https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/eliminating-demonstrated-interest
Changes include no longer considering demonstrated interest, not encouraging supplemental materials, not providing pre-admission alumni interviews, changes to the essays and changes to waitlist procedures.
Any conjecture as to specifically how/who this will impact?
Looks like it’s going to make it easier for students to apply. I suspect they’ll get a sharp increase in applications, leading to a sharp drop in acceptance rates and maybe a move up the USNWR a notch or two as a result.
Excerpt from CMU referenced above:
“…while we’ve lessened our SAT subject test requirements we’re hoping there is more we can do. All told, we’re working hard to change our process in a more inclusive direction.”
Inclusiveness is a key word here as universities seek a fairer diversification of their student body. A greater, cross-sectional student body which more accurately represents income, gender and cultural differences. This greater mix is viewed, in large part, as a broadening the educational experience. While CMU does not appear to be dropping the standardized tests, it is lessening their requirements.
See Why “Test Optional Admissions” @ http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/2084255-why-test-optional-admissions.html#latest
While I think the goal is admirable I wonder how CMU will come up with additional funding for financial aid. Their relatively small endowment has proved limiting to date and financial aid has been relatively stingy. This goal is consistent with the initial purpose of the university, however…
I seem to recall raising funds for scholarships is a priority but I don’t know how well they are doing.
Seems like a “strategy” to lure more applicants and thus the potential to lower the admission rate easily.
Wondering if they will still keep the ED option? I didn’t see anything about that on the referenced webpage.
I am fairly certain they are keeping ED.
We just visited last month to “demonstrate interest”. LOL Glad we did, even though evidently we need not have bothered. It was a great experience for DD.
This could be a good change. Their waitlist policies were rather odd. A handful of parents on CC were reporting having to put down deposits, while sitting on the waitlist. Then there was “priority waitlist” and “regular waitlist”, which made little sense given how few students actually make it off either list.
I think the priority waitlist was the only waitlist, for the CMU School of Computer Science, a few years ago.
CMU has a very odd way of admitting students into ECE also, they make that a separate quota compared to say mechanical engineering, which makes no sense at all. Electrical engineers do not need to be “smarter” than mechanical engineers, but CMU’s policies make it seem that way.
I think Dean Steidel needed to use the words “diversity,” “inclusive,” and “equitable” a few more times in order to get his point across.
I truly fail to see how these measures will lead to a more diverse student population.
@psycholing Not every family can afford to take so many subject tests or buy all the materials to prepare for them. Similarly not every family has the funds to visit every college they apply to before they are accepted or travel for alumni interviews. Also I don’t know what the supplemental materials beforehand consisted of, but another CC user commented that supplemental materials that reward video or multimedia content or other similar material content often disadvantages low-income students who may not have video-editing experiences or equipment. I think these are positive changes. although I do see the appeal of doing an additional interview or additional supplemental material to bolster your chances… but that might not be accessible for everyone.
@psycholing
“I truly fail to see how these measures will lead to a more diverse student population”
The language used in the CMU announcement sounds like a step toward an holistic admissions process leading to the inclusion of different cultural groups. This is confusing as they simultaneously drop pieces of the process which assist in the holistic process by “no longer considering demonstrated interest, not encouraging supplemental materials and by not providing pre-admission alumni interviews.”
Socioeconomic diversity greatly enriches the education for all participants. It is hard to see how this will happen with a major reduction of relevant decision inputs. It reads like cost saving budget reductions in the wrong places.
This is CMU. Are they trying to computerize everything? Even AI requires inputs!
@Groundwork2022 Those applying to selective colleges often find themselves on multiple waitlists. The purpose of CMU’s Priority Waitlist was to be an indication to CMU that CMU was your 1st choice school and if accepted from the Priority Waitlist, you would enroll. The Regular Waitlist was there to continue to express interest in CMU but indicate that you were still weighing your top choice school options. How much a school uses a waitlist depends upon that year’s pool of applicants which of course changes every year. This year CMU did use the Priority Waitlist however fulfilled its enrollment prior to getting to the Regular Waitlist. The waitlist policies weren’t odd, maybe different from other schools, however the purpose of each waitlist was clearly explained
The only deposit requested was when you were accepted from the Priority Waitlist. No one was asked to place a deposit and continue to remain on a waitlist. I know this because I was admitted from the Priority Waitlist and placed my deposit after being accepted.
@shawnspencer I am very aware of the plight of low income minority students since this is the population I work with on a daily basis. Most of my clients qualify for free lunches. Knowing my students, a supplement and/or LOCAL interview would actually help them more than hinder. It would give them a chance to show off their unique talents, which may not come across with a consideration of test scores. I don’t agree that an ability to submit supplemental materials would be a hindrance. The supplements could be videos, music performances, writings, artwork, software apps, maker projects, etc. These days anyone with a smart phone can take a video or fabulous photograph. And yes, many of my free lunch clients do have smart phones, although they may not be the latest model. Furthermore, there are resources around to help my clients obtain computers and low cost internet. If someone is applying in CS, one would assume that they have had at least some contact with programming. So being able to submit one’s program/website/graphic designs, etc rather than not, just doesn’t seem to be a disadvantage. Application fees and test fees are an issue, but my understanding was that these could be waived for students qualifying for free lunches. Really these new measures do not make sense to increase diversity.
I actually believe an increase in summer program scholarship funds for a diverse populations would do the most to increase access. I think some of these measures that CMU is taking will harm diversity.
Many schools have a bucket for first generation college students. And some private colleges limit international students to only 10% of the freshman class. Because CMU takes a greater number of full pay international students, they have less room for low income or first generation students.
Simplifying the admissions process may help a little to increase access for low income students. Harvard and MIT count “Fit” but not on campus visiting.
Pittsburgh is not as popular as Cambridge MA so “the interest factor” used to be important to CMU Admissions.