Colleges and universities, especially private four-year schools, are worried about meeting their admissions targets, according to a new survey of admissions officers conducted by Inside Higher Ed.

Sixty-one percent of admissions personnel surveyed say that they had failed to meet their enrollment targets by May 1 (71 percent at private four-year schools). Thirty-two percent of the personnel surveyed admitted that after May 1 they had tried to recruit students who had already accepted other offers. IHE points out that this is considered an unethical practice by the national trade association of admissions officers.

Perhaps even more telling, 55 percent of those surveyed said that their recruitment strategies next year “would include a focus on ‘merit’ scholarships,” which, IHE points out, “are frequently used to attract students who might otherwise attend another institution“ (rather than providing funding on the basis of need). The percentage of private schools with this policy was 58 percent; public, 53 percent.

These figures are a just little more worrisome this year than last, but according to IHE, the situation last year was already serious. Especially for private schools, problems with enrollment can mean a decline in revenues and also pressure to accept poorly prepared applicants.