College, Inc.: Admissions


Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 07/16/2012

St. Mary’s College moves to shore up selectivity
By Daniel de Vise
A strategic shift aims to jump-start stagnant admissions at Maryland’s vaunted public liberal arts school. A longtime admissions officer has moved on.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:23 PM ET, 07/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Aid, Finance, Liberal Arts, Publics | Tags:  St. Mary's College of Maryland, liberal arts

Posted at 10:42 AM ET, 07/11/2012

Five college admissions tips for the A-minus student
By Daniel de Vise
The Ivies aren’t biting, and merit dollars are scarce. But even in the affluent suburbs, there are ways to turn the admission process to your favor.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:42 AM ET, 07/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Aid, Finance, Rankings | Tags:  college admissions, college rankings

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 06/01/2012

A special SAT date for the wealthy and gifted?
By Daniel de Vise
College Board under fire for arranging special SAT sitting for students in pricey college-prep program.

By Daniel de Vise  |  11:00 AM ET, 06/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  college admissions, College Board, SAT test

Posted at 11:03 AM ET, 04/25/2012

Do colleges court those least in need of education?
By Daniel de Vise
Colleges build prestige by admitting the best-educated students. That’s like hospitals admitting the healthiest patients, our guest blogger opines.

By Daniel de Vise  |  11:03 AM ET, 04/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Administration, Admissions, Rankings | Tags:  higher education, college rankings, college admissions

Posted at 10:40 AM ET, 03/29/2012

A banner year for admissions at U-Va.
By Daniel de Vise
Another banner admissions year — and a new Early Action program — seems to be elevating the University of Virginia to a higher tier of selectivity.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:40 AM ET, 03/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  University of Virginia, Harvard: Princeton

Posted at 10:19 AM ET, 03/22/2012

Five universities that really are up-and-comers
By Daniel de Vise
These schools, all founded or reconfigured in the past 50 years, have quickly joined the top tier of national research universities.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:19 AM ET, 03/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Administration, Pedagogy, Public policy | Tags:  higher education, top universities, UMBC

Posted at 12:49 PM ET, 03/20/2012

Choosing a college without knowing its cost
By Daniel de Vise
Many public universities don’t yet know what they’ll charge in 2012-13, and some privates haven’t posted their rates. Yet, students are urged to decide early.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:49 PM ET, 03/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Aid, Finance, Public policy | Tags:  college tuition, college admissions

Posted at 04:49 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Texas affirmative action case may hinge on Justice Kennedy
By Daniel de Vise
Affirmative action in college admissions is on the Supreme Court docket again, and swing vote Anthony Kennedy may determine the outcome.

By Daniel de Vise  |  04:49 PM ET, 02/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Litigation | Tags:  affirmative action, college admissions, University of Texas, Supreme Court

Posted at 02:51 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Harvard Asian-American discrimination probe ends
By Daniel de Vise
An Indian-American student has withdrawn his complaint alleging Harvard and Princeton rejected him over racial-ethnic bias.

By Daniel de Vise  |  02:51 PM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Litigation | Tags:  civil rights, harvard university, college admissions

Posted at 10:56 AM ET, 02/08/2012

Guest post: Calculator shopping, the night before the SAT
By Daniel de Vise
In this book excerpt, our guest blogger gives a brief history of college entrance testing and explains the difference between “aptitude” and “assessment.”

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:56 AM ET, 02/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions

Posted at 10:47 AM ET, 02/07/2012

Claremont McKenna SAT scandal: More at stake than rankings?
By Daniel de Vise
The school’s admission of falsified SAT scores suggests bad data were sent to regional accreditors and the feds, agencies with real power.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:47 AM ET, 02/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Accreditation, Rankings

Posted at 11:22 AM ET, 02/02/2012

Student claims Harvard, Princeton discriminate against Asian-Americans
By Daniel de Vise
An Indian-American student in California got rejected both places despite high test scores. But are high test scores a guarantee of admission to a top Ivy?

By Daniel de Vise  |  11:22 AM ET, 02/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Privates

Posted at 04:11 PM ET, 01/18/2012

Should William and Mary students pay ‘market rates’?
By Daniel de Vise
President Taylor Reveley says the university should think about a more market-based tuition structure — but it’s just an idea, for now.

By Daniel de Vise  |  04:11 PM ET, 01/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Aid, Finance, Public policy, Publics | Tags:  College of William and Mary

Posted at 04:22 PM ET, 01/09/2012

Ohio school doubles early decision numbers by promoting value
By Daniel de Vise
Miami University doubled early admission applications by marketing the school to prospective students on value and return on investment.

By Daniel de Vise  |  04:22 PM ET, 01/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Marketing

Posted at 12:41 PM ET, 01/09/2012

Is higher tuition what the public wants?
By Daniel de Vise
Some colleges have had success with highly publicized campaigns to reduce their annual tuition. But the strategy can backfire.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:41 PM ET, 01/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Aid, Finance, Marketing, Rankings, Privates

Posted at 04:50 PM ET, 01/04/2012

Pitching U.S. liberal arts in China
By Daniel de Vise
Chinese students thirst to study in American universities - - but not necessarily at the top liberal arts schools, our guest blogger writes.

By Daniel de Vise  |  04:50 PM ET, 01/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Liberal Arts

Posted at 01:38 PM ET, 12/30/2011

Naval Academy professor: A veneer of selectivity
By Daniel de Vise
Whistle-blower professor contends the Annapolis service academy’s 7.5-percent admission rate is a sham: the real number, he says, may be over 50 percent.

By Daniel de Vise  |  01:38 PM ET, 12/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Rankings | Tags:  U.S. Naval Academy

Posted at 10:59 AM ET, 12/06/2011

Guest post: A more relaxed approach to Early Decision
By Daniel de Vise
St. Lawrence University tries early admissions without a deadline.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:59 AM ET, 12/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Liberal Arts

Posted at 05:27 PM ET, 11/14/2011

Guest post: Is the SAT the best way to spend a Saturday?
By Daniel de Vise
The writer contends that de-emphasizing standardized tests has made for fairer admissions at Wake Forest University.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:27 PM ET, 11/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions

Posted at 10:06 AM ET, 11/03/2011

Is community college the best value in academia?
By Daniel de Vise
Even students from comparatively affluent families are choosing to start their college careers at community colleges.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:06 AM ET, 11/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Community Colleges

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 10/25/2011

Kiplinger anoints Washington and Lee a top liberal arts value
By Daniel de Vise
The University of Richmond, W&L’s lib-arts rival, also fares well on the annual list of best collegiate values.

By Daniel de Vise  |  06:00 PM ET, 10/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Aid, Finance, Liberal Arts, Privates

Posted at 05:35 PM ET, 10/19/2011

Naval Academy prep school: asset or liability?
By Daniel de Vise
Roughly two-thirds of those who enter the Naval Academy Preparatory School go on to graduate in Annapolis. Does that bespeak success, or failure?

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:35 PM ET, 10/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions | Tags:  U.S. Naval Academy

Posted at 12:55 PM ET, 10/07/2011

Guest post: Let’s be up-front about merit aid
By Daniel de Vise
A college president says his school has offered merit discounts for 20 years and thinks other schools should be transparent about such awards.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:55 PM ET, 10/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Aid, Finance, Privates

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 10/03/2011

Guest post: Don’t bank on the net-price calculator
By Daniel de Vise
A financial aid official contends that no one formula can predict what college will cost for each individual student.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:05 PM ET, 10/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Aid, Admissions, Finance, Public policy

Posted at 07:16 PM ET, 09/28/2011

A cattle-ranch college for future Yalies goes co-ed
By Daniel de Vise
Deep Springs College grooms future leaders on two years of academics and honest toil. Come next fall, that mission will include women.

By Daniel de Vise  |  07:16 PM ET, 09/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Liberal Arts, Students

Posted at 09:12 AM ET, 09/28/2011

Hamilton College puts QR code on admissions poster
By Daniel de Vise
The coded recruitment message bewilders adults but speaks to the college-bound.

By Daniel de Vise  |  09:12 AM ET, 09/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Marketing

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 09/21/2011

Survey: Admission directors increasingly favor ‘full-pay’ students
By Daniel de Vise
Colleges are more likely to take “full-pay” students, even with lower test scores.

By Daniel de Vise  |  08:30 AM ET, 09/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Administration, Admissions, Aid

Posted at 06:06 PM ET, 09/13/2011

For-profit colleges release “responsible conduct” standards
By Daniel de Vise
Industry coalition proposes ethical rules for for-profit colleges

By Daniel de Vise  |  06:06 PM ET, 09/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, For-profit colleges | Tags:  Kaplan Higher Education

Posted at 10:37 AM ET, 09/13/2011

At the top of the U.S. News rankings, a five-way tie
By Daniel de Vise
More movement than usual in the annual rankings of national universities; D.C.- area schools fare well.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:37 AM ET, 09/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Liberal Arts, Pedagogy, Rankings | Tags:  Washington and Lee University, University of Virginia, University of Maryland, Georgetown University

Posted at 05:47 PM ET, 09/09/2011

The ups and downs of U.S. News rankings
By Daniel de Vise
Think the rankings never change? Ask American University. Or Northwestern. Or Oberlin.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:47 PM ET, 09/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Finance, Liberal Arts, Rankings | Tags:  American University, College of William and Mary

Posted at 05:06 PM ET, 08/26/2011

Families spent less on college this year, survey finds
By Daniel de Vise
Wealthy families increasingly choose community colleges, Sallie Mae survey finds.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:06 PM ET, 08/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Admissions, Aid, Community Colleges, Finance

Posted at 01:40 PM ET, 08/19/2011

Meet ‘Nat,’ my college-applicant alter ego
By Daniel de Vise
A mistake on some electronic form plunged the author into the world of breathless college recruitment.

By Daniel de Vise  |  01:40 PM ET, 08/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Marketing

Posted at 09:21 AM ET, 08/16/2011

International admissions up in U.S. grad schools
By Daniel de Vise
Surge reaffirms strength of U.S. institutions in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

By Daniel de Vise  |  09:21 AM ET, 08/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Finance, Graduate education, Public policy, Research

Posted at 05:17 PM ET, 07/13/2011

Admission dean pulls back curtain on merit aid
By Daniel de Vise
Administrator at University of Rochester analyzes merit scholarship data to affix a value to every good grade and AP test score.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:17 PM ET, 07/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Aid, Admissions

Posted at 03:03 PM ET, 06/21/2011

The most selective test-optional schools
By Daniel de Vise
The test-optional movement has cracked the first tier of national liberal arts schools. A few top national universities are in, as well.

By Daniel de Vise  |  03:03 PM ET, 06/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Rankings | Tags:  Washington College, George Mason University

Posted at 05:51 PM ET, 06/20/2011

Maryland university goes test-optional on admissions for good
By Daniel de Vise
A Salisbury University experiment found that students who weren’t required to submit SAT scores graduated at a higher rate than those who were.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:51 PM ET, 06/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Attainment, Research

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 06/10/2011

On Common App, Georgetown now stands alone
By Daniel de Vise
USC’s move to the universal college application leaves Georgetown the last national university (save MIT) with a “signature” app.

By Daniel de Vise  |  03:23 PM ET, 06/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  Georgetown University, admissions

Posted at 05:50 PM ET, 05/31/2011

Merit aid can ease college sticker shock
By Daniel de Vise
Colleges offer so much aid today that the average student pays just 58 cents on the dollar of published tuition and fees.

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:50 PM ET, 05/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Aid, Admissions, Finance, Marketing | Tags:  financial aid

Posted at 10:53 AM ET, 04/14/2011

Northwestern now a first choice to many, its president says
By Daniel de Vise
NU was never a safety school in the Midwest, but it had that reputation on the East Coast. Today, it’s competing more squarely with the Ivys.

By Daniel de Vise  |  10:53 AM ET, 04/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Rankings | Tags:  Northwestern University, college admissions, Early Decision, University of Chicago

Posted at 09:43 AM ET, 03/30/2011

Admission rate tightens at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton
By Daniel de Vise
Admission rates hit historic lows last year at top colleges. Will history repeat?

By Daniel de Vise  |  09:43 AM ET, 03/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  University of Virginia, Stanford University, college admissions

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 03/02/2011

Cal State's Reed: Don't cut Pell grant program
By Daniel de Vise
California State University broke with years of tradition in the 2008 downturn by adopting competitive admissions. For the first time in a long time, California students in the top third of their classes with B averages weren't guaranteed admission. Since...

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:22 PM ET, 03/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Access, Administration, Admissions, Aid, Attainment, Community Colleges, Finance, For-profit colleges, Public policy, Publics | Tags:  Cal State University, California higher education, Charles Reed CSU, Pell grants, higher education cuts

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 01/31/2011

Report: Naval Academy favors minorities, athletes
By Daniel de Vise
Updated at noon Tuesday with comments from Naval Academy. The Annapolis Capital newspaper on Sunday published a significant investigative piece on admissions at the U.S. Naval Academy, adding new voices and fresh statistics to the ongoing debate over whether the...

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:55 PM ET, 01/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  Annapolis Capital Naval Academy, Bruce Fleming Naval Academy, Naval Academy NAPS, Naval Academy admissions, USNA Bruce Fleming, USNA admissions

Posted at 11:32 AM ET, 01/20/2011

Harvard nets 35,000 applications
By Daniel de Vise
Several top universities are reporting another year of record applications, perpetuating the industry trend of application inflation and striking fear in the hearts of worthy high school seniors everywhere. Harvard received nearly 35,000 applications, a 15 percent increase over last...

By Daniel de Vise  |  11:32 AM ET, 01/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  Harvard admissions, Stanford admissions, application inflation, college applications

Posted at 12:08 PM ET, 12/20/2010

Tips for applying to U.K. universities
By Daniel de Vise
In today's Post, I write of the upward trend in American students -- especially from the Washington region -- applying to U.K. universities. The best British schools rival the best American schools in global prestige. And they're cheaper. And they're...

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:08 PM ET, 12/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  British universities for American students, Oxford, US students applying to UK universities, applying to U.K. universities, colleges in the U.K.

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 11/29/2010

Early admission here to stay at local universities
By Daniel de Vise
When surveying the landscape of early college admissions this fall, the terms "comeback" and "rebound" invariably come to mind.

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:05 PM ET, 11/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  Early admission, GMU early action, JMU early action, college admissions, early action, early decision

Posted at 09:59 AM ET, 11/25/2010

Five Thanksgiving thoughts for the college-bound
By Craig Powell
Today's guest blogger is Craig Powell, a Brown graduate and CEO of ConnectEDU, a Boston firm chiefly known for helping high schools send application materials to colleges electronically. As we reflect on the Thanksgiving holiday, those of us in the...

By Craig Powell  |  09:59 AM ET, 11/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  ConnectEDU, college admissions, college aid, college finance

Posted at 02:57 PM ET, 11/16/2010

U-Va. introduces Early Action for 2011
By Daniel de Vise
Four years after stepping away from a binding Early Decision admissions program, the University of Virginia announced Tuesday it will adopt the non-binding variant known as Early Action. Students applying in fall 2011 may submit their U-Va. applications by a...

By Daniel de Vise  |  02:57 PM ET, 11/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions | Tags:  Early Action, Early Decision, UVA early action, University of Virginia

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 10/06/2010

10 colleges where you'd best apply early
By Daniel de Vise
U.S. News & World Report has released a list of the 10 universities where early application yields the greatest advantage. Early decision -- and its kinder, gentler counterpart, early action -- is one of the most controversial pieces of an...

By Daniel de Vise  |  02:00 PM ET, 10/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  Early Action, Early Admission, Early Decision, U.S. News, college admissions, college rankings

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 10/04/2010

Will USC be next to join the Common Application?
By Daniel de Vise
One by one, the nation's elite independent universities have joined the Common Application. A student now can apply to the top 20 national universities on the U.S. News rankings with a single application -- well, two, if you count MIT....

By Daniel de Vise  |  12:33 PM ET, 10/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  Common App, Common Application, Common Application Georgetown, Common Application USC, college admissions

Posted at 05:33 PM ET, 09/27/2010

Survey: Helicopter parents hover over campus
By Daniel de Vise
A new survey of admission officers at 387 386 colleges finds that helicopter parenting is on the rise. Of the colleges surveyed by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (which is part of The Washington Post Co.), 77 percent reported that...

By Daniel de Vise  |  05:33 PM ET, 09/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  Kaplan admissions survey, college parents, helicopter parents, overinvolved parents

Posted at 01:40 PM ET, 01/22/2010

Why are college applications up?
By Daniel de Vise
The economy is sagging; the college-age population is flattening. And yet, word is trickling in that several selective colleges around Washington have reaped record numbers of applications for the Class of 2014-- including the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University...

By Daniel de Vise  |  01:40 PM ET, 01/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Admissions, Admissions, Admissions | Tags:  College admissions, applications, financial aid