Administrative dataset of all applicant contacts with one selective university's admissions office across two admission cycles¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The study's data source is a comprehensive administrative record from a medium-sized highly selective university. The article describes using "unique and comprehensive administrative data, which include all contacts made by each applicant to the admissions office" during two admission cycles. This dataset links applicant contact behavior to admission outcomes and underpins the article's findings on demonstrated interest.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Institutional cooperation to obtain comprehensive contact records covering every applicant

Constraints¶

• Data come from a single medium-sized highly selective university over two admission cycles, limiting generalizability

Target Learners¶

• College applicants to selective universities

Target Learning Goals¶

• Understanding how applicant behavior relates to admission outcomes

Claims¶

• Applicants who contact a selective university's admissions office are more likely to be admitted [+M]
• The admission-probability effect of contact is increasing in applicant SAT score, particularly when contact is costly [+M]

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• James A. Dearden, Suhui Li, Chad D. Meyerhoefer, Muzhe Yang. (2017). Demonstrated Interest: Signaling Behavior in College Admissions. Contemporary Economic Policy, vol. 35, issue 4. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/demonstrated-interest-signaling-behavior-in-college-admissions