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EARLY-ADMISSIONS POLICY TO CHANGE
By Tiana Steward
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Oct.11 - Most colleges have an Early Decision policy. According to a Marist College statement on the Admissions website, “Marist offers a binding Early Decision option, in which candidates are limited to Marist as their sole choice. The Early Decision deadline is November 15 and notifications are mailed on December 15. Accepted candidates are required to submit a non-refundable deposit by February 15.”
Many highly selective universities now lock in a third or more of the freshmen class through binding Early Decision. Students who promise to enroll if admitted can apply in the fall and have an answer by mid-December. Colleges are reluctant to tamper with a mechanism that helps them predict and shape freshmen enrollment early, as stated in a New York Times article on September 26, 2007.
It may seem alluring to get the college decision over with, but as high school student’s senior year progresses, they may find that their goals are also changing. On the other hand, one may thrive at a certain college, and that is the type of student that Early Decision was made for.
“I applied for early decision because I wanted to make sure I got into the school I wanted right away,” said Daniel Barrack, a junior at Marist College. “It took away my anxiety of not knowing until last minute if I was going to that school or if I would have to make a snap decision if I got rejected. I felt that if something happened, I would have time to fix it by applying for early decision.”
According to collegeboard.com, “Early Decision plans are binding. You agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for Early Decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admissions process. If you’re accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.”
“I am not for it because it is binding and students need to do research. Early decision limits students from comparing financial aid packages,” said Luis Santiago, Marist College’s Director of On-Campus Visits and Events.
Colleges are now forbidden to make admission offers before September 15th of a student’s senior year of high school, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The association of guidance counselors and admissions officers, which sets college recruiting standards nationwide, voted in favor of this policy, according to a New York Times article on September 26.
This article also states that the group is going to back-track, due to state universities and community colleges which say, while the policy may help calm down admissions pressure at the East Coast hot spots; it makes no sense for them.
“What I have seen in the last 12 years in this position is mounting pressure on students and families,” said Diane Freytag, a college counselor at the Overlake School, as reported in the New York Times.
“Early decision doesn’t put a stress on students; the binding is what makes it difficult,” said Santiago. “It is not putting a stress on the student if they know what they want to do and it is fine. Most students don’t know what they want to do.”
Although applying early to a college can seem fascinating, it might also be dangerous if a student does not understand what they are binding themselves to. Applying early decision is an alternative option, because sometimes students who apply early do have a greater chance of getting accepted than they would through general admission.
Check all options before apply Early Decision.