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College admissions expert Peter Van Buskirk discusses "The Perfect Storm" surrounding college admissions in the 21st Century.
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The Perfect Storm
Peter Van Buskirk Author, Speaker & Former Dean of Admission
[email protected] www.BestCollegeFit.com
© 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
The college admission process hasn’t
always been this way!
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Early 1980’s: Storm Clouds Gather
▲ Changing demographics
▲ InsAtuAons muster to respond
▲ College rankings enter the picture
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
A closer look at each factor
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Changing Demographics
A 40-‐year 3meline: 1980-‐2020
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Forecast (number of college-‐age students) Actual (number of college-‐aMending students)
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Higher Ed Responds Strategically
▲ Enrollment retrenchment
▲ Aggressive outreach—RECRUITMENT
▲ MarkeAng
▲ Strategic deployment of resources
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Rankings Emerge to QuanBfy Mythical Pecking Order of Colleges
▲ Admission data
▲ Measures of the student experience
▲ “ReputaAon”
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Flawed rankings are impacYul
on many fronts
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Impact on Consumers
▲ Plays on anxiety
▲ Presumes to define the “best”
▲ Creates desAnaAon orientaAon
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Impact on InsBtuBons
▲ Introduced new accountabiliAes
▲ Birth of enrollment management
▲ Fueled compeAAon between insAtuAons for
placement on ranking lists
▲ “CreaAve” data reporAng
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Emerging InsBtuBonal “Hidden Agendas”
▲ ROI ($$)
▲ Emphasis on managing yield/selecAvity
▲ Emergence of test results as proxy for
intelligence
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
The Result:
▲ Need-‐blind admission: fact or ficAon
▲ MeeAng full demonstrated need of all admiMed students—sort of …
▲ Changing “water into wine”
▲ Impact of differenAal needs analysis and preferenAal treatment
A widening gap between ins:tu:onal rhetoric and reality
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Playing the Yield/SelecBvity Game
▲ Tracking demonstrated interest
▲ Strategies to increase applicaAons
▲ Early Decision
▲ The Wait List
▲ January offers of admission
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
The Myth of the Test(s)
▲ CompeAAve credenAals
▲ Super-‐scoring
▲ Test-‐opAonal
▲ “Score Choice”
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Where will it end?
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QuesBons
???
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
AcBon Steps
“InterpreBng Outcomes for Bewildered Applicants” March 20 @ 12:00 PM ET
1. Become educated about what is going on in the college-‐going space
2. Support students and parents with good, insighYul informaAon
3. Promote healthy, construcAve decision-‐making
www.BestCollegeFit.com © 2014, Peter Van Buskirk
Peter Van Buskirk College OrientaBon Programming
Contact Info:
▲ Students & Parents ▲ College Access Professionals
▲ 717.808.5462
