There’s an old saying, when Harvard sneezes, everyone catches a cold. Earlier this week Princeton University caught the Harvard bug and eliminated early admissions programs. While Harvard certainly made a bold statement in ending early admissions, Princeton’s decision is equally important because it tells other universities that this proposal’s time has come. And this is big news for students and for middle class families.

Early admissions programs, as interim Harvard President Derek Bok has said, “advantage the advantaged.” Applicants from low and middle income families often have to wait until the spring for their financial aid packages before deciding where to go to college. As a result, they often do not apply to early admission programs. In contrast, rich applicants who can pay college tuition in full can apply early because financial aid is irrelevant. This is a problem because so many students in each incoming college class are selected early: Princeton, for example, selected 49% of its class through early admissions this year and Harvard selected 38%.

All these slots are now open for competition from low and middle income applicants. Given that a good education is probably the best path to economic success and upward social mobility, this proposal bodes well for middle class applicants to top colleges. They do not have to exclude these two top universities from their college choices because they have not yet received financial aid packages. And they will have a better chance at getting in because every single space is competitive.

It is refreshing to see such conscientious leadership from two of America’s top universities. The question now is whether other schools will join Princeton and catch the Harvard bug.