Counselors: Plan Could Cut U of I In-State Spots

High school counselors worry that if the University of Illinois starts using an application system that allows students to apply to a number of top schools at once, spots at the university for in-state students could drop.

The university is considering joining the Common Application Consortium as part of a new enrollment plan. Administrators who like the application system say it gives universities access to a broader pool of applicants.

But The News-Gazette in Champaign (http://bit.ly/zV1UDn ) reports that many high school counselors wrote President Michael Hogan last year to complain.

They say it could limit students' access to the university while also adding to their workload. The system requires recommendation letters from counselors and teachers that the university doesn't now consider.

A decision is not expected soon.