I hadn’t seen this posted yet. https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/04/06/justice-department-starts-investigation-early-decision-admissions
The Justice Department has started an investigation into whether some colleges’ early-decision admissions programs violate federal antitrust laws through agreements among institutions or through the sharing of information about accepted applicants.
Colleges reported receiving letters from the department Thursday and Friday in which the agency told the institutions of the investigation and demanded that certain documents, if they exist, be maintained.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Inside Higher Ed, says the investigation pertains to “a potential agreement between colleges relating to their early decision practices.” In early-decision programs, applicants pledge to enroll at colleges that admit them. The programs have become quite popular with applicants and colleges. Many colleges that are competitive in admissions admit large shares of their classes this way.
Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president for government relations and public affairs at the American Council on Education, said he was surprised by the investigation because he does not think college engage in the practices on which the Justice Department appears to be searching for records. He said that the inquiry was “very curious.”
Added Hartle, “I can’t imagine circumstances under which a college or university would share with another college or university the names of students they have admitted. I hesitate to call this a witch hunt, but it’s hard to imagine why an institution would share data on admitted students with another institution.”
Maybe there is a whistleblower who has leaked damaging information to the Justice Department already? I believe college admissions in the US - especially at the elite level - is deeply corrupt, in the sense that what is represented to be happening only bears the slightest resemblance to what is actually happening.
@SatchelSF
But, this would be quite the waste of time unless they have some really embarrassing emails or communications in hand.