Northeastern University sidesteps California’s new legacy admissions ban
The school cited its Massachusetts incorporation to justify exemption from the new state law.
Podcast: College Uncovered
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S1 Eps 8 The Enrollment Industrial Complex
Colleges are quietly buying – or as they like to spin it, licensing – lists of potential student names and personal information from companies administering tests like the SAT and ACT. The goal? Recruit, but also recruit to reject. The more applicants a college recruits, the more selective and prestigious they seem in the college rankings. In this final episode of Season One, Kirk and Jon explore how both selective and less selective colleges and universities use enrollment and financial aid management strategies to increase their applicant pool, lower admission rates and meet their bottom line. And here’s the key: college is the only industry – outside banking – that can legally access all of your income information and make decisions on your ability to pay before charging you a price. Kirk and Jon trace the origins of these practices back to Boston College in the 1970s and follow the evolution of enrollment management systems into a multi-billion dollar higher ed shadow industry. Colleges now rely on their enrollment management systems to survive and compete for students. And their opaque analysis of a family’s budget can determine whether a student receives steep tuition discounts or “merit scholarships” that can dramatically lower the cost of tuition. These backroom practices have some former administrators concerned about the effects on access to and equity in higher education – and they’re calling for renewed transparency in college . “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation. -
S1 Eps 7 The “M” Word
Some colleges and universities now spend more on marketing than on financial aid. They’re hiring marketing professionals who have worked at Fortune 500 companies and using digital marketing tools to follow you around the internet. They know how much time you spend on a website, when you save something for later, and what other sites you visit. A growing number also sneakily collect your personal information so they can target you for recruitment by touting their graduates’ high paying jobs or connections within competitive industries. Some less scrupulous schools have been warned by the Federal Trade Commission to stop exaggerating their claims about the kinds of jobs their graduates get, and how much they earn. Kirk and Jon reveal the increasingly sophisticated ways that colleges and universities try to get your attention — and offer up tips for consumers trying to navigate a sea of slogans. They’ll tell you what consumer advocates say about how to resist the slickly crafted tugs on your emotions that can get you to open your wallet. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation. -
S1 Eps 6 Graduation Frustration
A bachelor’s degree in four years is one of the most basic promises colleges make, and one of the biggest frustrations their customers face. Fewer than half of students will actually graduate in four years. And the numbers are even worse for Black and Hispanic students. Consider this surprising number: at more than 100 US colleges and universities, not a single student graduated within four years. In this episode, Kirk and Jon talk about what colleges don’t want you to know around graduation rates, and dig up the behind-the-scenes maneuver by a famous senator that has helped colleges keep the problem hidden. They also look at the ways colleges slow students down, by piling on extra requirements for graduation, failing to offer enough sections of required courses, or offering lackluster student advising. But there is hope for savvy college consumers. A few colleges have created three year bachelors’ degree programs to help students save time and money. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation. -
S1 Eps 5 The Transfer Trap
Many students go to a two year or community college thinking it’s a bargain: attend for two years, then transfer to a four year school, saving tens of thousands of dollars in tuition. But it doesn't always work out that way. Nearly half of all college credits don't end up transferring when a student changes schools. Kirk Carapezza and Esteban Bustillos talk about why the transfer system short-changes students, and how colleges and universities have wide discretion when it comes to deciding which credits to accept or deny. Many students are left with so-called “stranded credits” in the transfer process, a big problem for many students, but especially low-income and first-generation students whose families might not know the intricacies of the system. How can students avoid falling in the transfer trap? Experts say they should be on the lookout for colleges that guarantee transfer credits, or ask if a college has a transfer agreement with a four-year college or university. A growing number do. Listen and learn more about how to avoid common transfer pitfalls. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation. -
S1 Eps 4 The Meritocracy Myth
While colleges make it seem like they choose applicants solely on their merit as students, that’s not always the case. Former admissions officer Kyra Tyler shares her experience working in an admissions office, where she was asked to prioritize less academically qualified students with family connections and wealth. GBH’s Kirk Carapezza and GBH guest host Kana Ruhalter also dive into new research that exposes a shift in how colleges distribute financial aid. Researcher Steven Burd studied admissions packages at hundreds of selective public and private colleges and found that colleges are spending billions on students, spreading it around among students who don’t necessarily need the aid. This happens at the expense of needier students. And reporter Fazil Khan from The Hechinger Report discusses new data showing the net price of college is actually rising faster for lower-income students, exacerbating the disparities in higher education. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.
