<p>A good yield from a smaller admissions pool seems far preferable. Having people only apply if they’re actually seriously interested in the college is a good thing.</p>
<p>I see dropping the application fee as a good move; too many students scramble to come up with money for fees. However, dropping the essay is a terrible, terrible idea. If anything, college applications need more writing questions and more essays, preferably specific to the school. Again, when applicants really have to care about the school to apply, you’ll have better matches and better yield, hopefully leading to a better class. I would also assume that less students without much interest would try to use the school as a safety or quick admit if took more effort to apply.</p>
<p>When I applied to colleges, most were on the common app. If I was applying to one with its own application (aside from UF, which has an app that can be done in an hour or two with no recommendations), it was because that college had something specific about it that made me want to go that extra step.</p>
<p>I think Ursinus is right in moving away from the practices they recently undertook. What’s more important, a number (admit %/college “rank”) or having an excellent group of eager young scholars?</p>
<p>At least, that’s how I see it.</p>
<p>P.S. The article refers to the liberal arts college as a “university” in some places.</p>