Admissions in the 21st Century

New and Improved Microsite Now Live

The Admissions in the 21st Century microsite has been redesigned and upgraded with new resources and discussion features. Join the conversation!

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Standardized Test Scores — How Should They Be Used?

Read the new Admissions Insights commentary by Randy Deike, Vice President for Enrollment Management at NYU

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Demographic Change Offers New Opportunities

Bob Lay, dean for enrollment management at Boston College, suggests that dramatic shifts in the college-bound population offer a unique opportunity for American higher education.

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Why We're Helping

Admissions processes and practices are changing, for students and their families as well as for the secondary and higher education communities. The transition from high school to college has become an increasingly complicated and confusing process, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and for first-generation college students. With rapidly changing demographics, the high commercialization of admission processes and a tremendous push toward rankings and measuring inputs, it has become more difficult to make good decisions for the long-term success of students.

With this initiative we hope to inspire, inform and call to action the admissions, financial aid and school counseling communities to meet the challenges of higher education in this rapidly changing new century.

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Our Progress

What We've Accomplished:

The Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century of 43 professionals convened to talk about how to improve the transition from high school to college.

November 2008 release of Preserving the Dream of America, an open letter – and call to action – to admissions and financial aid professionals, school counselors and administrators

"Selected Data on P-20 Education in America," a rich source of national and international data on educational attainment, demographics and assessment

Launched the Admissions in the 21st Century microsite with supporting resources and information about the task force

Established an Implementation Committee to carry out the commitments outlined in Preserving the Dream of America

Compiled an extensive bibliography of relevant literature in the field

Launched "Admissions Insights," a discussion series featuring insights and opinions from leaders in the field and links to companion resources

What We're Working On:

Posting new discussion topics from task force representatives to address complexity in admission, college rankings, leadership, testing and other relevant issues

Beginning with the Admissions Insights postings, creating a forum for professionals to engage in robust and meaningful discussion about major issues and changes in the field

Creating professional development resources and materials to help new and experienced professionals navigate the changing landscape

Researching the complexity of the school-to-college transition process