But now, there is a stronger possibility for change.
Is it good news that others are following Harvard’s lead in dropping early admission? Yes. Dropping these programs will end a history of advantage for already privileged students. But, this “yes” needs added qualification. As other institutions consider eliminating these programs, they should also strongly consider adopting another policy that has caught on at Harvard and other institutions — full financial aid, with minimum debt burden, for the most needy, academically eligible students. The decision to drop early admission should be seen as one positive step in the process of reframing admission and financial aid policy.
— Dr. Kristan M. Venegas is a professor of higher education at the University of Nevada, Reno and a research assistant at the Center
for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
