Applications Surge for Early Decision

Author: Craig Szela

Middlebury College boasted a record 583 early decision applications this year, compared to last year's record number of 550.

Dean of Enrollment Planning Mike Schoenfeld stated, "It's about the eighth or ninth record in a row [and] reflects a national [early decision] trend."

He ascribed this trend in part to the increasing popularity of the early decision option in the private school sector. Middlebury's recent popularity was another factor he mentioned, confirmed by the fact that in five of the last six years the College has received a record number of applications.

"Normally for Early Decision I (EDI), we accept between 33 and 37 percent [of the class]," said Schoenfeld. "We don't have a target or a limit on how many EDI applicants we accept; it depends on the quality of the pool," he explained.

Last year 48 percent of the incoming class was accepted during Early Decision I and II. This year he expects the percentage to again be in the 40s.

Director of Admissions John Hanson, when asked if the recent study on athletics and academics at NESCAC member schools conducted by the Mellon Foundation affected the ED process, replied, "Probably not,… from our point of view we always try to bring in the strongest and most balanced students."

He concluded that the Admissions Office is now just more aware that it is being watched. He called this accountability "healthy," and contended that not much had changed in the decision process.

Hanson said that the early decision process benefits both the applicants and the College.

He noted that the applicant who doesn't have to wait until Spring to find out whether he or she has been accepted can better enjoy the rest of the year and spend it planning. Early decision also enables those who want to defer their matriculation to plan farther ahead of time.

Hanson continued, "For the College, it allows us to spread our decision making process over a longer period of time." In addition the school benefits from having the ability to better control the number of matriculating students, stated Hanson.

Neither the events of Sept. 11 nor the Middlebury's drop in the U.S. News and World Report rankings seems to have affected Middlebury's early decision applicants. Schoenfield mentioned that admissions had been wondering about the impact of the rankings and the attacks but has seen no repercussions for EDI.

Hanson dispelled the concern that Middlebury's US News and World Report ranking might affect the College's applicant pool. He stated that Middlebury's rank has fluctuated in recent years but that the College has stayed near the top and our applicant pool has continued to grow. He concluded, "I would not tie the two together."

Middlebury's ED program has been around for some time, "predating 1986," said Hanson.

Applying in the ED applicant pool is becoming especially popular in the private school sector; he has heard of figures where from 50 to 90 percent of private school students are applying early.

Whatever the case may be, the current trend is that the number of Middlebury's ED applicants will continue to increase the pool of students from which Middlebury can draw. Schoenfield affirmed this positive aspect of admissions, stating, "Students and faculty alike should be very proud that we have so many kids interested in this school."