CARLISLE, Pa., Nov. 19 (AScribe Newswire) -- Like the proverbial baby and the bathwater, the call for an end to college Early Decision admission programs is a misinformed over-reaction. The public should not be fooled by recent announcements from highly visible public and private universities. The elimination of ED by a public university that had the program for only three years is hardly a "sacrifice for the greater good." Further, the announcement of terminating the ED program by several top private universities, and its replacement by a non-binding but EXCLUSIVE Early Action program (where students are told that they may only apply to one "early" program) is nothing more than a "smoke screen." These universities with exceptionally high yield rates risk nothing by moving to an exclusive early action program. Yet the public is led to believe that these are trend-setters, about to lead the charge to kill Early Decision.

True, many students are lured to ED programs because they believe their chances of admission to a top choice college or university will be better now than if they wait until spring. True, in an effort to better predict their fall enrollments and, in some cases, to artificially improve total yield and selectivity, colleges have been "selling" ED aggressively for the past several years. True, high school counselors are frustrated by what they see as a premature rush for students to apply ED "somewhere," and by colleges that seem to care more about their acceptance rates than student "fit." But before we throw away ED, let us consider the purposes of the program, and how we can restore sanity to the process.

Early Decision can be a perfect option for students who know themselves well and have found a college that fits their learning style. Cynics might say that colleges will not provide their best aid package or offer to these ED students because they do not have to compete on price. But this is much less true today than five years ago, because colleges know that ED students can opt out if the money is not enough. Most institutions will not risk losing an admitted ED student over financial aid.

One reason for the ED frenzy, especially in the most selective colleges, is that many more applicants apply under regular admission for those limited spaces that remain after ED slots are filled. If you want to "get in," therefore, apply before the spaces are gone. Several years ago, there was talk of a voluntary limit to ED admission at 25 percent - 30 percent of the total entering class. This movement away from the present 45 percent -- 50 percent would create more open slots later in the process, taking some of the pressure off students who may not be ready, but who apply ED anyway to secure a space in the class -- any class. National leaders in college admission must re-open this conversation in a responsible way.

The colleges that have built their admission programs around ED do not have the luxury of eliminating the program without significant risk to their enrollments. Some students -- the vast majority of ED candidates at my institution -- do the research and make a wise choice under ED as the program was intended to be. And although counselors are challenged by these students who are anxious to "go early," the fact is that an increase in ED applications means fewer total forms for counselors to complete because students are not applying to multiple colleges. We must not assume Early Decision is "bad" and anti-student. Yes, it has been abused by some colleges and by some students. But the real issue is less about ED and more about how students select their colleges: status, rather than substance, rules the process. As long as it does, the elimination of ED will do little to keep the college admission frenzy in check. Like other aspects of the admission cycle, however, ED can be modified to be more student friendly while still useful to colleges. The baby, and the bathwater, are both worth keeping.