<p>As I'm sure most of you noticed, Harvard has decided to end its early admissions program, which had been single-choice EA. During my application process I heard a couple of admissions reps say that since Harvard is generally a trendsetter in the world of college amdissions, they believe that in a few years everybody will have to wait until April for their replies from all schools i.e. ED, EA etc. will no longer exist. Would this be a better system? Will it happen?</p>
<p>I don't see any reason why other universities would feel compelled to follow Harvard besides schools with similar selectivity. Early action and decision just doesn't work out at schools like HYP where the number of extremely qualified applicants is too much for even RD. At less selective (relatively speaking) schools, I can see EA/ED persisting.</p>
<p>Actually, for now Yale seems pretty intent on keeping their SCEA program. Since it's not binding, they say it doesn't hurt low-income kids.</p>
<p>People predicted a stampede of followers after Harvard announced its plans, and that didn't really happen this first year. So I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Nope, won't happen because its not in their interest to do so.</p>
<p>btw: why do you think waiting until April is a "better" system? Plenty of kids are accepted early and are done with their apps before Jan 1.</p>
<p>I said would this be a better system, looking for discussion, not this would be a better system. I think it's a tough issue. I think ED discriminates against kids who need to compare aid offers, and some people argue that EA does the same thing because kids in inner city schools aren't encouraged to start the admissions process early enough. I personally have no problem with EA, I think the way to fix that problem is by taking steps to help kids in high schools that aren't college focused, such as making sure that they take the PSAT.</p>
<p>I think ED will remain, because it is advantageous to college admissions offices. Colleges want people to actually matriculate to their college, ED does that, whereas EA only threatens to decrease yield rates. ED, however, does discriminate against poorer students, but again, I don't think that is a concern for college admissions offices.</p>
<p>I think it is a concern for them, but I agree that they will probably keep it around. It makes their job's much easier, and the first LAC's to drop it will take a yield, and therefore a USNews hit.</p>
<p>Well, Princeton followed almost immediately afterwards, and 4 other colleges said they'll be looking closely at how it works out so that they can change if it turns out to be a good decision.</p>
<p>But some are dead set on not changing. I know MIT said explicitly that they feel they are very very fair in how they admit students (they only accept about 10% of the students who apply early, which is much lower than Harvard and Princton were, so it might be true).</p>
<p>I don't think Early Admissions will disappear, but I do think those admitted early will skrink significantly for the top tier schools.</p>