Despite dropping Early Decision programs that critics claimed gave favorable treatment to affluent students, UVA and two like-missioned Ivies had more applications this year. According to the Boston Globe, UVA saw a 4.5 percent increase while its partners in dropping Early Decision— Princeton and Harvard— saw gains of 6.2 and 19 percent respectively. It was influential journalist James Fallows who focused a bright light on the issue in 2001.