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A STUDY OF TIMING AND WITHDRAWALS OF STUDENT ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS *
Author(s) -
HAUSMAN WARREN H.,
SHEARER ROBERT E.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1971.tb01450.x
Subject(s) - quality (philosophy) , aggregate (composite) , point (geometry) , statistics , linear regression , econometrics , computer science , percentage point , regression analysis , mathematics , epistemology , composite material , philosophy , materials science , geometry
This study explores two important characteristics of admissions applications to an M.B.A. and M.P.A. program: the timing of applications throughout the year preceding entrance, and the withdrawal rate by students whose applications have been accepted. Specifically, for the years 1961 through 1967, the aggregate patterns of timing and withdrawals (across all applications) are compared to the corresponding data for four groups of applications, ranging from low quality to high quality. (Quality is measured in terms of a first‐year predicted grade point average, and is estimated by a linear regression equation using the applicant's total ATGSB score and his undergraduate grade point average.) The results are in the expected directions: “better” students tend to apply earlier, and also have a higher tendency to withdraw after their applications have been accepted. Potential usefulness of the results in forecasting total applications and estimating withdrawal rates is explored.