CEP College and University Admissions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires colleges to publish net price calculators on their websites?
- FERPA
- Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Correct answer)
- Title IV of the HEA
- Clery Act
Correct answer: Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 mandated that all Title IV-eligible institutions provide an online net price calculator.
Question 2: A student applying Early Decision but changes their mind after admission should do what first?
- Simply enroll at another school
- Notify the ED school in writing and request release from the binding agreement (Correct answer)
- Contact the College Board immediately
- Wait until May 1 to withdraw
Correct answer: Notify the ED school in writing and request release from the binding agreement
Withdrawing from an ED commitment requires formal written notification to the institution; only documented financial hardship typically justifies release.
Question 3: What does the term 'demonstrated interest' mean in college admissions?
- A student's GPA trend
- Evidence that an applicant has actively engaged with a college through visits, emails, or campus events (Correct answer)
- The strength of a student's extracurricular profile
- The number of AP courses a student has taken
Correct answer: Evidence that an applicant has actively engaged with a college through visits, emails, or campus events
Demonstrated interest refers to tangible actions showing a student's genuine enthusiasm for an institution, which some colleges track and factor into admissions decisions.
Question 4: The Common Data Set (CDS) is most useful to an educational planner for:
- Filing FAFSA on behalf of students
- Comparing standardized institutional data on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid (Correct answer)
- Submitting transcripts electronically
- Identifying college athletic scholarship opportunities
Correct answer: Comparing standardized institutional data on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid
The CDS provides standardized, publicly reported data that allows planners to compare institutions on key admissions and financial metrics.
Question 5: Which type of admission plan allows students the most flexibility because it carries no binding commitment?
- Early Decision I
- Early Decision II
- Early Action (Correct answer)
- Rolling Admission
Correct answer: Early Action
Early Action is non-binding, meaning students receive an early decision but can wait until May 1 to commit, preserving full flexibility.
Question 6: A college's 'yield rate' is defined as:
- The percentage of applicants who are admitted
- The percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll (Correct answer)
- The ratio of out-of-state to in-state students
- The average financial aid package per enrollee
Correct answer: The percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll
Yield rate measures the proportion of accepted students who ultimately enroll, reflecting the institution's desirability and effectiveness of its recruitment efforts.
Question 7: Restrictive Early Action (REA) or Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) programs generally prohibit applicants from:
- Applying to any college before December 1
- Applying Early Action or Early Decision to other private institutions in the same cycle (Correct answer)
- Submitting optional essays
- Applying for merit scholarships
Correct answer: Applying Early Action or Early Decision to other private institutions in the same cycle
REA/SCEA programs restrict applicants from pursuing binding or non-binding early plans at other private colleges, though public university early applications are usually permitted.
CEP College and University Admissions 2
Which federal law requires colleges to publish net price calculators on their websites?