<p>I've been checking out Brandeis threads for three application rounds now--my D was admitted ED-no blue ribbon-last year. This blue ribbon question keeps coming up and the rationale for it remains mysterious to outsiders. Sulsk--I know from other threads that you write for the student newspaper-- why doesn't The Justice try to find out what this Blue Ribbon thing is really all about? When we were at an admissions info session about a year ago, they were asked about Blue Ribbon and said "we still aren't sure if we'll use it next year"--so what does it depend on? and why does it have to be on a "secret" basis?</p>
<p>Brandeis Admissions told us that they use the Blue Ribbon app to target geographically desirable and minority kids with good PSAT scores. Certainly with no application fee, no supplemental essays and non-binding EA, they provide plenty of incentive for someone to apply who might not have considered it otherwise.</p>