On Feb. 22, 2007, NPR began a multi-part series on college admissions, particularly at highly selective colleges. Part 2 of the series, broadcast on the program All Things Considered, focused on the attempt by colleges to reduce the frenzy surrounding the admissions process. Among the experts featured in that story was Dr. Robert Massa, Dickinson's vice president for enrollment and college relations.

Massa was part of a group of experts that included the presidents of Columbia University, Bard College and Reed College and the dean of admissions at MIT. He commented on the influence of college rankings, such as the US News guide, and spoke about the impact of pricing on recruitment.

NPR correspondent Margot Adler read Massa's essay, "Status vs. Substance: Is There a Choice?" in the book College Unranked: Ending the College Admissions Frenzy. Adler said that "it may have been my favorite essay of all of them in the book." As NPR was preparing the series on college admissions, Adler contacted Dickinson and asked Massa to participate in the story. He was interviewed at the studios of WITF in Harrisburg.

For more information:

• Colleges Want to Cool Admissions Frenzy (Feb. 22, 2007)
  NPR has audio of the story as well as a summary.