1933--Introduction of Yale College system accompanied by the establishment of the Bursary Fund, a "self-help" program for all.

1934--Harvard initiates broad National Scholarships program.

1944--Committee on Enrollment and Scholarships set up at Yale. First liaison work between administration, alumni. Scholarship program expanded, alumni committees activated, handbook printed, short film made.

1949-51--Harvard intensifies admissions program. Stronger alumni cooperation plan pushed, as Schools and Scholarships Committees are remanned. Financial aid program expanded with more scholarship funds, increased student employment. Handbook for alumni released. "Invitation to Harvard" film extensively used.

1952--Yale plans revision of handbook for alumni.

1952--Bender becomes Dean of Admissions, Scholarships, and Financial Aid as office is centralized.

The enormous growth in the volume of applications is mostly accountable to this active new credo. But a substantial increase also flows in and must be seriously considered because of the College Board's decision in 1951 to eliminate the preference rule. Where formerly men were required to indicate the order in which they were choosing schools, now they list the schools in any manner.

Preference Counted Heavily

While the preference rule was in effect, Yale and Princeton leaned quite heavily on it. These schools implied that any preference lower than a "one" or a "two" would practically eliminate the candidate for admission. But, in the dark as to where a student's loyalties lie, the Yale Admission Office is now forced to tentatively admit more students, and to count on a greater number of withdrawals.

This has been a vital factor. While withdrawals amounted to approximately 19 percent before the preference system was done away with 38 percent of those accepted into the Yale class of 1956 declined to matriculate.

The roots of the admission problem are found in the late 1920's and through the '30's. Until this time, enough applications poured into Harvard, Princeton, and Yale offices from all parts of the country to keep officials sums, and satisfied. But, when excellent state universities like California and Michigan, and private institutions like Stanford and Oberlin, began to grow in academic stature, they drained off a large number of students.

Yale made the first move, with its Regional Scholarship program. Harvard countered five years later with National Scholarships. Armed with these new weapons, both schools coasted for a while. But during the war years, Yale again got the jump on Harvard and surged into the lead with its vigorous admissions program. It remained in front until Harvard began its revitalization three years ago.

Three Steps in Transition

Yale's steps in this revolutionizing of admissions tactics may be boiled down to three. First is the Regional Scholarship program. Designed to attract top students from every area in the nation, it was introduced in 1929. Eight regions were then designated for purposes of awarding these grants: Western; Rocky Mountain; North Central--consisting of the Mid-Western states west of the Mississippi; Great Lakes; South Central; South Eastern--including the southern seaboard states; North Eastern--made up of Pennsylvania, New York, and Southern New England; and Northern New England. Yale awards at least one of these scholarships to each district annually; most often, 25 or so are given. Donald K. Walker, Chairman of the Committee on Enrollments and Scholarships said, "Harvard came here and studied our Regionals. They were the basis for the National Scholarship set-up.

The second big step was the establishment of the Bursary Fund when the Yale Residential College system was introduced in 1933. Students may now work as anything from library assistants to clerks, for 16 hours a week, and earn full board expenses. The Bursary Fund at present contains over $150,000 to be expended each year in assisting students.