Idea to stop the vicious cycle of ever-increasing college admission competitiveness

[ucbalumnus]

@DeepBlue86

1. I don’t know enough about the financial aid element of the process to be able to comment properly, but it seems to me that the following protocol would be fair: if you’re admitted early to a school and are requesting financial aid, (i) you may only APPLY to other schools regular decision if you have a reasonable expectation (based on the schools’ financial aid calculator apps, etc.) that those schools would offer you at least as generous a package as the school that accepted you early(the list should be agreed with your guidance counselor);

Among the less selective schools (and even some highly selective schools like Duke), there is potential for merit scholarships not listed in the net price calculator to be what could bring the net price down to below what a student’s EA school(s) may offer.

Also, EA schools may not necessarily produce the actual financial aid offers as early as the admission notices, so that any “EA = ED” policy that you advocate cannot invoke the restriction until after the financial aid offer is produced.

@DeepBlue86

2. I would allow students to apply early to any number of state schools, as well as schools with rolling admissions. I would not make an exception for non-super-selective schools that aren’t state schools and have EA that isn’t rolling - if you get in early, you go. I believe that’s the policy the prep schools I’m talking about generally follow.

Why make the distinction between public and private schools for this purpose? If your concern is “trophy hunting” among the most selective schools, then why not limit your “EA = ED” policy only to a designated list of the most selective schools, while allowing students to apply EA with no obligation to other less selective schools, regardless of whether they are public or private?

Remember also, what may work in the prep school bubble may not be suitable for high schools in general.