PSAT Math Grid-Ins Question 141: Answer and Explanation

Question: 141

The table below shows the number of applications and the number of admissions to a particular college at the end of each calendar year.

During one year between 1980 and 2000, the college started to accept the Common Application and also began offering early decision to its applicants. The Common Application allows students to use the same application to apply to multiple schools, making applying easier. Early decision gives students the opportunity to apply early for admission. If accepted, though, students must commit to go to the school. The college made these two changes to encourage more students to apply and to enable the school to admit only students who were really committed to attending, thus helping the college's application yield (i.e., the number of students admitted who actually attend). These factors resulted in an overall increase in the selectivity of the college. In what year did the college most likely first implement these policies?

Correct Answer: 1994

Explanation:

1994 1994 is the year during which the college had the largest spike in applications. Moreover, the number of admissions began to decrease at that time. This decrease most likely occurred because the college knew that, since it could secure a large number of students from early decision (since students admitted early were committed to going), it could fill all of its student spots without having to offer as many admissions. Having more applications and fewer admissions results in greater selectivity because being accepted to the college is more difficult for the majority of students applying.