In the early 1950s, student applications declined as a result of increasing crime and poverty in the Hyde Park neighborhood. In response, the university became a major sponsor of a controversial urban renewal project for Hyde Park, which profoundly affected both the neighborhood's architecture and street plan. During this period the university, like Shimer College and 10 others, adopted an early entrant program that allowed very young students to attend college; in addition, students enrolled at Shimer were enabled to transfer automatically to the University of Chicago after their second year, having taken comparable or identical examinations and courses.
In what year did the university first see a drop in applications? Why did the university see a drop in applicants?  When were Shimer College students allowed to transfer to the University of Chicago? The urban renewal project was intended to help the residents of what neighborhood? What did the early entrant program do for potential students?