NYT Launches Admissions Blog

Frequenters of admissions gossip sites like College Confidential just got one more source for admissions news—from The New York Times.

The Times venture, called “The Choice: Demystifying College Admissions and Aid,” was launched Monday at the height of admissions frenzy.

The project was headed by NYT education writer Jacques Steinberg, who is also the author of “The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College.” According to Steinberg, the blog is intended to be a resource for high school students and their parents as they navigate the college admissions process.

“This is a very stressful, sort of bewildering moment in the life of a kid and the life of a family,” said Steinberg. “And if you could try to put yourself in an applicant’s shoes, it might give them comfort.”

He added that the blog could provide a level of reassurance that raw data could not, especially with colleges around the country accepting fewer applicants than ever. This year, Harvard College turned away 93 of every 100 applicants.

“Harvard is one of the few schools around the country that turns away more than it accepts, so now you have perspective,” explained Steinberg.

The blog features six high school seniors who are currently receiving admissions decisions. The students discuss their reactions to acceptance, wait list, and rejection letters.

The blog also aims to educate applicants and their families about the financial aid process. Several students on the blog discuss how the aid packages will have substantial influence on their ultimate choice of where to matriculate.

“My impression of the mission of the blog is that it is trying to reassure people,” said Nicholas A. Geiser, one of the six student contributors. “Even though the economy is kind of sour and financial aid offers are down, it’s still possible to afford a college education.”

Geiser, a San Francisco University High School senior who applied to 12 schools including Harvard, also said that the blog is a way of reclaiming the college admissions process.

“The impression I’ve gotten from my friends is that they seem very resigned to the process. It’s not particularly enjoyable, but something that you have to get over with,” he said. “I try to reflect on the kind of person I want to be and the kind of values I have and how that plays out in terms of education. There’s potential for a lot of personal growth and reflection.”

According to Steinberg, the Times staff has tried to refrain from substantially editing the student posts, as the blog is meant to communicate the students’ personal experiences with as much genuineness as possible.

“We are trying very much to stay out of their way,” said Steinberg. “I think they’re writing beautifully and very honestly.”