Is EA used as a yield protection tool?

Pathnottaken
Sun, 22 Jan 2023 04:01:17 +0000

The number of EA application’s at many colleges skyrocketed during the fall of 2020 when many students were still in remote learning. Many rising seniors that summer did not have the demands of jobs they normally would have had, so they could consider completing more applications than usual. It was still unknown how many from the high school class of 2020 were deferring for the 20-21 school year which would impact how many could be accepted from the high school class of 21. This prompted more applications, too.

EA absolutely existed before this, but the norms went out the window at many selective and highly selective colleges. The trickle down is now colleges that were safety/likely options struggle to predict their numbers. They can not over enroll if it creates class scheduling issues and housing shortages. So they defer, too.

One outcome that I do hope shifts from these recent developments is changing the RD timeline for the selective and highly selective universities. Having just a month to make that final decision is too short for many families. Especially, if they have been sitting on EA acceptances for months. All of it could be moved up slightly to help support better decision making. ED could be earlier that Nov 1, EA could be as well. Then RD due dates that allow for a March 1 or 15 decision.