Sometimes the noblest deeds are not the wisest. That is the case with Harvard’s decision to end its early admissions program. Poorer students who need to compare financial aid offers from schools deserve the same shot at getting into a school as anybody else, but it is still beneficial for colleges to have early admissions, and Washington University should not follow its lead.
Evening the playing field from a socioeconomic perspective is certainly a commendable goal. And the Early Decision program currently employed by the University does give wealthier students an unfair advantage. Under Early Decision, students apply to the University early, and if they are accepted to the University, must enroll. This is great for students who know that they absolutely want to come to Wash. U., but for students who need financial aid, Early Decision is not an option. These students must wait until they can compare financial aid offers, and then pick where to go based on that. Early Decision hurts these students in that most schools reward Early Decision applicants for showing early interest, so even if someone who needs financial aid loves the University and knows he or she wants to enroll, he or she can’t because he or she would have to wait, and in turn not get the rewards that Early Decision applicants get.
However, Early Decision is not the only system of early admissions. Many schools, such as Harvard, previously used single-choice Early Action, in which students apply early and find out early, just like Early Decision, but can decline to enroll. Thus, students can now compare financial offers under Early Action. Because of the unfair edge affluent students get through Early Decision, but with a desire to continue rewarding students for showing interest in the school, the University should adopt single-choice Early Action.
There are many benefits to having an early admissions program that will reward those who are willing to show interest in Wash. U. over any other schools. For starters, it leads to a happier freshman class. If the majority of the class is at their first choice school, there will be fewer students who are moping at having to be at their fourth choice school, and wishing they had gotten in elsewhere. In fact, in a Sept. 2001 Atlantic Monthly article titled “The Early Decision Racket,” Pomona Admissions Director Bruce Poch, who is a critic of early admissions including single-choice Early Action, stated, “It’s worth something to the institution to enroll kids who view the college as their first choice. Fewer people are whining about transferring from Day One. They turn out to be a lot of the campus leaders.” University of Pennsylvania Admissions Director Lee Stetson added, “You can’t overstate what that does for the mood of the campus.” What Poch and Stetson are saying makes sense. When students are at their first choice school, it stands to reason that they would be happier there, as well as having a better idea of what the school has to offer and a greater willingness to get more involved. While students who don’t apply early to the University are still likely to be happy here, and would be willing to be involved just like students who do apply early, admitting students early whose first choice is Wash. U. ensures this enthusiasm from a greater proportion of students.
Another reason to keep early admissions is that the playing field will not actually be level for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds if early admissions are eliminated. There is no guarantee at all that the students who need financial aid will get a sufficient offer to enroll at the University if the Early Decision advantage is erased.
Harvard cited the lack of knowledge about the difference between binding Early Decision and nonbinding Early Action as one of the reasons for getting rid of Early Action. But Early Action is an admissions system that can work well if the differences are made clear to prospective freshmen. It will still let the University show its appreciation for those who display interest by applying early, while giving those who need financial aid a chance to compare offers. The University should adopt it.