<p>Alexandre-the EA applicant pool did not increase suddenly, it increased over 5 years or so. “We have been over-enrolling every year for the past five years and we have to stop this,” University Provost Martha Pollack explained to the Michigan Board of Regents, last September. “I’m not happy about it.”</p>
<p>"Between 1993 and 2007, the University of Michigan operated on a “rolling admission” plan, by which applications were considered as they were received.</p>
<p>In 2008 and 2009, the program evolved into the “Michigan Way” early response initiative. If a student applied by October 31, they were guaranteed an admissions decision on or before December 20.</p>
<p>And then, the University of Michigan joined the Common Application in 2010. Early response went away, and application numbers skyrocket."</p>
<p>It’s also occurring just about everywhere else that selective and above. It’s being helped along by the Common App:</p>
<p>“NACAC’s annual conference last fall, University of Michigan Senior Associate Director of Admissions Sally Lindsley directly addressed the issue of early action and what has come to be known as “admissions creep” among professionals dealing with increasing loads of early applications from anxious students hoping to nail down an admission before the holidays.”</p>
<p>This is not a Michigan problem, it’s a systemic admissions problem, and I believe we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.</p>