EDITORIAL: Is the University on the decline?

Fewer early decision applications may mean a weaker Class of 2001. Administrators can't -- and shouldn't -- keep a lid on news of shootings, stabbings and self-immolations in West Philadelphia. But it's upsetting to see prospective students rashly passing up a Penn education because of the attendant dangers of the University's urban location. More worrisome is the 17 percent drop in female early decision applicants. Just a few years ago, administrators were crowing about the near-parity of genders in Penn's incoming classes. What will happen now? Finally, Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said his office still plans to find one-third of the Class of 2001 from this year's early decision applicant pool. While the pool's average Scholastic Assessment Test score is an impressive 1,310, accepting the same percentage of freshmen early decision this year -- from a smaller pool than last year -- may mean a less select and talented cross-section of students. Part of the reason for accepting about 40 percent of early decision applicants, of course, is to keep the regular decision admit rate below 30 percent for college guide surveys and better national press. Instead of fixating on this superficial goal, the University should work to improve academics and recruitment, to bring better students in -- regardless of what percentage are admitted when.