With another round of early decision applicants behind us and 134 new members of the class of 2006, the worth of the process of early decision has again been called into question. In "Early admission decided for 2006" (Jan. 30, 2002), Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tom Parker expressed his fear that, "students today feel too much pressure to apply early, to make a decision about college before they are ready." I, for one, agree with Mr. Parker.
It was only two short years ago that my friends and I were waiting anxiously by our mailboxes to hear back from colleges, to which most of us had applied early decision or early action. In the months that led up to our decision to do so, I witnessed firsthand the pressure that Mr. Parker has described. Even if we weren't exactly sure where we wanted to go, we knew that applying early would increase our chances for admission and pay off in the end. Agonizing decisions had to be made by many of my fellow high schoolers and priorities had to be examined and then reexamined quickly, within the first couple months of senior year, a time when grades are still of primary importance. What resulted were rushed choices and frazzled students.
There are several flaws in the system that contribute to this dilemma. For one thing, the existence of both Early Decision and Early Action processes at different schools results in questionable application decisions. A second problem with the entire process is that, whether admissions offices admit it or not, it is easier to gain admittance when applying to a school early. Of the 10 schools I visited leading up to college, only three admitted that fact, while the other seven remained suspiciously mum on the subject. With the idea circulating that it is easier to get accepted by applying earlier, more and more students are rushing their decisions, an added strain to an already overly stressful process.
Early admission should be abolished. Unfortunately, our college cannot do so while other schools continue the practice. While applying early helped me, I feel that it is a process that only complicates an already trying time in any student's life.
Jesse Crew '04