In Harvard and Princeton's wake, UVa. ends early admission

The University of Virginia announced Monday that it would end its early admissions program, becoming the third institution of higher education in the U.S. to drop the option in recent weeks. Harvard caused a stir Sept. 12 by announcing plans to end its early admissions program, and Princeton followed suit less than a week later on Sept. 18.

Like Harvard and Princeton, UVa. will first apply the change to prospective members of the Class of 2012, who will enter college in the fall of 2008.

UVa. currently uses Early Decision, which requires early applicants to attend the school if they are accepted. Princeton also uses Early Decision; Harvard, on the other hand, employs single-choice Early Action, under which applicants may apply early to only one school but are not bound to attend if accepted.

In explaining its decision, UVa. officials cited the need to include more people from low-income backgrounds among its student body of 13,000, echoing the statements of Harvard and Princeton weeks earlier.

"While our staff had discussed the pros and cons of eliminating early decision or moving to an early action plan that is not binding, the reality of how few low-income students apply for any early plans really was compelling for me," UVa. Dean of Admissions John Blackburn said in a school news release.

Early admission programs have long drawn fire for allegedly privileging more affluent students, who are more likely to be aware of such programs and who can more easily forego the option of comparing financial aid offers from several schools. Applicants who apply early to selective schools often are two or three times more likely to be admitted than regular decision applicants.

Yale has said it will defer any decision on its admissions policy until after Harvard's move takes effect, while officials at Brown and MIT have said they have no plans to change their policy. Stanford has stated it is open to change.