December, 2003- In the November issue of The Atlantic, James Fallows writes that early-decision admissions programs took off as a college recruiting tool during the “baby bust” years of the early ‘90s – when a shortage of students left “weak colleges worried about simply meeting enrollment targets and strong ones worried about losing the best candidates to rivals.” Today, some experts are questioning the continued value of early decision programs. Critics say such measures are no longer needed now that U.S. high schools are turning out more graduates and colleges are inundated with applications. Others contend that early-decision forces many students to commit to a school before they have had time to fully consider which school would make a good match for them. Still other critics contend that early decision may result in less than optimal financial aid packages, as colleges do not feel the need to “woo” those who have committed early and, instead, seek to use favorable aid packages in persuading undecided applicants to enroll. Last year several highly regarded schools abandoned their early decision programs and called on others to do the same, but relatively few schools have followed suit.
What is your view of early-decision programs? Are they still a valuable tool? Can they work to the detriment of schools or students?
Paul E. Bragdon
Interim President of Lewis and Clark College
(503) 768-7680
pres@lclark.edu
Early admissions plans, both Early Decision (ED) and non-binding Early Action (EA,) can work out well for some of the students, some of the time. They are designed by institutions to work well for colleges and universities that elect to use them all of the time.
There is a tremendous leap of faith students (and families) need to make before applying to a binding ED program. These obligate students to make non-refundable deposits, based on estimated financial aid awards, before the desired institutions even set their tuition rates for the following year. ED admissions works against diversity initiatives while favoring the wealthy who can accept the above ED conditions.
Lewis & Clark College dropped ED in 1998, in favor of the non-binding, Early Action option. It is a very attractive admission alternative and continues to grow each year. EA allows students to find out a timely admissions decision while allowing for up to four more months of information gathering about colleges and, equally importantly, about themselves.
At Lewis & Clark, it seems a much more humane alternative during what can be a stressful time.
Dale Rogers Marshall
President of Wheaton College
(508) 286-8244
dmarshall@wheatoncollege.edu
Blaming early decision plans for forcing students into making premature decisions about college ignores the real cause of the problem: rankings that anoint a handful of schools as the only few worth considering. Many colleges beyond the Ivies offer a high-quality undergraduate experience. The "right" school for one student is not right for another. Similarly, early decision is a good option for some high school seniors, but not others. When a student is sure about the college he or she wants to attend, early decision can be a good route to campus. The key is doing the homework first. One key to look for is whether the college participates in the National Survey of Student Experience (NSSE) and makes the results public. Those that do make a clear statement about their commitment to offering a top-notch education, and to continuous improvement rather than resting on their reputations.
Kathleen Gill Bowman
President of Randolph-Macon Woman's College
(434) 947-8140
kgb@rmwc.edu
At their best, early decision programs offer anxious students relief from the anxiety of the high-stakes college admissions game. They can also provide responsible enrollment officials some badly needed assurances about the size, shape, and profile of their incoming classes. At their worst, they are used as tools to pressure students into applying, maximize tuition revenues, and manipulate financial aid distribution.
The fact that these programs are abused doesn’t surprise those of us who have watched the college admissions process become so fiercely competitive over the years. In fact, such an environment virtually guarantees such manipulative practices. One need look no further than the rankings game for evidence of that. Our challenge is not to reform any particular practice, but to take a long hard look at the culture that has made such practices such a common feature in the landscape of college admissions.
Jake B. Schrum
President of Southwestern University
(512) 863-1570
vandanen@southwestern.edu
Many college-bound students feel prepared to make a college commitment early in their senior year. For these students who have a clear first choice, early decision programs can benefit both the student and the college or university. Problems arise, however, when students skirt the integrity of the process by applying early decision to more than one college. Such an infraction undermines the trust built into a program designed to broaden access to the finest kinds of educational experiences.
If a college or university is true to its mission and uses an early decision program as a legitimate means to provide such access to students who are most interested in and better qualified for enrollment, then the results yield a better match—not just another admit.
Southwestern University plans to keep its Early Decision program in place.
David Oxtoby
President of Pomona College
(909) 621-8131
David.Oxtoby@pomona.edu
At Pomona College, we admit fewer than 30% of our students via Early Decision, keeping that number relatively low in spite of high demand. ED programs assure a core group of students for whom we are the first-choice college (desirable once students arrive on campus); students so admitted are able to focus entirely on academics and extracurricular activities during the second half of their senior year. Because Pomona has need-blind admissions and does not offer merit scholarships, there is no financial incentive favoring regular over early admissions; that arises only when schools play games with "merit" aid and bid up offers to students. Our ED applicants are not significantly wealthier than our full pool; over the years 60% have been candidates for financial aid. Pomona believes that ED programs, when maintained at the right size, are a valuable component of the full admissions portfolio.
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