Preference Submission Timing and College Admission Outcomes: Evidence from Turkey

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of changing from Pre-exam to Post-exam rank order lists submission on matching outcomes in Turkish college admissions. A conceptual framework illustrates that such reform in the constrained Deferred Acceptance mechanism improves matching stability in two ways: (i) fewer programs with empty seats, (ii) more precise stratification among programs. Results from a difference-in-differences strategy show that the reform led to less wastefulness and an increase in rank ranges for programs previously with empty seats. For programs that were previously filled, Post-exam submission resulted in more precise cutoff stratification and a decrease in their rank ranges.