The Impact of the Idaho Direct Admissions Program on Institution Selectivity
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| Title: | The Impact of the Idaho Direct Admissions Program on Institution Selectivity |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Rachel Burns, Sakshee Chawla, Cate Collins, State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) |
| Source: | State Higher Education Executive Officers. 2024. |
| Availability: | State Higher Education Executive Officers. 3035 Center Green Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301. Tel: 303-541-1600; Fax: 303-541-1639; e-mail: sheeo@sheeo.org; Web site: http://www.sheeo.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Joyce Foundation |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | College Admission, Selective Admission, Student Characteristics, Demography, State Universities, Guided Pathways, College Enrollment, Grade Point Average, College Entrance Examinations, COVID-19, Pandemics, Program Effectiveness |
| Geographic Terms: | Idaho |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | SAT (College Admission Test) |
| Abstract: | Direct Admissions policies, first pioneered by Idaho in 2015, aim to simplify the path to college for high school students by proactively admitting students to state colleges and universities. Idaho's decision to implement Direct Admissions was motivated by a desire to boost its relatively low college-going rates and ensure that more of its high school graduates pursue higher education, particularly at state institutions. Idaho's Direct Admissions system automatically qualified all 2016 public high school seniors for admission to participating colleges and universities based on their academic performance such as standardized test scores, GPA, and high school course credits, without requiring them to undergo the traditional application process. Using the student's SAT score and GPA, the Idaho Office of the State Board of Education (OSBE) proactively admits high school students to the "Letter of 6" or "Letter of 8." Students receiving the Letter of 8 are admitted to all of Idaho's public higher education institutions, while students receiving the Letter of 6 are admitted to all except Boise State University and the University of Idaho, the two more selective institutions in the state. Once a student is guaranteed a seat at any of the colleges listed in their Direct Admissions letter, students then apply to the institutions of choice to verify their enrollment intentions. Direct Admissions is designed to demystify the college application process, reduce barriers to entry, and encourage a higher rate of postsecondary enrollment. Since its implementation, the policy has garnered attention for its role in increasing postsecondary applications and enrollments. It has also emerged as a potential model for other states considering similar reforms. Previous research on Direct Admissions policies in Idaho has examined the policy's effectiveness on institutional applications and enrollment outcomes. This paper uses data on the receipt of a Letter of 6 and receipt of a Letter of 8 to understand how Direct Admissions policies influence student choice in institutional selectivity. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | ED660653 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Direct Admissions policies, first pioneered by Idaho in 2015, aim to simplify the path to college for high school students by proactively admitting students to state colleges and universities. Idaho's decision to implement Direct Admissions was motivated by a desire to boost its relatively low college-going rates and ensure that more of its high school graduates pursue higher education, particularly at state institutions. Idaho's Direct Admissions system automatically qualified all 2016 public high school seniors for admission to participating colleges and universities based on their academic performance such as standardized test scores, GPA, and high school course credits, without requiring them to undergo the traditional application process. Using the student's SAT score and GPA, the Idaho Office of the State Board of Education (OSBE) proactively admits high school students to the "Letter of 6" or "Letter of 8." Students receiving the Letter of 8 are admitted to all of Idaho's public higher education institutions, while students receiving the Letter of 6 are admitted to all except Boise State University and the University of Idaho, the two more selective institutions in the state. Once a student is guaranteed a seat at any of the colleges listed in their Direct Admissions letter, students then apply to the institutions of choice to verify their enrollment intentions. Direct Admissions is designed to demystify the college application process, reduce barriers to entry, and encourage a higher rate of postsecondary enrollment. Since its implementation, the policy has garnered attention for its role in increasing postsecondary applications and enrollments. It has also emerged as a potential model for other states considering similar reforms. Previous research on Direct Admissions policies in Idaho has examined the policy's effectiveness on institutional applications and enrollment outcomes. This paper uses data on the receipt of a Letter of 6 and receipt of a Letter of 8 to understand how Direct Admissions policies influence student choice in institutional selectivity. |
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