What You May Not Know About Alternative Pathways to College Admissions
Alternative pathways are becoming a very real possibility and must be considered when you are applying to highly selective institutions. Colleges are businesses, and they are becoming more creative in how they protect their yield numbers and secure tuition from students, knowing they will not have enough space in their classes, dorms, etc., to accept you onto campus in the fall of your first year. Therefore, more and more schools are offering admissions opportunities to prospective students with conditions. What conditions am I talking about? Keep reading to learn more.
So Colleges Are a Business, Okay, So What Does That Mean for Me as a Prospective Student?
Well, you may need to consider another pathway: the university may admit you only if you accept their new terms and conditions, such as studying abroad for a semester or a year and then returning to campus as a spring-term freshman or even a sophomore.
You may be asked to attend another regional or satellite campus operated by the university. You may need to start at a nearby community college, depending on whether you live in-state or out of state, as compared to that university, or perhaps start online, or simply start in a different term (summer, January, or February). There is no single unified pathway across US institutions, so I want to share a few examples with you to help you understand some of the potential options you may face in the future.
A Few Alternative Pathway Examples
University of Florida – Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE)
Online-to-On-Campus starting in Fall (Online)
Yes, credit offered
Lower cost than traditional campus; ineligible for campus housing
Invitation only
For freshmen not admitted to the main campus due to space constraints
The University of Florida is denying a significant percentage of applicants, but that does not mean you are not meant to be a Gator one day. UF Online is a pathway to entry if you take online courses.
Middlebury College – Feb Program (February Admission)
Spring admit starting in February
Yes, credit offered
Standard tuition & aid apply
Invitation only
Students offered Feb start as part of Middlebury tradition
University of Texas - Austin – UT New York Pathway & Take the World by the Horns
New York, International semester options
Fall starts, return to campus in the Spring semester
Yes, credit offered
Invitation only
Students who selected Moody's School of Communications as their first choice to be considered
Taught by Moody professors who fly to NY
50 students accepted annually (Denmark, Sweden, Panama, South Korea)
Invitation only
Update (since this was originally posted): Be cautious because this year, Feb 2026, UT-Austin shared with counselors one thing, and then when it came time for them to roll out decisions to students two weeks later, February 13, some alternative pathways were removed and no longer on the website, and some were added or had other caveats. Buyer beware, but it doesn’t mean they are not good options; just ask a lot of questions if you get an alternative pathway option, and come decision time, it will be your call.
Boston University – College of General Studies, January Boston-London Track
Spring Admit / Study Away starting in Spring
Yes, credit offered
Standard BU tuition; includes London travel
Invitation only
Get ready to begin your studies in the culturally rich city of Boston, and then pack your bags for London for a truly unmatched freshman experience. If the idea of studying at one of the top universities in the nation, exploring the historic landmarks in Boston, or taking day trips outside of London excites you, then you will thrive in this program.
Clemson University – Summer Start
Summer start (June after senior graduation)
Yes, credit offered
Additional costs
Invitation only
Summer Start provides a select group of first-year students with an early opportunity to complete two to three academic courses before their first Fall semester, further develop their learning and study skills, and connect with the Clemson community. The program supports a successful transition to Clemson through success coaching, mentoring, and engagement in intentional programs and support services.
This Reminds Me
You MUST begin asking colleges how many of the classes you plan to take will be in person vs. online. This question is not asked, and parents like me are surprised to learn that half of the classes are online or in some hybrid format, yet you are still paying for in-person, on-campus classes.
Yes, it is a reality, and one that the colleges are not forthcoming about. Honestly, instead of asking the admissions office, you should reach out to current students for their insights on this situation. They will tell you the truth.
Another consequence of online classes is that they may increase the tuition and fees you are expected to pay. This can really creep up on you if you are not careful. Be wary; don’t just believe the cost-of-attendance numbers shown online. There may be additional costs not discussed at the time of admission that are revealed only when your child spends the summer before their first year in college registering for classes at the university. Only to find out that some of the classes are only offered online.
If you are fine with that, great! No need to worry; you will just need to consider higher class and tuition fees in some cases. Otherwise, if you are a student who will not succeed in the online setting, this should play a larger role in your college research and in the questions you ask again during your college visits or when speaking with admissions offices and current students.
I Hear You
You do not want to start anywhere else or do anything else. You just wanted this university to admit you right out of high school, and you are going to stick it to them because you were only offered an alternative pathway.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is part of the admissions process in 2026 and beyond.
The universities want you and your money, but they do not want to flat-out deny you the opportunity to attend on campus; they just need you to go somewhere else so they can protect their yield numbers and know that you will be on campus in a semester or two, and they do not have to worry about their admissions numbers as much the following year.
Let's just say they are getting ahead of the game so they can manage the numbers later, avoid over- or under-enrolling, and protect themselves from students admitted in future years who decide not to enroll. This hurts their yield numbers.
Not Many Places Where Students Have Taken This Opportunity Do They Say They Hate It
It may feel like a slap in the face to begin with, but this door may just offer you even more than you could ever imagine.
Things to consider:
A small cohort of friends (your team) with whom you start this process
Have more intentional support
Get a chance to explore the world
Consider this an immediate study abroad or internship opportunity at the beginning instead of at the middle or end of your college years
Broaden your perspective
Perhaps you like online learning, or you wanted to study away
Things to Ask
If you choose this option, how will the university support students during the transition back to campus?
Do you have guaranteed dorm/housing upon your arrival?
Will you be on track to graduate in 4 years?
What are the biggest challenges they see students face who accept this alternative pathway?
What are the benefits, and can you talk to a student who has done this?
Will this cost me more time or money?
Do you have access to all the college amenities if you are studying online or on campus?
When would you start?
For example, Clemson summer start begins in June - so upon your graduation from high school, you may immediately need to pack up and get to Clemson, SC to begin your program, without having a last summer at home with friends as you had hoped for.
But before it seems like a terrible idea, please consider the following: a small cohort, getting to take classes early, knowing who your friends are, and familiarity with the campus before true first years start in the fall.
You get to come home for a week or two before fall classes start. However, you will have to move out of your summer home and into your fall home, but not a biggie. (Take very little or find somewhere to store it for a few weeks) - Be sure to ask the campus how they help with this.
My Professional Colleagues and I Chat About These Opportunities Often
We discuss whether we should encourage our students to take them, and there is not a week that passes during the admissions decision season, December - March, when professional college consultants request trusted input from others through our social forums and professional organization platforms. So it is not lost on me that this is a big decision, and one that you ultimately did not hope for. I get it! It is another nuance in the complexity of college admissions that parents and students often do not know about or know very little about, as it is becoming an increasingly common practice for universities to offer.
But time and time again, I find that the success stories and benefits outweigh the cons if this university is your dream school and the place you want to earn your diploma from.
Now That You Have Additional Information
I encourage you to be a wise consumer as you build your college list and visit campuses by asking these questions so you know what you may need to consider when applying and accepting admissions offers in the future. Also, once you open your Common Application and add your list of colleges and universities, this may be a specific question the college admissions office asks on the application before you submit, whether you would like to be considered for an alternative start. You need to consider this question seriously, and it would not be wise to dismiss this question until the last minute before submitting your application. If the school is your #1 and you would do anything to attend and earn your diploma, then perhaps you need to consider alternative start programs more seriously than you would for another university that is not at the top of your list. Please seek advice from a professional college consultant to determine the best course of action for your situation.
Don't turn a blind eye and just think this is not the way college admissions is going to continue into the future.
Now you get to decide.
As always, I am here to help you research and uncover what will help you through your own unique process to college.
