March 31, 2010, 05:45 PM ET
April in Admissionsland
Spring is here, and it's time for blossoms and baseball, as well
as America's other national pastime—obsessing over college
admissions. April 1 marks the traditional day when Ivy League
universities send happy news to select applicants, and sad news to
yet another record number of unsuccessful applicants. So begins
another round of celebrating, lamenting, and ruminating.
This realm—let's call it Admissionsland—is a big, complicated
place. It's full of colleges where the enrollment picture looks
nothing like that at super-selective colleges, and full of students
and parents who face bigger challenges than choosing between one
world-famous college or another. It's also an increasingly
competitive place where enrollment officials must juggle many
difficult questions.
How do colleges balance marketing and mission? Why do students
choose College A over College B? How will the economy shape
this...
