I attended a well known and regarded public university. I was admitted for spring, and for the preceding fall entered a program where I could live in a regular university dorm and take classes for full credit taught at the same university’s extension, but special extension classes just for this program (so all spring admit students). Then you stay in the dorm in spring as you become a “regular” student.
I always suspected it was a way to fudge numbers, but at the same time I knew I was genuinely on the bubble of being admitted so I took the opportunity gladly.
(My memory is that the other spring admits were, like me, from racial groups considered “over represented” so they may have been trying to affect diversity numbers too.)
Yup, I got into Berkeley EECS this way back in the late 20th century. I'd guess it's legitimate load-balancing rather than an attempt to game the ratings. I assumed this meant that my application was borderline and I was grateful to be able to sneak in. The Extension program is a nice transition to college too.
Load balancing is the most likely reason. At any given college a lot of first year students decide college isn't for them or they get home sick and drop out within the first semester. After that initial period student population of the class is much more stable.
I always suspected it was a way to fudge numbers, but at the same time I knew I was genuinely on the bubble of being admitted so I took the opportunity gladly.
(My memory is that the other spring admits were, like me, from racial groups considered “over represented” so they may have been trying to affect diversity numbers too.)