Harvard's big step

Harvard's announcement that the university is ending its early admissions program is being heralded as the first step in restoring sanity to the college admissions process. Beginning next year, Harvard will have one application deadline, Jan. 1, for all students.

The university is waiting a year to implement the new policy so that other schools have time to consider following suit. While Harvard's early program was non-binding, many colleges offer early decision, where a student commits to attending the school if accepted.

Early admissions programs, particularly early decision, benefit colleges because they increase a school's yield, the number of accepted students who attend the college. Admissions deans pay close attention to this number, because a high yield makes a school look hot and a low yield looks like the school has cooties.

Alumni tend to view their school more positively when everyone wants to go there, and college presidents like to keep potential alumni donors happy.

Understandably, college administrators fear a lower yield if they don't lock in a significant number of students through an early admissions program, and it will be interesting to see whether other colleges follow Harvard's lead. Harvard can afford to try a new policy since the prestige of the university guarantees that many students will want to attend, no matter what the application process. But if it turns out that Harvard does lose top students to other elite schools that have early admissions programs, the policy could change again.

Access is a big issue in higher education, and early admissions programs are seen as giving an unfair advantage to students from affluent families who can hire private counselors or pay for private schools where small caseloads allow counselors time to help students take advantage of early admissions programs. Students from lower-income families rarely have anyone to guide them through the complex college admissions process and they usually need to wait for admissions decisions from a number of colleges so they can compare financial aid packages.

Harvard's action will help level the playing field, but the change in policy will also benefit students in affluent communities.

In recent years, as admission to elite schools has become supercompetitive, families have been desperate for any edge in the process. Students hear that they have a better chance of getting into a highly selective school if they apply early, and they feel pressure to make decisions about college before they know enough about themselves or the schools. Removing the early admissions option should lower stress levels as students don't need to worry that there won't be any space left if they don't apply early.

Not all schools use early admissions programs. USC has a single application deadline, and the quality of the applicant pool has been rising in recent years. Most public institutions, like the University of Arizona, use rolling admission, where applications are evaluated as they are received and students are notified within a couple months of applying. The University of California has a single deadline, Nov. 30.

With one application deadline, admissions officers are able to evaluate all the applicants and build a class at one time, rather than making decisions in December while wondering if their later applications will be stronger or weaker.

With more time, students and admissions officers can engage in a thoughtful college application process, and that leads to better results for everyone.

Note: All students and families are invited to attend "College Fair Night" at Oak Park High School on Thurs., Sept. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. Representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities, including twoand four-year schools, voca

tional programs, the military and military academies will be available to answer questions.

Audrey Kahane, MS, is a pri- vate college admissions counse- lor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or by visiting her Internet site at audreykahane@earthlink.net.