A national survey determined how many graduate programs in social work have adopted a formal admission decision appeal procedure, steps in the procedure, and experiences with it. Applicants who appeal often have decisions reversed, and schools offering procedures have few appeals. A typical procedure is outlined. (MSE)

The filing of complicated applications for student financial aid is discussed and the complicated issues involved in improving the forms are addressed. Problems in "forms simplification" and "forms commonality" are described, and the need for a single need-analysis system is emphasized. (LBH)

Reviews the similarities and differences relating to access to higher education in Germany and the United States and current problems and policies relating to access in both countries. (Author/RK)

Questions whether some college recruitment tactics are ethical and if such tactics erode consumer confidence in college admission process in general. Lists National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) Principles of Good Practice most frequently abused by educational institutions. Recommends colleges make greater effort to ensure…

Examines the role of the new Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the United Kingdom, created in 1993 when British polytechnics and other institutions achieved university status. It focuses on the application strategies of prospective university students, the increased volume of applications, and the effect on universities. (MDM)

A study of historical data on medical school applicants from 1978-79 through 1991-92 indicated that acceptance rates for underrepresented minorities and others increased as applicant numbers declined, then decreased as applicant numbers rose. However, when controlled for undergraduate science achievement and Medical College Admission Test score,…

Considers recruitment and enrollment implications of adult applicants to colleges and universities. Suggests that, to better serve adult population, college administrators responsible for preadmission counseling need to identify means to more personally address each adult applicant's concern regarding college choice process. Describes Candidate…

A federal judge has ruled that 23 prestigious colleges and universities in the Overlap Group violated federal antitrust laws for over 20 years when they met to compare financial-aid packages to be awarded to prospective students, rejecting arguments of social and educational need and nonapplicability of antitrust law. Massachusetts Institute of…

The dimensional structure of the 6 subtests of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test was investigated using data from 10 versions of the test administered to approximately 50,000 examinees in 1984-88. The best alternative appeared to be a model with two orthogonal factors. (SLD)

A survey of applicants to a major state university investigated whether students who accept (n=461) and decline (n=488) admission offers have different ways of evaluating the admission process. Contrary to expectation, accepters did not rate all elements of the process higher than decliners. Blacks and whites also differed in their perceptions.…

University associate director of admission shares his theory on a better way to visualize an applicant's qualifications while quickly determining the applicants the university in particular should accept by individualizing the admission rating system. Discusses how to define the ideal applicant, establish an admission philosophy, prioritize rating…

Explores the dynamics of writing college application essays. Analyzes four high school seniors' think-aloud protocols as they composed the essays and college admissions officers' remarks as they read the essays. Finds that successful essayists were able to balance the requested self disclosure and the unstated deep institutional concern for…

Examines investment and consumption features of the demand for medical education, using medical application data over the 1948 to 1994 time period. Examines a variant of a pure human capital (investment) model and a model augmented by consumption and demographic variables, using medical education data. A static human capital model best forecasts…

Describes Washington State University's (WSU) successful use of the World Wide Web to transform its student admissions process, highlighting: strategic administrative objectives that formed the context for transforming WSU's admissions process; Web services for prospective students (information pages, the Cougar TRACS transfer credit system,…

Conducted a series of analyses under various assumptions concerning affirmative action plans, causes of racial differences in average college admissions test scores, and racial differences in accuracy of performance predictions. Evidence suggesting a lower level of predictive accuracy for African Americans implies that, under affirmative action,…