Diffusion of Common Application Membership and Admissions Outcomes at American Colleges and Universities

33 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2007 Last revised: 3 Jul 2022

See all articles by Albert Yung-Hsu Liu

Albert Yung-Hsu Liu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

ILR-Cornell University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Jesenka Mrdjenovic

Cornell University

Date Written: June 2007

Abstract

We study the adoption of Common Application membership by private four-year postsecondary institutions and its role in explaining the growth in undergraduate applications. Using data from the College Board's Annual Survey of Colleges, our estimation of proportional hazard models suggest that institutions respond to the net benefit of adoption. We estimate that membership increases applications by 5.7 to 7.0 percent and decreases yield rates by 2.8 to 3.9 percent. Acceptance rates decrease for members when their local networks are large. Membership is also associated with a decline in SAT scores and an increase in the percentage of students of color. Finally, falsification tests indicate that membership effects occur as a one-time adoption shock that persists thereafter.

Suggested Citation

Liu, Albert Yung-Hsu and Ehrenberg, Ronald G. and Mrdjenovic, Jesenka, Diffusion of Common Application Membership and Admissions Outcomes at American Colleges and Universities (June 2007). NBER Working Paper No. w13175, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=994224

Albert Yung-Hsu Liu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Ronald G. Ehrenberg (Contact Author)

ILR-Cornell University ( email )

Higher Education Research Institute
Ithaca, NY 14853-3901
United States
607-255-3026 (Phone)
607-255-4496 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Jesenka Mrdjenovic

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States