It isn't quite that time of year yet, but in a few months, a swell of "prospectives," especially those considering early decision, will tour the Lawn and quiz University guides on the merits of new dorms versus old dorms. To most of us, these potential future students are nameless, faceless crowds to dodge on the way to class, but, at some schools, admissions officers are paying very close attention to just who these people are -- and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
A growing number of colleges are looking at student interest in considering admissions. Colleges want to admit, and more importantly to enroll, students who show an active interest in their particular school. Practically, this means that some qualified students are displaced in favor of less qualified but more enthusiastic students. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), at their annual meeting last week, decided to charge their admissions board with studying the phenomenon and deciding whether or not the NACAC should take an official stand against it. They should not.
There are two things for the Admissions Board to consider when examining the trend. First, how is active interest measured and, second, does this adversely affect the equity of the college admissions process.
Favoring students who are excited about a particular school over those who are disinterested is not the same as favoring one race, gender or geographical location over another. Interest is something over which students have almost complete control.
Most universities, including this one, claim to consider applicants "as a whole." If that's true, interest and enthusiasm is a legitimate part of a student's application.
One major concern about the practice of favoring students who've shown a particular interest is that undue emphasis on college visits will hurt students who can't afford to jet set around the country, even if they do have a keen interest in a far away school. Encouraging students to show their interest in other ways could easily solve this problem.
E-mails or phone calls to the admissions office would be one way. Universities could take a proactive approach by sending representatives -- current students, staff, alumni -- out to meet students who can't make the trip or enlisting undergraduates to answer questions from prospective students via e-mail, and keep track of which students take advantage.
Gathering more information about a school does not, in any way, harm an applicant. They may find that a school they thought was right for them doesn't have the major they want, or that a school they never seriously considered somehow feels right.
If students know that even a small part of their admission status depends on how much effort they make to get to know a school, rather than to just "sell" themselves, they may be more inclined to look closely at their choices. In this way, forcing students to take an active interest in schools they care about is to their benefit.
It isn't the only benefit, however. In recent years, admission to the nation's top college's and universities has become more and more competitive. A contributing factor is students who apply to upwards of a dozen colleges, without really intending to enroll in half of them.
Asking that students show even a cursory interest in their school, and giving more serious consideration to those that do, allows admissions officers to sort through such a large volume of applicants and reward those who are applying to a college and not just a prestigious name.
The practice of favoring students who show an active interest in a university, provided that "active interest" is defined fairly, doesn't hurt anyone except the applicant who didn't really want to come anyhow.
Some colleges will choose to admit the most qualified, and they may enroll some that they didn't expect.
Others will give preference to those who most want to come, which is essentially the goal of early admissions policies.
The difference is in philosophy, not fairness, and it would be foolish for the NACAC to come out against universities that value enthusiasm.
(Megan Moyer's column appears
Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at mmoyer@cavalierdaily.com.)
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