Open admissions
Encyclopedia
Open admissions is a type of unselective and non-competitive college admissions process in the United States
in which the only criterion for entrance is a high school diploma
or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
This form of "inclusive" admissions is used by many public junior college
s and community college
s, and differs from selective admission policies held by most private
liberal arts college
s and research universities in the United States, which often take into account standardized test
scores as well as other academic and character-related criteria.
The open admissions concept was heavily promoted in the 1960s and 70s as a way to reduce discrimination in college admissions and promote education of the underprivileged, the first major application being at City University of New York, CUNY later applied this policy only to 2-year Community Colleges which are better prepared for remedial education
. Critics argue the open admissions forces an institution either to raise tuition to limit enrollment (which denies opportunities for some students), obtain increased subsidies from government or other sources (as happens with typical community college systems), or else lower standards and limit offerings to lower costs.
Four-year colleges with an open admissions policy include Shimer College
, a Great Books school in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
College admissions in the United States
College admissions in the United States refers to the annual process of applying to institutions of higher education in the United States for undergraduate study. This usually takes place during the senior year of high school...
in which the only criterion for entrance is a high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
This form of "inclusive" admissions is used by many public junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
s and community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s, and differs from selective admission policies held by most private
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
s and research universities in the United States, which often take into account standardized test
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
scores as well as other academic and character-related criteria.
The open admissions concept was heavily promoted in the 1960s and 70s as a way to reduce discrimination in college admissions and promote education of the underprivileged, the first major application being at City University of New York, CUNY later applied this policy only to 2-year Community Colleges which are better prepared for remedial education
Remedial education
Postsecondary remedial education is a large and growing segment of higher education in the United States...
. Critics argue the open admissions forces an institution either to raise tuition to limit enrollment (which denies opportunities for some students), obtain increased subsidies from government or other sources (as happens with typical community college systems), or else lower standards and limit offerings to lower costs.
Four-year colleges with an open admissions policy include Shimer College
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
, a Great Books school in Chicago, Illinois, USA.