The appointment of a new dean of admissions will likely not affect the way potential applicants and admissions counselors view Penn, admissions experts say.
Because the admissions dean is only one component of the administrative team, it's unlikely that the appointment of Eric Furda, who was selected for the position Jan. 17, will drastically change the course of the Penn admissions department, said Steve Goodman, a college-admissions consultant and author.
"It's part of a continuum. Even when Penn switches presidents, the University doesn't shift dramatically," he said.
Counselors also said Furda's appointment will not affect how they guide students in selecting a school and applying to Penn.
Because the dean of admissions is often the critical link between the administration at a school and prospective students, he or she is often perceived as the face of school policies, Michele Hernandez, president of Hernandez College Counseling, said.
But that view is unfounded, she added.
"The actual outlook of the office has to do with the school policy," she said. The University "probably wouldn't have hired him unless they agreed" on a general admissions philosophy.
Furda's initial impact will likely be subtle and is likely to chiefly influence internal management, David Hawkins, public policy director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said.
"There might not be any real effect outside the admissions process," he said.
The internal effect, he added, could include outreach philosophy and office morale and will be influenced by Furda's leadership style.
Those qualities could have a trickle-down impact on high schoolers' perceptions of Penn, he added.
For instance, the office's internal philosophy - such as accessibility to college counselors - could be reflected through the representatives Penn sends to talk to schools, said Alice Cotti, the director of college counseling at the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, Calif.
Cotti said she had "every reason" to expect few changes in Penn's relationship with high schools under Furda.
However, gauging Furda's approach and areas of emphasis will probably take a few admissions cycles, Hernandez said.
Furda's appointment "probably won't affect the way I advise" students currently, she said.
"It takes years to figure out the mark of a director," she said.
According to Goodman, Furda's initial focus will probably be in line with Penn's overall outlook, including broadening and deepening the admissions pool, expanding Penn's outreach, increasing the University's use of online applications and focusing on financial aid.
Still, when advising students, a college's admissions dean is less important than a good fit, Goodman said.
"Who the dean is is interesting but my job is to help the students find the [school] that is right for them," he said.
