The Early Admissions Game: Joining the Elite, With a New Chapter

by Christopher M. Avery, Richard J. Zeckhauser, Andrew Fairbanks

Each year, hundreds of thousands of high school seniors compete in a game they’ll play only once, whose rules they do not fully understand, yet whose consequences are enormous. The game is college admissions, and applying early to an elite school is one way to win. But the early admissions process is enigmatic and flawed. It can easily lead students toward hasty or misinformed decisions.

This book―based on the careful examination of more than 500,000 college applications to fourteen elite colleges and hundreds of interviews with students, counselors, and admissions officers―provides an extraordinarily thorough analysis of early admissions. In clear language it details the advantages and pitfalls of applying early as it provides a map for students and parents to navigate the process. Unlike college admissions guides, The Early Admissions Game reveals the realities of early applications, how they work and what effects they have. The authors frankly assess early applications. Applying early is not for everyone, but it will improve―sometimes double, even triple―the chances of being admitted to a prestigious college.

An early decision program can greatly enhance a college’s reputation by skewing statistics, such as selectivity, average SAT scores, or percentage of admitted applicants who matriculate. But these gains come at the expense of distorting applicants’ decisions and providing disparate treatment of students who apply early and regular admissions. The system, in short, is unfair, and the authors make recommendations for improvement.

The Early Admissions Game is sure to be the definitive work on the subject. It is must reading for admissions officers, guidance counselors, and high school seniors and their parents.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[La'Tonya Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

You just have to go in knowing that the scope of this book is super narrow, i.e., the target audience is white and Asian applicants to highly selective institutions who are not also legacies or recruited athletes. To that end, the book probably could be about 200 pages shorter because the main argument is established early and is just repeated throughout. I do think it will satisfy those people who think that they can "game" the system and who will look for any nook and cranny to gain an edge.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a detailed and thorough analysis of the college admissions process, focusing on the effect of early action and early decision programs on students and colleges alike. It was extremely informative and well-researched, with a clear and coherent argument.

My main criticism was that this text was highly repetitive. The same claims were made repeatedly, the same statistics offered and endless bar graphs presented. The authors could have been much more concise in getting to their point. If you are a parent or student looking for insight into the college admissions process and trying to figure out if applying early is right for you, skip to page 229. That's all you need to know.

I did appreciate the suggestions for reform, though, at the end. Their ideas left the reader with something to think about, especially in light of their update on the progress made since the book's original publication.

Overall, very relevant and full of great quotes and insights from students and admissions deans alike. Just read it quick, otherwise it gets a bit painful.

[Hong Deng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing and detailed research and analysis of the process of early admissions to America's colleges. In addition to the introductions of several ways one can apply early to a certain college, the book also draws various conclusions regarding the advantages and pitfalls of applying early base one a vast amount of surveys and interviews with students, cousenlors, and admission deans. My favorite part of the book is the section in which college students from many prestige colleges and universties accounted their experience with college admissions. They gave many advice on how to decide whether to apply early decision, early action, or not to apply at all. Although many of their thoughts varied due to their personal experiences and perspectives, I learned that the early one starts to research and learn about college admission, the greater the chance is for one to get into his/her desirable college. College admissions are influenced by many factors, and the book concludes that applying early can certainly increase one's chance of being admitted. Hohwever, it is important for students to apply early to their first or second choices, so that we don't end up going into colleges that are not our desirable learning environment.

[Valerie Acklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scholarly look at the advantages (both perceived and actual) of early college admissions programs. Very informative.