University research offices are asking for extra time to complete a mandated admissions survey as 81% of institutions report they are still collecting required data with less than a month to go. The request comes amid seismic shifts in the admissions landscape—from renewed test‑score debates and surging applicant pools to AI’s growing role in essays—outlined in a contemporaneous analysis of eight admissions trends reshaping the field. Administrators warn that incomplete or rushed data submissions will compromise cohort planning, financial forecasting and federal reporting, complicating enrollment management at a moment many campuses face budget stress. The clash between data demands and staffing capacity is prompting calls for streamlined reporting timelines and clearer guidance for institutional research teams.