Alternate Campus/Alternate start date—what is the strategy here?

[Anonymous]

DS is completing his apps and some of the schools are asking if he wants to be considered for first semester (or year) abroad, or if he wants to start early (in summer) or late (spring semester).

Here’s my concern: some of the schools have a disclaimer after that question, which states that his chances for admission on-campus, for fall 2026, are not impacted by his answer to the question about alternative campus or start date. But I know that the whole reason many colleges have these programs is to 1) alleviate freshman year housing issues, especially if they only guarantee 1 year of housing and 2) admit students while making their admission rates look lower, because these students are not counted as first-year fall on-campus admissions.

DS does not really want to go abroad for freshman year, especially at schools where only the first year of housing is guaranteed (i.e. he “misses his chance” to live on campus), but I don’t want his likelihood of acceptance to be reduced. So is that disclaimer BS or not? What is the strategy here?

[Anonymous]

Would you decline if offered only a late start? Or so then don’t check the box.

[Anonymous]

The reason these programs are offered is because the school is playing the marketing game. Those students who are offered the late start or start at satellite campuses have lower GPAs and test scores than the traditional admits. Here is where the school hides the poorer performing legacy students, URM, first generation, etc. By doing this, the school can report only the higher stats of regular start kids to USNWR. The problem is - everyone on campus (or campuses) knows this - so the late start kids feel inferior. Also, a student doing this forfeits the normal freshman excitement of first semester and the bonding with classmates. Do you really want your kid to attend a university that treats its students like this?

[Anonymous]

Isn’t that what northeastern does to protect their us news rankings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t that what northeastern does to protect their us news rankings?

Yes. It makes their admit rate appear extremely low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason these programs are offered is because the school is playing the marketing game. Those students who are offered the late start or start at satellite campuses have lower GPAs and test scores than the traditional admits. Here is where the school hides the poorer performing legacy students, URM, first generation, etc. By doing this, the school can report only the higher stats of regular start kids to USNWR. The problem is - everyone on campus (or campuses) knows this - so the late start kids feel inferior. Also, a student doing this forfeits the normal freshman excitement of first semester and the bonding with classmates. Do you really want your kid to attend a university that treats its students like this?

The late start has been around for a while, I knew several "JFrosh" (January freshmen) 30 years ago when I was in college, and I felt then that the colleges that did that were fairly transparent about the reasons (basically "You're not quite good enough now, but some kids we think are better than you will drop out first semester, so then we can fit you in", and that's also pretty obviously the reason now. I also don't remember them asking the students in the app if they were "willing" to take that offer.

But the alternate campus/international campus is a newer phenomenon. I can't tell if the kids have a good/cohesive freshman experience there with the *other* freshmen that are there or if they feel robbed of their traditional "freshman year on-campus experience". And then they have to potentially go find an apartment for sophomore year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason these programs are offered is because the school is playing the marketing game. Those students who are offered the late start or start at satellite campuses have lower GPAs and test scores than the traditional admits. Here is where the school hides the poorer performing legacy students, URM, first generation, etc. By doing this, the school can report only the higher stats of regular start kids to USNWR. The problem is - everyone on campus (or campuses) knows this - so the late start kids feel inferior. Also, a student doing this forfeits the normal freshman excitement of first semester and the bonding with classmates. Do you really want your kid to attend a university that treats its students like this?

My DS is going to start spring semester in January and, after some apprehension, it has been great for our family. We get to spend more time with him and he has had more time with friends who are staying near home for school.

He traveled abroad and has a good, well paying restaurant job which gives him the experience for a similar job in the city where he will go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t that what northeastern does to protect their us news rankings?

Many colleges do this. BU, NYU, Hamilton, USC, Michigan, Miami. US News doesn't use selectivity as a a component in its ranking system. It substitutes equity factors.

Some do it for various reasons, but it generally boils down to more money/more tuition. The city of Boston caps how many northeastern and BU undergrads, so they have to play this game.

[Anonymous]

It is a practice that goes back to the 1980s. Duke and Cal were among the schools that did it. Maybe UNC, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason these programs are offered is because the school is playing the marketing game. Those students who are offered the late start or start at satellite campuses have lower GPAs and test scores than the traditional admits. Here is where the school hides the poorer performing legacy students, URM, first generation, etc. By doing this, the school can report only the higher stats of regular start kids to USNWR. The problem is - everyone on campus (or campuses) knows this - so the late start kids feel inferior. Also, a student doing this forfeits the normal freshman excitement of first semester and the bonding with classmates. Do you really want your kid to attend a university that treats its students like this?

The late start has been around for a while, I knew several "JFrosh" (January freshmen) 30 years ago when I was in college, and I felt then that the colleges that did that were fairly transparent about the reasons (basically "You're not quite good enough now, but some kids we think are better than you will drop out first semester, so then we can fit you in", and that's also pretty obviously the reason now. I also don't remember them asking the students in the app if they were "willing" to take that offer.

Many years ago, my college roommate was a JFrosh (at an Ivy) and she had a good transition and was just as smart as anyone else. Nobody looked down on her and honestly beyond that first week in the dorm, nobody would have even known she came in in January. I think she may have taken community college classes before starting in January. She graduated on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is completing his apps and some of the schools are asking if he wants to be considered for first semester (or year) abroad, or if he wants to start early (in summer) or late (spring semester).

Here’s my concern: some of the schools have a disclaimer after that question, which states that his chances for admission on-campus, for fall 2026, are not impacted by his answer to the question about alternative campus or start date. But I know that the whole reason many colleges have these programs is to 1) alleviate freshman year housing issues, especially if they only guarantee 1 year of housing and 2) admit students while making their admission rates look lower, because these students are not counted as first-year fall on-campus admissions.

DS does not really want to go abroad for freshman year, especially at schools where only the first year of housing is guaranteed (i.e. he “misses his chance” to live on campus), but I don’t want his likelihood of acceptance to be reduced. So is that disclaimer BS or not? What is the strategy here?

If he doesn't want to go abroad first year, what's the practical difference between being offered that and being rejected? Don't play games -- if he doesn't want it, don't check the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t that what northeastern does to protect their us news rankings?

Many colleges do this. BU, NYU, Hamilton, USC, Michigan, Miami. US News doesn't use selectivity as a a component in its ranking system. It substitutes equity factors.

Some do it for various reasons, but it generally boils down to more money/more tuition. The city of Boston caps how many northeastern and BU undergrads, so they have to play this game.

True, but many parents (especially rich, private-school parents) rate schools by exclusivity anyway. Even if US News isn’t looking at admissions rates, the schools are still artificially driving down their admissions rates for marketing purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t that what northeastern does to protect their us news rankings?

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s all annoying. It’s all a game played to help their numbers. Look I would compartmentalize it.

If college X admitted you but you had to start Someplace Else or at Some Other Time would you accept the offer? No? That’s your answer. Yes? Decide how much you want to get i. To that college. Because by saying yes to those alternatives a highly competitive kid is going to get that offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is completing his apps and some of the schools are asking if he wants to be considered for first semester (or year) abroad, or if he wants to start early (in summer) or late (spring semester).

Here’s my concern: some of the schools have a disclaimer after that question, which states that his chances for admission on-campus, for fall 2026, are not impacted by his answer to the question about alternative campus or start date. But I know that the whole reason many colleges have these programs is to 1) alleviate freshman year housing issues, especially if they only guarantee 1 year of housing and 2) admit students while making their admission rates look lower, because these students are not counted as first-year fall on-campus admissions.

DS does not really want to go abroad for freshman year, especially at schools where only the first year of housing is guaranteed (i.e. he “misses his chance” to live on campus), but I don’t want his likelihood of acceptance to be reduced. So is that disclaimer BS or not? What is the strategy here?

Kid doesn't want to do it. Done.