Effect of the 2019 USDOJ mandate
College admissions were expected to be under pressure even before COVID-19 because of recent changes to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) Code of Ethics and Professional Practices. Prompted by a federal antitrust investigation, the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) mandated that NACAC change their college admissions restrictions on recruiting students who have already committed to another school. Now, colleges are free to “poach” students who have already pledged attendance elsewhere. Colleges may also compete for early decision (ED) applicants using various incentives, recruit students after the traditional May 1 decision deadline, and recruit transfer students who have committed to other schools.
Nearly 200 schools across the US admit students through ED. In the past, if ED applicants were admitted, they had to enroll. Many highly selective colleges fill more than half of their incoming freshmen classes through ED applications. The most successful ED applicants include legacy applicants, large donors, and athletes. Other popular and selective private schools such as Boston University and New York University also use ED. But these schools may not have the financial resources of the more well-endowed Ivy League and Ivy-like schools and may not have the same ability to offer incentives.
Interestingly, incentives may not be actual monetary awards; some examples include early housing registration and special research opportunities. These incentives are more likely to go to students who would otherwise be full-pay, since if they matriculate, they will bring in more tuition dollars over time. Admissions offices might offer small awards to a larger number of full pay students, hoping to entice more of them to deposit.
Admissions through Restrictive Early Action (REA) is used by six schools: Georgetown, Harvard, Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale. An acceptance through REA is non-binding, but if you apply to any one of these five schools through REA, you may not apply ED to another college. Therefore, whatever happens with changes to ED next cycle will have an impact on REA. It is certain that college enrollment offices are considering their options right now, and we will not know about the status of these programs until each school releases admission information. In the past, this information was provided by late summer. This year, the unpredictability occasioned by COVID-19 may cause delays.
Standardized testing delays add another layer of confusion
Standardized test companies are trying to figure out when, where and how to offer testing through the summer and fall. Given the uncertainly of standardized testing, many current high school juniors may opt not to apply ED or Early Action (EA), unless they have already achieved their ideal score. More students might apply Regular Decision in order to show test scores as well as fall grades to all schools on their college list or give themselves more time to decide where they want to apply. Some schools may drop ED, only offer EA, and accept the students they want early. Schools can then offer incentives to get the strongest candidates to deposit and keep them on course for matriculation. In the past, some students would take the early offer and others would turn it down and wait to see if a better offer came along. But now, due to the USDOJ mandate, an applicant can accept an offer of admission and even deposit at a college and still change course if a better opportunity comes along.
Transfer planning
Another factor to consider is the transfer applicant. For example, college-bound high school seniors might choose a lower cost, in-state, four-year school with an eye towards transferring into another school that has more selective admissions for their sophomore or junior year. It has always been risky to plan such a move, because at the most selective schools in the US, freshman and sophomore retention rates are very high. Admitted students work hard and do not leave. And, while the more selective public universities such as UC-Berkeley, UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan welcome large numbers of junior transfer students, they greatly favor in-state transfer applicants who followed specific transfer path requirements that involved two years of specific coursework at a community college.
My best advice: stay on task and stay informed
With the continued uncertainty in these rapidly changing times, it is important to stay on task and stay informed. Instead of assuming the worst, practice optimism. Encourage students to conduct research online about schools, prepare for tests, and find something extracurricular (and probably online) to build their skills and interests. To stay informed, check regularly for updates on testing and college websites. It is in the best interest of schools to communicate with potential applicants about changes to their processes, so they should be forthcoming in their communications.
Elizabeth LaScala Ph.D. guides college, transfer and graduate school applicants through the complex world of admissions. She helps students choose majors and programs of interest, develops best match college lists, offers personalized essay coaching, and tools and strategies to help students tackle each step of the admissions process with confidence and success. Elizabeth helps students from all backgrounds to maximize scholarship opportunities and financial aid awards. Call (925) 385-0562 or visit Elizabeth at her website to learn more.
