Reconsidering Early Decision

We hope that Harvard's and Princeton's commitment to eliminate early decision from their application processes opens a national discussion on the topic.

We would love to engage in that conversation by saying that we agree with them and hope that Hopkins moves to reexamine the program. It needs retooling, if not outright abandonment.

Early decision, as it is currently constructed, unfairly sways the admissions process in favor of the wealthy. For the students willing to commit unconditionally to the University, Hopkins in turn offers a higher acceptance rate.

But in exchange, the accepted students have signed a binding contract to matriculate at Hopkins, leaving those in need of financial aid at the mercy of aid calculators and without the benefit of competing packages to compare.

Students not in the upper financial echelons who have to choose their college based on the best aid package instead of the best fit are thus effectively denied the early decision option.

They are instead forced into the regular decision route -- whether Hopkins is their undisputed top choice or not -- and subject to more stringent selectivity. This system creates a bias toward the wealthy when encouraging economic diversity should be a priority.

The elimination of early decision is a step toward rectifying this financial disparity while simultaneously ensuring the fairest possible admissions pool. Without having two separate pools with differing selectivity rates, Hopkins can consider each applicant on an equal footing. Students requiring aid, moreover, will have the opportunity to see what kind of package peer schools are offering, giving them the flexibility to take into account pressing economic considerations when choosing a college.

But early decision would not have lasted this long were it not also beneficial in some respects.

Early decision gives applicants excited about enrolling at Hopkins a chance to express their wishes to the University. It behooves Hopkins to accept qualified applicants like these, as enthusiasm is a quality that is notoriously lacking in our student body.

One way to make a fairer system and salvage the enthusiasm gauge is to keep early decision, but also maintain a consistent selectivity rate in both the early decision and regular pools.

Students can still apply early, express their desire to come to Hopkins and eliminate some of the stress of the application process, but regular decision applicants will be guaranteed a level playing field.

Early decision is a flawed system, but with the proper attention, Hopkins has the opportunity to rework the admissions process such that it attracts a more diverse, excited and talented student body. Whatever shape the process takes, any change that works toward that end is surely a positive one.