Reply to WSJ: the Secrets of Elite College Admissions

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I wonder if early application/decision fiats a better acceptance chance due to a lesser pool and more available aid?[/quote]

You don't have to wonder.  It does, and the data is clear:

[i]As Karen Richardson, the dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment management at Tufts says, “The biggest difference between ED and [RD] students is that those who apply ED have already decided that Tufts is the place that they want to be. As the ED pool has grown and gotten stronger, it’s difficult to say ‘no’ to good students who are good fits and who have made the commitment to attend if accepted.” Richardson goes on to note that Tufts specifically does not offer Early Action, because its non-binding nature makes yield projections difficult.

In fact, at many schools, early decision applicants are accepted at rates 10-12% higher than regular decision applicants.[/i]

https://blog.collegevine.com/does-applying-early-decision-increase-my-chances/

[i]According to Niche data, based on roughly 200,000 applications from 125,000 college students, students’ chances of getting accepted to a school are 18 percent better if they apply through early action or early decision than through regular decision.[/i]

https://www.niche.com/blog/early-admissions-path-may-increase-acceptance/

[i]Early application is associated with a 20 to 30 percentage point increase in acceptance probability, about the same as 100 additional points on the SAT[/i]

https://www.nber.org/papers/w14844.pdf
[/quote]

The second part of the statement was "more available aid".  Kids that apply ED tend to be wealthier, know that they won't need to shop financial aid, so that isn't a true statement.  Not only does ED tend to increase yield for schools,[b] it decreases the amount of aid they need to provide[/b].[/quote]

This is, at least conditionally, untrue.

[b]Schools that are need blind and meet 100% of need have the same obligations whether an ED or RD admit.[/b]

Schools that are need aware can make a decision based on that, but they have the same opportunity in the RD round.  This is the vast majority of "meets need" schools.  Yes, full pay students are more attractive to them in the ED round.

Every single college has an NPC that will provide the amount of aid given before you apply - so "shopping for aid" can happen before you apply.  If the aid offered is different than you got from the NPC, you are released from your commitment.

Schools that do not meet need it is irrelevant.  This is the vast majority of colleges.[/quote]

If the average ED is wealthier and needs less aid, then it would reduce the aid burden.  More money that can be used for other purchases.  Many lower income families need to weigh the aid packages against each other, and you can't do this with ED.[/quote]

Read this from when UVA dropped ED back in 2006.  (It has since reinstated.)

https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/higher-education/higher-ed-watch/hooray-for-the-wahoos-virginia-drops-early-decision/ [/quote]

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