Features

Stanford, Yale to end early decisions for applicants

By Diane Scarponi The Associated Press
Friday November 08, 2002

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Two collegiate powerhouses, Yale and Stanford, have decided to take some of the stress out of the admissions process by ending their binding early decision programs. 

Starting next fall, students will be able to apply early but won’t be forced to attend if they get in. 

The presidents of both universities hope their switch to nonbinding “early action” policies will prompt other top colleges to end their binding early decision programs, which have been criticized for putting too much pressure on high school students. 

“This new policy offers those who have set their hearts on attending Stanford the opportunity to apply early in their senior year, without the additional pressure of having to commit before they are ready,” President John Hennessy said in a statement Wednesday. 

Binding early decision policies are especially difficult for students who need financial aid, because they cannot weigh aid offers from competing schools. 

Yale and Stanford’s new policies, however, won’t allow early applicants to apply for other nonbinding programs — unlike Harvard, which does. Harvard also does not require students who apply early to attend if they are accepted. 

Yale President Richard Levin acknowledged that the change may cost the Ivy League school up to 20 percent of its top applicants. 

“Our final thinking was that it would be unfortunate, but the value of making the change outweighs the concern,” Levin said. “Early decision programs help colleges more than applicants.” 

Early decision started at most elite colleges to allow top students to win admission to their first choice without having to go through the longer admissions process. Students apply in the fall, instead of in the spring. 

It’s not clear what effect the changes at Yale and Stanford will have on other top colleges. 

Brown, which reluctantly started offering early decision last year, is considering whether to alter its policy, university admissions officials have said. 

Princeton has no plans to change its binding early admissions program, spokeswoman Lauren Robinson-Brown said.