<p>There’s little question that early admissions programs “advantage the advantaged” and, as a philosophical matter, I know that Bill Fitzsimmons does not want to reinstitute one. But when Harvard did away with their early action program, they expected a number of other top schools to follow. Princeton and Virginia did so immediately, but then Yale, whose president was previously on record as being of the same mind, saw a market opportunity to grab students whom they had been losing to Harvard and Princeton. So the ever-flexible Levin did a 180 and announced they were keeping their early action program. That gave Stanford the cover to keep its early action program and the “groundswell” ended at three. Fitz continued to hope he could persuade others to join the fold eventually, but at this point it’s pretty clear that it ain’t happening. </p>
<p>Harvard’s admissions numbers haven’t been too hurt by it, but I know they’ve lost some students they otherwise would have gotten. My guess is that Virginia was more hurt, which would explain why they threw in the towel. I think the writing is on the wall and that Harvard and Princeton will eventually go back to early admissions programs as well. Just a matter of when. In my mind, not a good development, and I place the blame at Rick Levin’s feet.</p>