I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.I think admission is long overdue for some changes. The first two Deans with whom I worked were anti-early action and decision and I agreed. To have applications done by November 1st, most students will have to get applications completed while they're still adjusting to a new set of teachers and possibly a heavier workload if they're carrying a full load of AP/IB courses in the senior year. It seems like a horrible time to expect students to take some time to write brilliant essays and to expect teachers to write amazing recommendations.
When I came to UVA, I changed my stance a bit. Early decision seemed like a great way for students who were absolutely in love with the place to possibly get a positive admission decision early and not have to fill out appications to other schools. However, at every gathering of prospective students come comments that make me revert back to my earlier opinion of the early process.
"I heard out of state students have to apply early."
"I heard to get into Architecture, you need to apply early."
"I heard early decision applicants must have a GPA over 4.0."
"I heard that Echols/Rodman Scholars are always chosen from the early decision pool."
"I heard that Jefferson Scholars are always early decision applicants."
It really goes on and on. No matter how many times I refute the rumors, people still think they "have" to apply early. Maybe the staff at Univesity of Deleware had the same conflict. They've just abondoned the early action/decision program completely (The Chronicle wrote about this last week).
Is this move a sign of things to come? I'm not sure. We've talked about the future of ED here and I think it will stay in place for the time being.
I wonder if students see ED as a positive thing (get accepted early, less applications to fill out) or as placing more pressure on them at a time when there is a considerable amount already on them.
3 comments:
I panicked and applied ED to UVa, hearing all the horror stories regarding how hard it was to get into college nowadays. I am graduating #1 of a class of 400 students (instate).
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and excited about going to UVa. My ultimate goal is to go to med school, though, and I would have liked the opportunity to apply for "guaranteed" med school acceptance at other colleges. Perhaps I might have considered other universities or even a different school within UVa.
It was great to know where I going to school, but ultimately ED limits choice.
A student certainly does not need a 4.0+ to apply and get into UVa early. I am amongst those who had a GPA less than 4.0 (though, admittedly, not very much lower) who did so.
Anyways, I found ED to be beneficial. If an applicant knows that they want to go to Virginia, this gives them, essentially, two chances to get accepted. It is probably not a good idea for those who want choices, but I found it to be of great use.
The best solution might be to address some of these concerns in the application or guides for the University for prospective students. Even without ED, I am sure other rumors will pop up (what kind of tough standards does UVa have to be applied? Always a concern, but possibly more pronounced without an ED option).
It really, really, really depends on whether you get in or not ED. But that's side stepping your question.
In a school where I'm attending, a preppy, uptight, grades are more important than your life, if you don't go to an Ivy League you're like OMG a LOSER!! Going to flip burgers in McDonald's when you're 30!! kind of school.. (alright I was exaggerating a bit, but just a bit), ED is helpful in the fact that admit statistics are better ED. They help us get into a school, get parents off our backs. And that's all the help ED is. For sure, there are a few who actually don't look at rankings and judge whether the school would be a good fit for them. Then for those ED is beyond wonderful, giving them a chance to declare their utmost love. (Although how you're supposed to do that on paper and limited words boggles the imagination a bit. So good time management skills = a burning passion for the school? Beats me.)
However, speaking arbitrarily, ED is not good for a school like mine. It's a time where parents and students themselves feel pressure to get into the right school, to put a right foot on the right path to the right life. (Ick.) And God forbid you get denied (as I was). It's the end of the world, and I won't even attempt to explain how. That's how serious getting denied or even waitlisted ED is.
There are threats about the student's life for the rest of the semester, constant snide comments on the student's unfavorable future (You're not going to amount to much, I can see it already), the shaking of US News and World Report in student faces, forcing them to apply to another school within the top 20, and so on and so forth.
Though I think our reaction to ED is so strong partially cause we're 99.9% Asian here. If that remark makes no sense to you whatsoever, just indicate so on your next entry. =) Race plays a huge role in reactions to decision results, or perhaps I'm over stereotyping things here.
So in conclusion to my blathering rant, in a biased viewpoint ED would seem beneficial to the student. Greater chances of getting in and all. But objectively, nah. Not in my type of environment. It just leads to unneeded stress, humiliation, and stretched thin-ness.
Ugh, this IS a monster I've written, I apologize. BY the way, I'm happy to be joining UVa's class of 2010 as an Echols Scholar. =P
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