Admit. office to stick with early decision, other programs

Despite a new dean, Penn's major undergraduate admissions policies and initiatives have remained intact.

Early decision enrollment and Exploring College Options have become standard admissions programs at Penn, and according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda - who took over the position in July - both are here to stay.

College consultants agree that there is no reason for Penn to change its admissions policies.

"If a school is not meeting its enrollment goals or hopes to attract a new applicant pool, then often a new dean is hired to create new practices," said James Fowler, senior consultant at AdmissionsConsultants.

Penn already attracts good students, and so "there isn't as much need for a dean to come in and make sweeping changes," he added.

The main changes in Penn's admissions department since Furda has taken over involve internal adjustments. Furda has restructured some positions in the office, and is also leading the implementation of a new, online-only filing system.

Since no one objected to former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson's recruitment and enrollment practices, there is no reason to change them, said Michele Hernandez, president of Hernandez College Consulting.

The reputation of a school's admissions office when a dean leaves is "the key thing," Hernandez said, adding that if a dean had been fired, the school might be looking for someone with a different style.

Before Stetson resigned in August 2007, he had been widely credited with increasing Penn's selectivity and improving the school's image.

Though some of Penn's peer institutions, including Harvard and Princeton universities, have eliminated their early-application programs, Penn will maintain its "institutional commitment" to early decision, Furda said.

Penn President Amy Gutmann said the early-decision program benefits the University.

"We start building a class among the most talented students who are passionate about Penn," she said.

Penn will also continue to participate in the Exploring College Options program this year.

Exploring College Options is sponsored by Penn's undergraduate admissions office, along with those at Duke, Harvard, Stanford and Georgetown universities.

Representatives from each of the five universities conduct joint presentations about their institutions in sessions held all across the country.

In an e-mail, Furda said Exploring College Options is beneficial to the institutions, guidance counselors and students.

"This is an initiative that deserves our continued support," he wrote.

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