The Selectivity Game Tom Anthony saw first-hand how competitive pressures shape admissions and financial aid policy. He worked in the admissions office at Colgate Univeristy for twenty-five years, the last seven as dean of admissions.
Colleges are very concerned with maintaining their selectivity.
It's the guidebook syndrome, and by that I mean not just the guidebooks, but the desire for quick and easy measurements of quality. Colleges are under great pressure to have the kind of student profile that is going to move them up a couple of nothches in the rankings. I think admissions people are universal in their dislike of the rankings, but they're hostage to them. It's the best-selling issue, and the colleges know that they've got to be in there. It causes admissions offices to put more emphasis on things like test scores, because they know that's one of the elements that has to look good in the guidebooks.