The Early Decision Bird Gets the Worm

            In the spring of 2002, the University
of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill threw down the gauntlet to other nationally ranked
universities. They would drop binding early decision (ED), in which an
applicant agrees to attend if accepted, for non-binding early action (EA). "We
want to encourage students to approach their education seriously,” said Chancellor
James Moeser.  “Not by using
strategy.  We hope to contribute to a
national climate that encourages thoughtful choice."

            Five years
later, only two other schools have exchanged early decision for early action: Beloit and Mary
Washington.  The ‘national climate,’ in
fact, has gone the opposite direction and universities are wallowing in a hurley
burly whirl of “early” words. To further churn the brew, Yale, Harvard, and
Stanford have “single-choice” early action. It’s non-binding but you cannot apply
early anywhere else. So confusing is the present climate that all many high
school students know is that they better apply to college in the same timeframe
in which they go to school in the morning—early.

Early decision was initially a way
for students who were passionate about one college to get the arduous process
over with quickly. As competition has heated up, however, others now see it as
a strategic way to get a leg up on the competition in the same way that frantic
house buyers are foregoing inspections.

But foregoing a house inspection is
a bad idea. So, in many cases, is early decision.

            I’m
concerned that students are throwing aside good college fit, negotiating power
for scholarships, and time for thoughtful consideration in exchange for a
frantic slap at getting in line at an elite college.

Students accepted ED are clearly at
a monetary disadvantage. Carnegie
Mellon University
states upfront, “We are open to negotiating financial awards to compete with
other institutions for students who applied during the regular decision time
period.”

            Current
research on teen brain development suggests that making a decision about
college is not so easy.  NIMH
neuroscientist Jay Giedd’s highly publicized studies on the brain suggest that
teenagers lack the decision making apparatus of an adult. Giedd’s brain scans
suggest our brains are not mature until about age 25.

            But the
pressure of going ED, especially when you know others may take your slot if you
don’t, can be intoxicating.

A couple of years ago, one of my
former clients, Becca, decided early on that early decision was her best shot
at college. She first chose early decision for Middlebury, changed her mind to
Grinnell, and then changed her mind to Macalaster, where she spent the night
and realized that, “It was too uptight at an east coast school” and that “a
midwest school was more my thing.”

            Using her
school’s college tracking software, Becca could survey the horse race to get
into Macalaster. She noted that more students from her high school were
applying each year—five in 2004, and 12 for the fall 2005 class. Early decision,
she figured, would give her a jump.

            She and two
other students from her high school were accepted. Did going early decision
propel her application into the accepted pile? Statistics say yes.

             I know
one independent consultant who advises his clients to play what I call “early
decision roulette.” This is how it works. First he instructs students to take
all of their SAT tests before June of their junior year (In my opinion, not a
good idea since they lose the extra time to prepare for the SAT Subject exams
that correspond to their current high school courses) so they have SAT results
for the first round of early admissions mania. Then he has them choose ED
schools that have overlapping deadlines. For example, Penn ED is Nov. 1 with
notification by Dec. 15. If they don't get accepted, then they can apply to a
school like Colgate which has a second round of ED with a deadline of Jan. 15.
Yes, this method increases your odds that you will get accepted somewhere, and
may appeal to the status seeking (since both schools are highly ranked) but it
overlooks that crucial factor: fit. The teenager attracted to an urban school
of over 9,000—Penn—may not fit so happily into a very isolated rural setting
with 2,700 students—Colgate.        

An orthodox Jewish student I worked
with was unable to commit early to Penn, even though this was a great school
for her. While I knew the risks in applying regular to Penn, I supported my
client’s desire not to commit too early. She was a typical 17 year-old who
needed more time to synthesize the options. In her case, like that of other
orthodox students I work with, the issue of fit was crucial to her decision.
There are only so many schools with full kosher meal plans, vibrant Hillels and
orthodox services. She applied regular and was rejected by Penn, but  was admitted to Washington University and
Honors at University of Michigan, where she attends.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Nevertheless, given the present
situation, I reluctantly counsel many students to consider early decision if
they are sure about the college and getting in is the priority. Elite colleges
have made it practically impossible to do otherwise. The University of Pennsylvania
admits 49% of its incoming freshman class early decision with acceptance rates
of 29% for those applying ED, while admitting 15% of students applying regular.
One needs only look at early decision acceptance rates at other competitive
universities to see the trend: Cornell 36.6% (15% regular),  Johns Hopkins 51% (25% regular), George Washington 60% (36% regular),
Brandeis 63% (35% regular)*.

Applying early decision to elite
colleges improves one’s odds by as much as 50% over regular admissions,
according to recent research by Avery, Fairbanks, and Zechauser highlighted in
their book, The Early Admissions Game. 
This was comparable to an extra 100 points on the SAT.

So while early action, which allows
students the opportunity to hear early without a binding commitment, is clearly
favorable to them, for colleges, it’s a different story. Most private
institutions one step down from the Ivies are making policy decisions based on
money and bond ratings.

            “This past
summer, I met with the bond rating agencies,” says William Conley, Dean of
Enrollment and Academic Services at Johns Hopkins. Conley sets admissions policy
at Hopkins. “We
have 11 applicants for every one spot and the bond rating agencies are
factoring what your strength quota is. If you’re a school that, for every
enrolled kid you’re only getting three applications, then you’re on a very
tight margin. …I said, ‘OK here’s the scoop. We only enroll 32% of those who
are admitted and before you rush off and lower our bond rating, let me show you
where they go if they don’t go here [the Ivies]. And let me show you the SAT
scores of those who do come here.’”

            Conley uses
the University of
Pennsylvania as an
example. “There was a time when Penn was not viewed on the same par as the
other Ivies. They really built a lot of their current success on a decision
they made a long time ago to push early decision. And they proved in the long
run that those ED kids keep getting academically better and better.”

            “What I
think is somewhat the ruination of civilization,” says Conley, “is that kids
aren’t taught how to make choices. So when there are complaints that going ED
instead of EA doesn’t allow them to negotiate financial packages, I’m not
holding a gun to them. Life isn’t fair and we’re willing with our program to
say we might lose a kid that we could have gained under EA because he needs to
see financial aid packages. We’re saying to that kid, you’re going to have to
make a choice.”

            So what
lesson does Conley give to all of us sending high schoolers off to college?

            “There’s
the practical and there’s the tactical.” He should know.  Two years ago he sent his son off to Davidson College
in North Carolina.  Conley quizzed him about his interest since a
lot of schools were recruiting him for their swim teams.  “Are your sure? What happens if you have an
incredible season and all these other different places are open to you?”  

            But his son
was sold on Davidson and how did he apply? You guessed—early decision. And
reluctantly, I would have counseled likewise.

 *2006-2007 data

 Eliot Applestein is an
Independent College Counselor in North Bethesda, Maryland and president of Best Four Years.
Comments to eliot@bestfouryears.com. This updated article originally appeared
at bestfouryears.com.