Recession Halts “Need-Blind” Admissions Practices
Posted 15 Jun, 2009
Once upon a time a straight-A, former ASB president who needed a high amount of scholarship money might have been admitted over a B-average student with a plentiful college fund; but the current recession has, for some colleges, meant choosing money over student-desirability.
Fair Weather Friends
Before the economy began to slump, many colleges tried to admit students on a “need-blind” basis, meaning, that a student’s financial aid needs would not hurt his or her chances of being admitted. Sadly, some colleges are currently feeling “needy” themselves–and that has forced schools like Oregon’s Reed College to start taking a hard look at potential students’ ability to pay. After months of analyzing who would make the cut, the amount of financial aid Reed had available for this fall’s freshman class fell short of covering the need.
Dropping the Neediest
For the first time ever, Reed College in Oregon has had to seriously reorganize it’s admit list. Regardless of test scores, grades, and extracurriculars, they simply did not have the funds to offer enough aid to their first-choice incoming class. In fact, the New York Times reported that Reed, which boasts alumni like Apple CEO Steve Jobs, literally cut 100 needy students off their acceptance list and replaced them with students whose families could pay full “sticker price.”
Crowding the Halls
This year we’ve seen a shift in the way colleges handle the business of admissions–and let’s be clear, college is very much a business - the bottom line it is a top priority.
Many colleges have been striving to boost their income by accepting larger freshman classes. University of California San Diego, for example, has been accepting more and more freshman over the past few years. With not enough room to house them, their double-occupancy rooms have become triples, and rooms that once held only three students now house four. Quarters are cramped, yet students are definitely not getting a discount.
The Changing Face of Admissions
Admissions practices are changing, and that means this coming fall’s college application process could be much different than those in years past. It may be more difficult to gain acceptance, and to pay for college simply by handling the admissions process in the traditional ways. Keep an eye on the Pay for College Blog this summer and as school begins for more information about how you and your student should tackle the issues of college admissions and funding in the current economic downturn. Times may be changing, but with pre-planning you can still make it happen!
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding®, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
photo: Ivy League too by hortongrou
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Once upon a time a straight-A, former ASB president who needed a high amount of scholarship money might have been admitted over a B-average student with a plentiful college fund; but the current recession has, for some colleges, meant choosing money over student-desirability.
Fair Weather Friends
Before the economy began to slump, many colleges tried to admit students on a “need-blind” basis, meaning, that a student’s financial aid needs would not hurt his or her chances of being admitted. Sadly, some colleges are currently feeling “needy” themselves–and that has forced schools like Oregon’s Reed College to start taking a hard look at potential students’ ability to pay. After months of analyzing who would make the cut, the amount of financial aid Reed had available for this fall’s freshman class fell short of covering the need.
Dropping the Neediest
For the first time ever, Reed College in Oregon has had to seriously reorganize it’s admit list. Regardless of test scores, grades, and extracurriculars, they simply did not have the funds to offer enough aid to their first-choice incoming class. In fact, the New York Times reported that Reed, which boasts alumni like Apple CEO Steve Jobs, literally cut 100 needy students off their acceptance list and replaced them with students whose families could pay full “sticker price.”
Crowding the Halls
This year we’ve seen a shift in the way colleges handle the business of admissions–and let’s be clear, college is very much a business - the bottom line it is a top priority.
Many colleges have been striving to boost their income by accepting larger freshman classes. University of California San Diego, for example, has been accepting more and more freshman over the past few years. With not enough room to house them, their double-occupancy rooms have become triples, and rooms that once held only three students now house four. Quarters are cramped, yet students are definitely not getting a discount.
The Changing Face of Admissions
Admissions practices are changing, and that means this coming fall’s college application process could be much different than those in years past. It may be more difficult to gain acceptance, and to pay for college simply by handling the admissions process in the traditional ways. Keep an eye on the Pay for College Blog this summer and as school begins for more information about how you and your student should tackle the issues of college admissions and funding in the current economic downturn. Times may be changing, but with pre-planning you can still make it happen!
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding®, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
photo: Ivy League too by hortongrou
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe by Email
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