Rethinking the admissions process: Opinion

Two recent articles from Inside Higher Ed discuss the challenges with postsecondary admissions processes and an approach that could change admissions at some institutions. Jim Jump discusses the admissions counselling profession and argues that ethics in the field are increasingly important as it is continually commercialized. Jump discusses the issues with the profession, including the ability for professionals to claim technical, specialized knowledge about the field; orientation toward service; and self-regulation. In another article, Scott Jaschik discusses a movement towards admitting students without having them fill out a formal application. Jaschik highlights the work of two ed tech companies who allow students to create profiles that are then vetted and recruited by postsecondary institutions. This alternative admissions strategy can improve transparency, provide an opportunity to build relationships with students, and improve access to higher education, explains the author, although some institutions are cautious of automated acceptances and the public relations considerations of the process. Inside Higher Ed 1 (Account Req.)| Inside Higher Ed 2 (Account Req.) Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.