In a dramatic turnaround, Interim President Shelia E. Blumstein announced Saturday that Brown University will return to an early decision admissions policy for the Class of 2006 after just changing to an open early action policy in 1998.

Instead of allowing students to apply early to more than one school, Brown's policy will make early applications binding beginning with the class of 2006.

Two years ago, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling ruled that early action schools like Brown could not restrict applicants to only one early action school.

This change led to a more than 65-percent increase in applications, resulting in a "workload that has stretched the admission staff and alumni interviewers to the limit," according to a Brown press release

Brown's Office of Admissions Director Michael Goldberger said the early action policy was an inefficient process.

"Clearly, we are now evaluating application materials from thousands of students who have not yet narrowed their sights on Brown," he said in a press release. "We have, in effect, simply moved the regular admissions process several months forward."

Brown's early decision policy makes it clear that there will be "no strategic advantage to applying early," according to the Brown press release.

Some high school college counselors said they are suspicious of Brown's motives.