Big Data Algorithms and Predictive Analytics Go To College

Today – before a single human eye glances at a test score or the opening line of an essay – admission decisions are being pre-sifted by machine, using AI-driven “predictive analytics” fueled by data reaped from the Internet. Colleges rely on these “enrollment management systems” to accurately predict things like an applicant’s intention to enroll, their likelihood to succeed, and their ability to pay.