Record Applications to Harvard College
Nearly 35,000 Seek Admission to Class of '15
January 14, 2011
Nearly 35,000 students have applied for admission to Harvard College’s Class of 2015 for entry in August, an increase of nearly 15 percent over last year’s record 30,489, and of more than 50 percent since 22,955 applied four years ago. Over this period, Harvard has significantly enhanced its need-based financial aid program to ensure that talented students from low- and middle-income backgrounds will find Harvard affordable and accessible.
Harvard College’s financial aid program requires no contribution from families with annual incomes below $60,000, and asks, on average, no more than 10 percent of income from families with typical assets who make up to $180,000. Currently, 70 percent of students receive some form of financial aid.
The worldwide economic downturn of the past three years seems to have been a major factor in spurring increases in applications at Harvard and peer institutions.
“As we have witnessed during previous periods of economic uncertainty, students and their families are particularly anxious to seek the best and most affordable option for higher education,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid. “Harvard’s financial aid enhancements came none too soon for families who are facing daunting financial challenges, including job losses, underemployment, increasing medical expenses, underwater mortgages, and home foreclosures. The unwavering commitment of President Drew Faust, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael Smith, and Dean of Harvard College Evelynn Hammonds to ensure that Harvard remains open to everyone regardless of financial need is greatly appreciated by current and future Harvard undergraduates.”
Two other factors also may have played a role in this year’s record total. The new School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, under the leadership of Dean Cherry Murray, continues to attract greater numbers of students who aspire to study engineering, computer science, and related fields. In addition, more students than ever before, nearly 99 percent, are using online application services. Such services enable students, especially those with few counseling or economic resources, to apply to college more easily.
Applications increased from all geographic areas, but particularly from the South, the Midwest, the Mountain states, the Pacific region, and abroad. Gender breakdown is close to last year’s 50/50 ratio, and minority numbers have continued to rise.
The admissions selection meetings began Jan. 25. Applications are reviewed in a careful, individualized process in which applications are discussed and compared by members of the Admissions Committee throughout the duration of the meetings.
Notification letters to all applicants will be mailed on March 30, and emails will be sent later that day to the 92 percent who have requested electronic notification.
Admitted students will be invited to visit Cambridge from April 16 to 18 for a comprehensive introduction to life at Harvard. They will have until May 1 to make their final college choices.
Source
From the Harvard Gazette
January 14, 2011
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Comments
January 21, 2011 - 12:34pm — Dinesh (not verified)
Harvard admissions and applications
The increase in numbers of applications talks highly of the Leaderships top down faculty and quality of education which will make global impact. Is it possible to know the breakdown on how many students for each college and further breakdown on race religion ethnicity gender minority overseas students from where etc The unstoppable hunger for quality of education and help provided to needy but qualified students once again talks very highly of this great temple of education where the priest is welcoming all for growing up in society and give back Congratulations Dinesh Patel
January 21, 2011 - 3:37pm — Anonymous (not verified)
Harvard Admissions and Applications
Wanna see fewer apps? Just require a separate essay and watch the applications drop 10 percent in a hurry, as happened at Williams after they required a separate essay. Not a bad idea to eliminate the window shoppers and keep the Admissions Office from being overworked.
January 21, 2011 - 5:30pm — Anonymous (not verified)
Currently Harvard's
Currently Harvard's application already includes a separate essay. If Harvard admissions added a 3rd essay that would ultimately lead to more application material and work for the Admissions Office. But you are right, something needs to be done with the large influx of apps.
January 21, 2011 - 6:02pm — Mark Kelsey (not verified)
Harvard Admissions and Applications
I find it amusing that an article about the number of applicants, doesn't include the anticipated number of acceptances that Harvard will offer. Unless it's there and I'm just missing it.
January 24, 2011 - 1:35pm — Anonymous (not verified)
The freshman entering class
The freshman entering class is always right around 1600 students, give or take a bit. Limited by dorm space, I would imagine.
January 21, 2011 - 6:14pm — peggy wood (not verified)
I, too,would like to know how
I, too,would like to know how many students will be accepted, or how large will the entring class be?
January 21, 2011 - 6:43pm — Sara (not verified)
Class of 2014 size
It appears that last year (2010), there were 2,110 students who were offered admission, and 1,604 accepted the offer- a HUGE acceptance rate (http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/5/12/students-fitzsimmons-year-pe...). I think it's great that the application numbers are increasing, if in fact it is due to giving more students of diverse backgrounds encouragement to apply based on the financial aid packages. Alas, the burden of being so highly esteemed! -A 2010 grad (HSPH)
January 21, 2011 - 8:59pm — Anonymous (not verified)
If I remember correctly I
If I remember correctly I read that when Rose Kennedy graduated last May (2010) that there were approximately 2,150 with her from just the college. There were 35,000 people total in Harvard Yard for the festivities.
January 23, 2011 - 10:53am — Anonymous (not verified)
Skin in the game
Harvard's policy of full aid has doubtlessly increased number of applicants as well. Lest you all think this is altruism, think again. It came about after Chuck Grassley thought it would be a good idea to tax endowments that were a bit too parsimonious. Harvard, Dartmouth, Williams Amherst and others then went to this new "Look how wonderful we are" policy. When the endowment at Williams dropped 40% n one year, the policy quickly went away.hat, and an essay, brought about an immediate drop in applicants. Frankly, I am against a complete free lunch.Even if a family has to pay , say, only $500 or a $1000, they and their studetn offspring will have some skin in the game, a real incentive for performing well. As a grad of HMS, trust me when I tell you Harvard's generosity to students of need does not extend to the medical school.Thee kids come out owinf $200,000 for a five year residency that pays about 35K a year. Frankly, disgraceful!!
January 23, 2011 - 9:37pm — Anonymous
I am going to apply to
I am going to apply to Harvard College next year. :) Yearn for the big letter
January 23, 2011 - 9:37pm — Anonymous
I am going to apply to
I am going to apply to Harvard College next year. :) Yearn for the big letter
January 24, 2011 - 3:07am — Anonymous (not verified)
financial aid
As a Harvard parent I can say that even with full financial aid, my daughter (class of 2012) has skin in the game. She has a 3.98 GPA, and is enormously grateful for an opportunity that we could have never given her. Harvard gives her support for dreaming big, and she knows she is lucky to be able to take advantage of it.
January 24, 2011 - 2:09pm — Mike Kerr (not verified)
Admissions
The article should acknowledge William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and past Financial Aid H student, who personifies and champions internally why the new financial aid program is needed.
January 24, 2011 - 4:43pm — Anonymous (not verified)
excess applications
As an interviewer for the past six years, I can say that many of these applications are from students applying without good sense. I see students whose guidance offices should've directed them elsewhere but whose parents are willing to pay application fees to a dozen schools. I've had the privilege of meeting eight wonderful applicants and sixteen who didn't have the grades, scores, or extra-curriculars for better than a second-tier college. Several hadn't even taken all of the tests required to apply. Of the 24 I've interviewed, only three kept themselves to four schools. The rest applied to between eight and twelve colleges, often without knowing much about any of them. As a dedicated alumni interviewer, this gets old. To interview 35,000 high schoolers requires something over 7,000 alumni interviewers. I'm not sure what can or should be done -- certainly we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I support seeking more applicants, but the right applicants. How can we address the misuse of our resources without slamming the door shut?
January 26, 2011 - 2:39am — Anonymous (not verified)
too many applicants
I agree with much of what you say, but four schools seems like too few with the randomness with which schools pick applicants, especially white middle class kids, even if they have the numbers and activities. Also recruiters for the schools encourage everyone to apply, because every application is looked at individually, (they say) and some kids probably take them at their word. Also, many public schools are so underfunded the kids get almost no guidance. Counselors have a caseload of 400 to 500 students. I do think that most students should apply to fewer schools, and more carefully.
March 23, 2011 - 11:09pm — Anonymous (not verified)
THANK YOU HARVARD UNIVERSITY!
We are so appreciative of Harvard's generous financial aid that made it possible for my son to attend this year as a freshman. We can never thank Harvard enough for giving him this opportunity. Thank you, from the proud parents of a Harvard student!
May 2, 2011 - 12:08pm — Jenny Cowell (not verified)
My Son made it!
I'm so excited!my son jeremy has been admitted!we are so proud of him...good luck to all the new freshmen!
Jenny C.
January 7, 2012 - 5:08pm — Mary B (not verified)
It's never to early to start preparing them
It's been a dream for my grandson to attend Harvard, he just turned three and is extremely bright for his age, we keep the dvd movie time to a minimum and focus on the wide variety of educational entertainment available for kids his age. We also got him an iPad at the age of two and he has pages and pages of only educational apps, this was probably the best investment we've made to date. He picked it up instantly, I was in awe, we never even had to show him how to use it. I know he will have to be top of his class to attend Harvard so we are trying to give him every educational advantage possible.
This article has motivated me even more!
Mary
January 7, 2012 - 7:44pm — Anonymous (not verified)
planning for Harvard at three
Mary B, I hope your comment was tongue in cheek or to advertise your website. At three my Harvard child was playing in the sandbox and going to a preschool that believed play was the best way for kids to learn. None of the other kids went to Harvard, but most are at great colleges and are highly creative young adults. There were no educational toys to be found, unless you count blocks, play dough and dress up clothes. Let your grandson be a kid and he will find his way if it is meant to be, and the family supports his choices.
January 8, 2012 - 9:22pm — Mary B (not verified)
RE: planning for Harvard at three
Great point, let me assure you my grandson has plenty of toys and plenty of play time. Prior to the iPad he watched more dvds, even while riding in the car. These days he would rather play with his toys or his iPad, rather than watch a dvd, his choice.
This is all very encouraging, when I was a kid nothing like this existed and I believe it changes the educational landscape, I don't really see anything wrong with a three year old having a computer at his disposal as long as the content is controlled, no internet access etc. His mom still reads to him at night, and he has a very healthy normal childhood.
Times are very different, even if you just go back ten years, technology can have good or bad influences and in this case, with the proper supervision, I believe it's good. Nothing wrong with learning at a very early age.
Mary
April 12, 2012 - 2:31pm — solar power adelaide (not verified)
I am going to apply to
I am going to apply to Harvard College after couple of months.
