Yale and Stanford universities last week became the most elite campuses to end the early decision process, whereby successful applicants must accept offers of admission months ahead of schedule, no matter where else they are eventually accepted. Besides devaluing the senior year of high school, an effect noted by Diane Ravitch and others [see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=76#1073], early decision can harm low-income students by wiping out their leverage in negotiating financial aid packages. Both schools plan to adopt an "early action" system in which early applicants are notified of but not bound to accept admission. "Yale, Stanford abolish early decision process," by Jay Mathews, The Washington Post, November 7, 2002
