the University of Michigan, Ebony Clinton-Brown from Northeastern University, Ashley M. Pallie of Caltech, and Derek Kindle from the University of Oregon, brought perspectives from elite private universities, large public institutions, and everything in between.

From the start, the panelists cut through myths. Turner explained how tools like the Common Application have made it easier for students to apply to more schools─driving acceptance rates down without expanding first-year classes. “In 2013, our admit rate was 34%,” she shared. “This year, it’s 12%.” Others echoed the point: selectivity is often more about numbers than sudden leaps in quality.

Pallie shifted the conversation to cost, noting that tuition at her alma mater had nearly tripled in two decades. “It’s not just about applying—it’s about talking early and honestly about what your family can afford.” Kindle added that middle- and upper-middle-income families now need to be more proactive, researching scholarships beyond institutional aid and understanding the limits of federal loan programs.

The panel also addressed seismic shifts in the admissions landscape, such as the rise of test-optional policies during covid-19 and the 2023 Supreme Court decision restricting the use of race in admissions. Turner stressed that while race can no longer be considered directly, institutions still value a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Students need to articulate those through their activities, essays, and achievements.

And when it came to extracurriculars, the advice was clear: quality over quantity. “We’re not counting clubs,” said Clinton-Brown. “We want to know what you care about, why you do it, and how you’ve grown.” 

Perhaps the most human moment came when panelists acknowledged the anxiety parents feel, sometimes more than their children. Turner admitted that even with 30 years in the field, she felt nervous when her own daughter applied to college. The reassurance? “Fit matters more than name recognition,” said Pallie. “A place where a student can thrive is always better than one that looks good on a bumper sticker.”

As the session wrapped, audience questions touched on competitiveness, geographic variety, and how global applications have changed the game. The takeaway was universal: Yes, the admissions process is complex, but students who understand themselves, engage deeply in their passions, and seek out honest information can navigate it successfully.

In an era of shifting policies, soaring costs, and evolving student priorities, Spill the Tea was more than a panel. It  was a roadmap, delivered by those who know the terrain best.