I'll Answer Your Lafayette Questions! Part I - Page 31

bluejay · 02-03-2007, 11:35 AM

Justin: You really were close! I am surprised at the high rate of ED admissions. I certainly see how it helps everyone in the process: the college and the applicants. Well, all except the RD applicant.

Next questions: Is there any data to indicate the % of scholarships going to ED vs RD? Any data comparing stats of ED applicants vs RD applicants?

We were very quite confident about gaining admission and thought there was a decent chance at some merit money but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks, again for all of your good information.

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 11:57 AM

bluejay,

Yes, the difference between ED and RD acceptance rates is quite striking!

I will see what information I can locate regarding the percentage of merit scholarships offered to ED vs. RD applicants. I do know that 15% of total applicants are offered either a Marquis or Trustee Scholarship, but beyond that, I must do a little research! As I have stated previously, the scholarships are used mainly to attract stronger RD candidates, who are often deciding between a few amazing offers.

There is no published data comparing stats of ED vs. RD applicants that I would have easy access to. I know for a fact that the pools are comparable in terms of SAT scores, GPAs, class rankings, etc., contrary to the claims of admissions officers everywhere. If anything, applicants will apply ED to make up for below average stats, knowing that they still have a chance of gaining admission when the rate is so high (68.1%).

I'll provide additional information early next week.

- Justin

TurtlePhobic · 02-03-2007, 12:14 PM

Justin,
It seems to me that ED applicants are not concerned with money, that's why colleges like them. Many of us have to make cold hard decisions based on scholarship offers. Isn't this just a way to fill the school with rich kids?

I admire the Ivy league for dumping such an obvious class based screening process.

bluejay · 02-03-2007, 12:18 PM

One more clarification: 15% of all applicants are offered scholarships or 15% of admitted applicants?

Thanks!

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 12:23 PM

bluejay,

15% of ADMITTED applicants are offered one of our merit-based scholarships. Of those 15%, a smaller percentage will actually take the offer and decide to enroll.

Sorry for any confusion!

- Justin

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 12:30 PM

TurtlePhobic,

I have commented on the benefits of having an ED admissions policy in place in previous posts. Just to reiterate, having an ED policy in place is a great way to prevent vast overenrollment. Also, it allows the average applicant to demonstrate their interest in attending, thus increasing their chances of admission.

For those who must wait to balance financial aid packages, ED is unfair. I can definitely agree with you on that point.

The Ivys will ALWAYS be dominated by rich kids. Eliminating ED policies promises to "level the playing field", so to speak, but it does not eliminate legacy admits and admits from well-to-do families. In today's society, the rich are afforded certain privileges and a single change in admissions policy will do nothing to sway the opinions of high-minded admissions officers.

- Justin

SouthJerseyChessMom · 02-03-2007, 12:36 PM

Justin, thanks so much for your timely information. I searched the web site, yet again this morning, and was unable to locate this information myself.

I am passing this along to the junior applicant.

Any chance you know the average SAT range for ED accepted applicants?

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 12:41 PM

SouthJerseyChessMom,

As I stated in post #452, "There is no published data comparing stats of ED vs. RD applicants that I would have easy access to."

Just to let you know, the median SAT range for admitted applicants is 1240-1420 (Verbal & Math). Admissions officers at Lafayette continue to emphasize that they do not consider the Writing section scores in making decisions (although they are published...)

I would imagine the SAT range is comparable for ED applicants.

Our website is horribly designed and does not contain much information. FYI, most of the information I share on these boards I locate in printed admissions literature.

- Justin

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 12:48 PM

SouthJerseyChessMom,

I was sorting through all of the admissions booklets in my vast collection of literature, and was able to scrounge up this information!

The chart in the brochure looks something like this (sorry for the formatting):

Highest SAT /// CR /// M /// W
700-800 /// 5% /// 19% /// 7%
600-690 /// 43% /// 54% /// 41%
500-590 /// 45% /// 23% /// 45%
Below 500 /// 8% /// 4% /// 8%

Keep in mind that the applicant pool in consideration contains the data of 395 ED applicants for the Class of 2010.

Compare this chart to the SAT Profile of ALL applicants admitted into the Class of 2010, which includes both RD and ED candidates: http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/requirements.html. Taking into consideration the vast difference in the ED vs. RD applicant pools, it seems to me that standards are slightly lowered for ED applicants. Would you agree?

- Justin

SouthJerseyChessMom · 02-03-2007, 01:02 PM

Justin wonderful info:
So this is the ED data from last year?
Highest SAT Critical Reading, Math, Writing
700-800 5% 19% 7%
600-690 43% 54% 41%
500-590 45% 23% 45%
Below 500 8% 4% 8%

And I will compare that to your link for combined ED / RD data

SAT Profile of Admitted
Applicants in the Class of 2010 combined ED/ RD
Critical Reading Math Writing
700-800 .............. 530 ............... 911.....567
650-690 ............. 562.................588.... 589
600-640 ................ 589 ................388.... 506
550-590 .................294.................155 ... 257
500-540 ................ 97.................. 52 .....115
450-490.................. 35...................16..... 37
Below 450................. 8 ...................4...... 13

out of total accepted 2,169

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 01:07 PM

SouthJerseyChessMom,

Yes, that is data from last year's admissions cycle (Class of 2010 students).

If you have the time and inclination to figure out the average SAT score/range for the ED applicant pool, go for it! You have all the data that is required for the calculation.

- Justin

SouthJerseyChessMom · 02-03-2007, 01:10 PM

Thanks to YOU!!!! And, I will be doing just that.

By the way, Lafayette's web site may be lacking some of these data, but overall, it is an amazing web site!!!! IMHO

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 01:26 PM

SouthJerseyChessMom,

I must beg to differ ;-)

I am currently working on a website redesign project, and progress is slow and painful. As it stands right now, the website is difficult to navigate and contains many broken/outdated links. Oh well!

Have fun calculating.

- Justin

qrtbac4life · 02-03-2007, 05:49 PM

For admission/scholarships, does Lafayette consider your highest SAT score from each section or just your best sitting?

candyman92486 · 02-03-2007, 05:55 PM

qrtbac4life,

Lafayette says it considers only the highest scores for Critical Reading and Math. Admissions officers have yet to take Writing scores into consideration because they do not believe it is an accurate indicator of writing ability.

However, keep in mind that the scores from ALL of your sittings are printed on the Collegeboard score report. Admissions officers, for sure, make at least a parting glance at all scores. How could they not? That goes for all colleges that claim they consider only your top scores.

- Justin