Early Applicants: Does Timing of the Admissions Application Impact First-Time First-Year Enrollment and Success in Open Admissions Institutions

Two-year state and community colleges provide convenient and affordable educational opportunities with open admissions policies, which make them "value-added institutions that are uniquely different than traditional colleges and universities" (Grubbs, 2020, p. 205). Students across the nation enroll in 2-year colleges to pursue their academic goals because of distinct variations, which include flexible admissions and enrollment policies. However, the lack of deadlines at open-access institutions may contribute to entry and retention challenges for students who apply late, particularly for those who may be un- or under-prepared for college. Few studies have considered the relationship between admissions application timing, characteristics of traditional first-time in college students, and 1st-semester academic outcomes, which was the focus for this research. The study population was chosen because admissions offices have greater access to high school students through recruitment efforts such as college fairs and classroom visits. Central to this work were the hypotheses that applicants who apply early in their senior year tend to have higher high school GPAs, are more likely to enroll in the fall following high school graduation with better 1st-semester outcomes and are more inclined to return in the subsequent spring semester. The study involved an examination of admissions application data for 3,479 first-time, 1st-semester applicants who applied to a public college with open access policies requiring only a standard high school diploma or GED. Demographic data, high school academic performance, and factors related to college preparation were collected from the institution's student information system and the date the admissions application was submitted. The study population was limited to high school seniors who applied to the institution for the fall semester immediately following graduation. The hypotheses were analyzed using chi-square tests, ANOVA, and a series of regression models. Variables related to admissions application timing, which were segmented into distinct recruitment periods to include the fall prior to high school graduation, spring of high school graduation, and summer after high school graduation, were used across all models. These periods correspond to blocks of time representing opportunities for admissions offices to implement targeted and actionable strategies to influence first-time student enrollments. The analysis of the models suggested variations in student characteristics across the recruitment periods. Students who apply to an institution with open access policies in the fall prior to their high school graduation tend to enter with higher GPAs and although they enroll at a lower rate, they are more likely to attempt and earn more credit hours in their 1st semester. Additionally, earlier applicants tend to have higher 1st semester GPAs and yet are less likely to return for the subsequent spring semester. In contrast, applicants who apply to the institution in the summer after high school graduation have lower high school GPAs and 1st semester academic outcomes if they enrolled. The results of the study indicate applicant characteristics vary depending on when first-time, 1st-year students apply to the institution, and these findings may influence strategies admissions offices at open-access institutions employ to attract and enroll traditional high school students while also considering initiatives to increase first semester student outcomes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]