Cry Wolf

African Americans and minorities have been denied admission to higher education – why because of – SAT and admissions — technology will solve that problem.

Admissions folks cry foul – because they are being replaced by the technology – wake up! Have anyone of them ever used an ATM? Do they appreciate that the technology is there to serve them 24/7 and pickup funds anywhere they like? Whether they appreciate of not standing in long lines and smell other people who have poor hygiene? [Bank tellers did not cry foul – but they embraced it and they realize one day may come, maybe tellers would be a profession of days bygone] ATM is not a racist [in closet] and does not discriminate – I have not heard of a case that an ATM committed an error.

Now lets contrast that with the admissions folks – how many complains? How many cases that have gone all the way to supreme court [that were racial in nature – Brown v Board of Education] how many admissions folks – who finagle to keep the student body homogenous and exclude others from getting higher education because of their skin color, race and religion. I have no sympathy for SAT and admissions folks – because they have been engineering to decades to exclude people of color.

I believe that technology is the way to go – it will give equal weight to each applicant – and the families would not be burdened and forced to appear in admissions offices at ridiculous timing to the families — made to feel they have to wear clothes and alter their appearances so as to impress the admissions folks – and not to adhere to the idiosyncratic of the counselor who woke up on the wrong side of the bed and who is having a bad day and is having a temper tantrum due to the PMS and misplaced prospective students documents – therefore technology is the right way and you do not need to speak to the admissions at all and maybe admissions will be a profession of days bygone in the future.

David Robertson, Professor at SUNY, at 9:17 am EST on November 2, 2005

Technology in admissions

Being the president of technology company that has set out to “revolutionize college admissions” I must admit that I am biased. Having served for over 15 years as an associate and director of admissions, I must add that there has to be a better way to do this business of college admissions. The students that are served by the process (and most colleges incorporate “service” as part of their mission) have grown up in a world where technology has changed their lives. I won’t be judgemental and say that it is “better", although it probably is. In terms of college admissions, it is high time that deans like Mr. O’Neill remove their heads from the sand and stop crying wolf or that the sky is falling. Today’s entering first year students were born in the mid to late 1980s. They do not know of typewriters, long waits in line, and a process where the admissions office held all the cards. Their world is instant gratification, simplified processes, and the power of the consumer. So, while college admissions officers can moan and wish for the old days, their prospective students will go elsewhere. They won’t jump through your hoops if the hoop has no relevance. College admissions has to change to “attract” today’s student, not the other way around. There is some really good technology that makes this process easier for the consumer, and, as horrible as it may be to hear, for the admissions office as well. With the largest high school graduating classes on record soon to be applying, and applying by all accounts to more and more colleges per student so as to find the “right fit", the process is not going to get better for the college. More applications, more documents and data to manage, and less control means that a better way has to replace the old way. Effeciency isn’t a bad thing, particularly when the college that can adjust to the demands of the marketplace will reap huge benefits of increased enrollment and better profile classes. It will be more and more imperative for the college to become more effecient to handle the increase in applications while still being able to deliver high levels of customer service. And yes, they are customers. They are approaching the decision to attend a college with the same process they use to make any other purchase...cost, relevance with their peers, ease of the transaction, relevance to their goals. Marketing, technology and the like may have ruined the profession for the “old timers", but today’s student does not care about you. They care about themselves.If the technology isn’t meeting your needs, change the technology, because you won’t change the consumer.

Michael OConnor, President at ADMIN701, at 11:35 am EST on November 2, 2005

Mr. Robertson, Brown v. Board had nothing to do with college admissions.

Larry, at 1:01 pm EST on November 2, 2005

Digital Divide

Overlooked in this discussion is the digital divide that makes it difficult for certain populations to get enrollment and financial aid information and admissions applications unless they have access to a computer and a connection. In late 2003, A Nation Online reported that Latinos and African Americans were less likely than whites to have online access. Age is also a factor on online access as is income and education. So, the implication seems to be that the populations who have traditionally been unrepresented in PSE are now being marginalized by these enrollment structures that are catering to efficiency and cost issues. Admirable goal—to keep costs down (altho we know that wasn’t the case when the tech was new) but at what cost to access?

In a study I conducted with two other authors of how urban public institutions responded to adult prospective student inquiries for admissions and financial aid information, 9 of 12 tried to force us to their website for the info, and one large urban U told us they didn’t publish print media anymore. Most wouldn’t send financial aid information or sent merely the small FAFSA trifold—little state or institutional aid info or deadline info.

There are many more out there among the non-degreed public who are prospective students who may be less likely to attend because of the computer barrier to the gate.

Strongly recommend that colleges carefully consider eliminating print media altogether, espcially if your mission caters to first generation, low SES, and populations who are underrepresented in higher education. While web access has increased quite a bit since A Nation Online, there are still many without web access or lack the computer skills to navigate our webpages. Aren’t these folks we want to serve? Tangojuli

tangojuli, Voc Ed Director at Rural CC, at 6:19 pm EST on November 2, 2005

I’d just like to add, from a student’s perspective, that the online app makes the process a lot cheaper. I’m in another country and mailing everything gets expensive, even just for one university. I’m sure that kids in the country have similar issues with the cost.

Just my two cents, so to speak...

Julia, at 5:33 am EST on November 6, 2005

Costs

As a student currently applying to colleges, i’d have to say that cost: mailing costs and fees are a pretty big issue. Even with online applications, i’ve spent close to $30 on postage — just for recomendations and sending transcripts. If i had to mail my application too...

Stacy, Costs, at 6:29 pm EST on December 19, 2005

I also believe that college admissions should be completely done by computer with out the “what do you define your self as” question..I’m white...so does that me I can’t go to your school!! I think computer applications are more fair! I am a high school senior in New York State, and I can tell you guys that online applications are easier to fill out because we have been taught to use computers since the elementary years and can call our selves pros!!!

Anthony, Mr, at 10:15 pm EST on March 30, 2006