Connecticut
More Connecticut seniors are getting college acceptances without applying
Connecticut is seeing rapid growth in a statewide program that offers automatic college admission to qualifying high school seniors.
New data shows more than 19,000 students received an admissions offer in the 2024-2025 school year through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program, which began in the 2023-2024.
How does it work?
The program allows Connecticut high school seniors with a weighted GPA of 3.0 or an unweighted GPA of 2.75 to receive automatic acceptance to participating colleges and universities. Students still need to submit a simplified application to claim their spot, but they receive the acceptance up front.
The following colleges and universities currently participate:
- Central Connecticut State University
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Western Connecticut State University
- Albertus Magnus College
- Goodwin University
- Mitchell College
- University of Bridgeport
- University of Hartford
- University of New Haven
Central Connecticut State University junior Brianna Renna said she never believed college was possible until learning she qualified.
“It’s kind of nerve-racking because, of course, the anxiety is like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make it, even though I had the GPA for it, I had everything I needed’,” Renna said. “But it was like ‘Yes! I made it!’”
A paradigm shift for college admissions
It’s an experience more Connecticut students are having. The program is run through the Common App, an online platform that allows students to apply to colleges and universities with a single application.
Jenny Rickard, CEO of the Common App, said the direct admissions model is gaining traction nationally.
“What this does is really say right out of the gate: ‘you have options,’” Rickard said.
The CEO said that many students fear judgment during application review in the admissions process: “That is the big psychological barrier for students who also don’t realize that most colleges admit most of their applicants.”
Reaching new students
The latest numbers show the program is reaching key student groups. First‑generation and low‑income students were twice as likely to respond to their automatic admissions offer compared with other students, according to a new Common App report.
“It really flips the whole narrative. The student becomes the selective one because they’ve got so many choices,” Rickard said. “To give students more agency and confidence, I think, is the most important part of this program because they can then take advantage of the opportunities that they deserve.”
The benefit for colleges
Administrators at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities said the school has seen a big increase in applications for the program.
By December 2025, Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities received a total of 12,385 applications.
From November 2024 to 2025, applications under the program increased nearly 20%, according to data provided by CSCU.
Roughly 2,000 students enrolled via the program last year.
“We know we’re absolutely going to blow that number out of the water,” said Dr. John Maduko, Interim Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Chancellor.
He said the program removes barriers that often discourage students.
“It’s never been about intelligence or lack of ability. It’s always been about these barriers,” Maduko said.
The state system is waiving application fees, essays, and letters of recommendation.
“Those are barriers, right? So when it’s income, then we have income-dependent families. You have to be selective on the number of institutions here to apply to,” Maduko said. “The CAAP program eliminates that barrier and gives more choices and options of destinations to the students.”
Metrics to watch
The report states that only 46% completed the application to at least one institution that extended them an offer.
Leaders say the next priority is expanding outreach and communication, which is already underway this school year. (The admissions data in the report were from the 2024-2025 school year.)
Read the report in full here:
Interim Chancellor Maduko said CSCU had more intentional outreach this year with high school district partners about inconsistencies in the application process.
“As a system, we always have to create the right conditions to make this process conducive and accessible and approachable for families,” Maduko said.
Rickard at Common App said helping students understand the opportunity is key.
“A big learning is to make sure that you have the people within the community who are supporting students, help them understand what this opportunity is,” she said.
Empowering students
Rickard said this is reversing some of the stressors around the enrollment process for students.
“The fact this is not only streamlining the process, but it is empowering students is huge,” Rickard said.
She talked about research from a decade ago that found counselors and applicants never used words to describe the application process as simple, logical, joyful, or equitable.
With this program and others like it around the country, the tide is changing.
“Where I get really excited about this particular initiative is that it’s simple. Hopefully it’s logical. It’s joyful in that there’s confetti in advance, right? You know you have an opportunity. And then equitable, because we’re really focused on that first generation and low-income community in terms of trying to make the process more equitable for them,” Rickard said.
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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