September 16, 2006

California educators keep eye on Harvard admissions change

By Becky Bartindale
Mercury News

Harvard University's decision to drop its early admissions program because it puts poor and minority students at a disadvantage was applauded by some California higher education officials Tuesday.

However, some high school counselors and parents said ending such programs would disappoint some high-achieving students.

In a move that may have repercussions for other elite universities, Harvard announced that starting next year, it is abandoning its early action program. Now, all undergraduates will face the same application deadline of Jan. 1.

The move could spark interest at Stanford University in reconsidering its early action program, which is similar to what Harvard is dropping.

Early admissions programs are used by several dozen of the nation's most selective private universities and affect a tiny percentage of the nation's college-going population. University of California campuses and other state schools do not admit students early.

But some observers say if other universities follow, it could hurt the chances of certain students.

``To wealthier families, this will sound like bad news,'' said Steven Ma of ThinkTank Learning, an independent college consultant who counsels students from top area high schools such as Saratoga, Monta Vista in Cupertino and Mission San Jose in Fremont. He said these families prefer the early admissions programs because they see them as increasing the chances of high-achieving but ``second-tier'' students being admitted to elite universities.

Still, Ma said, Harvard's move to end early admissions is a healthy change because it makes the college application process more equitable. At some universities, by the time the regular application process rolls around, he said, ``half the seats are taken.''

By contrast, students from poor and low-performing schools may not be prepared to apply for college early, or even be aware of the programs, educators say.

There are several kinds of early admission programs. One allows students to apply to just one school for early admissions and requires them to promise to accept admission if it is offered. Another type, practiced at Harvard and Stanford, allows students to apply only to that school early, but doesn't bind them to accept admission and allows them to apply to additional colleges during the regular admissions cycle. Santa Clara University offers early admission but does not place any restrictions on where else and when students can apply.

Stanford abandoned a more restrictive early admission program four years ago, in favor of its current ``single choice, early action'' plan in part because the earlier approach didn't attract enough low-income students. Now, the students who apply early at Stanford don't have a competitive admissions edge, said Richard Shaw, Stanford's dean of undergraduate admissions.

As a result, Shaw said, Stanford has one of the best records among highly selective institutions in attracting students from the lowest income group. About 10 percent of its undergraduates come from the lowest-income quartile and more than 50 percent are students of color.

Still, he said, it's possible the faculty who oversee admissions may want to reconsider Stanford's approach in light of Harvard's move.

Early admission was perfect for Lauren Skilken, who is now a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, said her mother, Nancy Skilken of Monte Sereno. She said her daughter was admitted in December and didn't have to suffer college admissions angst for the rest of the year.

Early admissions programs are more about what works for colleges than what works for students, said Jerry Lucido, vice provost for enrollment at the University of Southern California, which has never offered the programs.

He said it ensures schools meet enrollment goals, among other things.

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Contact Becky Bartindale at bbartindale@mercurynews. com or (408) 920-5459.