ED II -- Response from competing college

Applying to College
41

<p>I'm stunned that schools would think that an accept/reject decision is not confidential; I would consider that highly confidential.</p>

<p>I would also assume that applicant information is only shared after a knowing consent from the student is received. Even assuming such consent, as far as the colleges are concerned, I would hope that they have an anti-trust exemption (I'm not a trust/anti-trust lawyer, though).</p>

<p>Assuming all the legal stuff is in order, I don't have a problem with the letter sent to the OP.</p>

42

<p>Just as a point of info, here is the relevant text, taken from the 2011 Amherst College Supplement to the Common Application:</p>

<p>"FOR EARLY DECISION APPLICANTS ONLY:</p>

<p>As an ED Applicant I confirm that if admitted, Amherst may share my name and my Early Decision agreement with other institutions".</p>

<p>Plus other stuff on Educatuional Righst and Privacy Act, etc.</p>

<p>Bottom line: If you applied ED, you signed and agreed that they can release your name. And it looks like several of the schools do just that!</p>

43

<p>My question is, having applied and been admitted EA to Yale, then also applied to Harvard RD, will Yale be telling Harvard that I applied EA to Yale and was admitted, thus perhaps inducing Harvard to reject me because I seem likely to go to Yale and would impact H's yield? That is, do Harvard and Yale share info on their respective EA admits? That doesn't seem fair.</p>

44

<p>Since EA isn't binding, I doubt that it's an issue. Harvard doesn't need to worry about its yield. Neither does Yale. They may share information to make sure that no one violates the single EA restrictions, but I doubt that it has any effect on admissions.</p>

45

<p>Most colleges and soon all common app colleges use a software system called "AY"... which stands for "ApplyYourself". This assists in automating the process and allows colleges to share information ... AND discover who the EA and ED students are for each college. When a name is entered into the system, if the student accepted EA or applied ED it will flag the student in their system. It does not affect the college in which they accepted for either EA or ED.</p>

<p>Wise up students, it's the information age. Many colleges also use an automated system for scoring and awarding "points" to applicants, the system then divides the applicants into yes consider and no sections, based on specific criteria that each college sets up. Although AY is a software program, like peoplesoft, it can be customized for each customers (colleges) specific needs.</p>

46

<p>allegory: I think in some limited circumstances colleges do make admissions decisions based on where else you might have gotten accepted. This primarily happens to students at prep schools, where the GCs have close relationships with admissions staff. It was more common years ago. Now, the Ivies got in trouble a few years back for comparing their admissions decisions, so they really can't do that anymore.</p>

47

<p>As I remember it was an anti-trust issue?</p>

48

<p>the Ivies got into trouble for comparing and agreeing to offer the same need-based finaid packages to acceptees -- the issue was not admissions per se.</p>