Direct Admissions and Scholarships are Distracting

Every year, my seniors forward me emails from colleges they have been accepted to even though they never applied. Some kids are excited about these acceptances because who doesn’t like to be welcomed with open arms, even when you didn’t knock on the door? Others are simply confused. They wonder how the college found them. 

Last year, I had a student receive an acceptance from a college she had never heard of, along with a scholarship that made the offer even more tempting. She wanted to know whether she should consider the school. It wasn't a college she had been interested in before, but the acceptance made her wonder if she had overlooked something. After all, if a college wanted her badly enough to admit her and offer her a scholarship, shouldn't she take a closer look? 

We hadn't overlooked anything. We had worked together to put together a list of colleges that met her unique needs and preferences, and her college list was solid. The college had simply changed the equation by putting an offer in front of her. 

And that is exactly what makes direct admissions and scholarship offers so distracting. They can make students feel wanted by a college they never wanted in the first place.

We stepped back and evaluated the college against the same criteria we had used for every other school on her list. Once we did, it became clear that the scholarship didn't change the fact that it wasn't a good fit.

What is Direct Admissions?

Some colleges offer acceptances to students who have not applied to their colleges. This is called "direct admissions", and it is becoming more popular with colleges every year. Direct admissions is a "college-friendly" policy that aids colleges in meeting their enrollment goals. I am not convinced, however, that direct admissions is a "student-friendly" policy.

While it is exciting for students to receive an offer from a college early in the admissions process that they did not even apply to, the experience can distract students from pursuing a "best fit" college. All of a sudden, they are focused on a college that offered them admission, but that college might not be right for the student. If it was, the student would likely have already been considering it!

Scholarships Distract from Fit

In my experience, something similar happens when students receive a substantial scholarship from a college. That college flies to the top of the student's list simply because the student feels like the college wants them. That feeling, and the student's response to it, is exactly what colleges are hoping for when they offer scholarships and direct admissions.

On the other hand, it is possible that an offer, whether admissions or scholarship, comes from a college that IS a good fit for the student. The offer might open a student's mind to a college option that they were not previously considering.

We suggest that students who receive offers of admissions or scholarships from colleges react evenly. If the college is a good fit, take the offer seriously. If not, move on! Focusing on the right fit is the key to happiness and success in college.

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