The Early Admissions Game

Joining the Elite

with a new chapter

Christopher Avery

Andrew Fairbanks

Richard Zeckhauser

    Introduction: Joining the Game

    1 The History of Early Admissions

    2 The State of the Game

    3 Martian Blackjack: What Do Applicants Understand about Early Admissions?

    4 The Innocents Abroad: The Admissions Voyage

    5 The Truth about Early Applications

    6 The Game Revealed: Strategies of Colleges, Counselors, and Applicants

    7 Advice to Applicants

    Conclusion: The Essence of the Game and Some Possible Reforms

    Appendix A Median SAT-1 Scores and Early Application Programs at Various Colleges

    Appendix B Data Sources

    Appendix C Interview Formats

    Notes

    Acknowledgments

    Tables and Figures Index

  • Cover: The Early Admissions Game

Christopher Avery is Professor of Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Andrew Fairbanks is former Associate Dean of Admissions at Wesleyan University.

Richard Zeckhauser is Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.