Research On The Early Admission Policy Reform Of Harvard University In United State

This study aims to analyze the admissions policy reform of Harvard and its impact on America's admission market. Combined with the theory of stakeholders,the Critical Discourse Analysis was applied as the main method for making critical analysis to the reform of the Early Admission Policy of Harvard University by using case study around the center of policy issues. Based on the principles of social justice, I try to discuss the social and historical conditions of this reform, and make a clear presentation of complicated relationships of stakeholders who involved in the reform, including who will suffer damage and who will be benefited from the reform. Moreover, this thesis tries to make a deep view on the real causes of the Early Admission Policy reform in Harvard University. Furthermore, based on these analyses, I try to make a deeper sense for the fairness of our admissions policies. Meanwhile, it can provide some practical significance for the Chinese University Entrance Examination Reform.The Early Admission Policy, once used by American universities for controlling enrollment scope, was already became a sword which did more harm than good in fierce American university competition of striving for high quality students. After adopted over thirty years, the Early Admission Policy became a build-in enrollment institution in American universities, or even a lot of foreign countries to promote it. However, it is a controversial policy since adopted. Most people considered that this policy will benefit to these applicants who had rich economic background or extensive social relations, therefore it was unfair to these applicants who came from poor or disadvantage groups. And in the implementation process, it influenced secondary school student's learning process, complicated admissions process and increased the enrollment costs and so on. The temporary principal of Harvard University Bok announced that Harvard University would cancel the Early Admission Policy in 12 January, 2006. This change not just broke the routine of enrollment rule in American universities but also admitted the irrationality of the Early Admission Policy. By recognizing the irrationality of its existence, they won the praise from the community and won the support from colleagues and students. What's more, it will bring a new development at Harvard University. Thus, we can clearly see the existing admissions policy reforms in real terms: education fair is just a package, which hidden behind its surface is the competition for interests brought by high quality students.From the study, we can get two major illuminations for present Chinese university enrollment policy making: Firstly, during the popular implementation of university self-enrollment reform, Chinese university should be aware that the Early Admission Policy may cause some students lose their equal opportunities of enrollment; Secondly, during the large promoting of the Early Admission Policy in universities, the government should consider that the Early Admissions Policy may intensify the fierce competition between universities which will damage long-term Chinese universities development.