Admissions News
In Year of Crisis, Harvard Admissions Has Resilient Showing
Harvard emerged mostly unscathed from its first application cycle since the fall of affirmative action, silencing critics who speculated the University’s recent controversies would deter students from applying to the College.
Harvard Accepts 3.59% of Applicants to Class of 2028
Harvard College accepted 3.59 percent of applicants to its Class of 2028 — the highest acceptance rate in four years.
After Fall Turmoil, Harvard Admissions Dean Says He Is Happy With Application Numbers
After Harvard was rocked by nonstop controversy last semester, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 said his office was heartened to see that application numbers remained consistent.
Class of 2028 Results Will Offer the First Clues About Harvard’s Post-Affirmative Action Admissions
When Harvard College admits the Class of 2028 on Thursday, the admissions data released by the College might raise more questions than it answers about whether the fall of affirmative action and a prolonged crisis stemming from the University’s response to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel have changed Harvard’s appeal to prospective students.
As Peer Schools Leave Test-Optional Behind, Is Harvard Next?
After recent decisions from Yale and Dartmouth to bring back standardized testing requirements, admissions experts are divided if Harvard will follow suit.
Marsh USA Files to Dismiss Harvard Lawsuit Regarding SFFA Legal Fees
Insurance broker Marsh USA asked the federal District Court of Massachusetts to dismiss its liability for up to $15 million in legal fees, according to filings made last month.
Ten Stories That Shaped 2023
In 2023, Harvard had a tumultuous year. Claudine Gay’s first semester ended amid a leadership crisis as she came under fire for her response to tensions on a campus divided by the Israel-Hamas war and faced allegations of plagiarism. Harvard’s legacy and donor preferences in admissions also faced national scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling striking down the University’s affirmative action policy. Across campus, scandal after scandal hit parts of the University. Here, The Crimson looks back at the 10 stories that shaped 2023 at Harvard.
Harvard College’s Acceptance Rates for Men and Women are Nearly Identical. That’s Rare in the Ivy League.
Harvard seems to be an outlier in the Ivy League for its extreme parity in admissions rates between male and female applicants, even at the expense of equal shares of men and women in the class.
As American Colleges Struggle to Fill Classes, Ivy League Yield Rates Continue to Rise
Yield rates at the eight Ivy schools have soared over the past 30 years, according to a Crimson analysis — and show no sign of slowing.
Harvard Says Insurance Company Knew of Affirmative Action Lawsuit, Should Cover Legal Fees
Harvard told a federal judge last week that its insurance company was aware of a high-profile lawsuit challenging its race-conscious admissions process, saying the firm, Zurich American Insurance Company, should have to cover the University’s legal fees.
Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Harvard Affirmative Action Case on Oct. 31
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month in a high-stakes affirmative action lawsuit brought against Harvard that could end race-conscious college admissions in the United States.
As Acceptance Rates Fall, Some Ivy League Universities Stop Publicizing Admissions Data
As acceptance rates to the country’s most selective universities fall to all-time lows each year, more and more elite schools have stopped promoting key admissions data, including acceptance numbers and demographic breakdowns.
‘Surreal,’ ‘Thrilled’: Applicants React to Admission to Class of 2026
Students admitted to the Class of 2026 expressed shock, excitement, and disbelief upon receiving their Harvard acceptances.
As Tuition Rises 3%, Harvard College Raises Non-Contribution Threshold to Expand Financial Aid
Beginning with the Class of 2026, families with annual incomes under $75,000 will pay nothing to attend Harvard College — marking a $10,000 increase from the previous threshold — the College announced Thursday evening.
HGSE Experts Split on Benefits of Standardized Testing
Despite a national move away from standardized testing amid the pandemic, experts from the Harvard Graduate School of Education are divided over the future of testing in college admissions and K-12 education.
Congressional Bill Seeks to End Legacy Preferences in College Admissions
United States Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Jamaal A. Bowman (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation last week that would ban consideration of legacy status in higher education admissions.
Admissions Consultants Praise College Board's Shift to Virtual SAT
Admissions experts welcomed the College Board’s move to shift the SAT to a virtual format, but described the change as an effort to stay relevant amid a rise in test-optional admissions policies.
Harvard College Suspends Standardized Testing Requirement for Next Four Years
Applicants to Harvard College will not be required to submit standardized test scores for at least the next four years.
Harvard College Admits 7.9% of Early Applicants to Class of 2026
Harvard College admitted 7.9 percent of early applicants to the Class of 2026 Thursday as its early acceptance rate remained markedly lower than pre-pandemic years.
Undergraduate Admissions Council Establishes Role to Support Veteran Applicants
As student coordinators on the Harvard Admissions Office’s Undergraduate Admissions Council, Ashley N. Emann ’23 and Hudson T. Miller ’23 hold talks for prospective veteran applicants covering topics like housing, financial aid, and transfer credit.
Harvard Sues Insurer to Recoup Legal Fees After Admissions Lawsuit Exceeds $25 Million
After racking up more than $25 million in legal fees defending its admissions practices against anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions, Harvard filed suit against its excess insurance company Friday for allegedly refusing to cover legal fees in the ongoing SFFA case.
‘The Most Diverse Class in the History of Harvard’: Meet Five Students from the Class of 2025
The Class of 2025 admitted 1,968 students out of a record-high 57,435 applicants, marking the lowest admissions rate and the most diverse class in the College's history. Here are 5 students from the historic Class of 2025.
‘No Persuasive Evidence’: Harvard Files Brief Opposing Students for Fair Admissions’ Petition to SCOTUS
Harvard filed an opposition brief Monday urging the Supreme Court to reject a petition by anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions, which in February requested the court review a lower court’s decision to uphold Harvard’s race-conscious admissions practices.
What Does Harvard’s Record-Low Admissions Rate Mean For the College — And For Higher Education?
A record-low admissions rate of 3.43 percent — the lowest in the College’s history — has raised questions among professors and educational consultants about the quality and accessibility of an education at Harvard and other increasingly selective institutions.
Harvard College Accepts Record-Low 3.43% of Applicants to Class of 2025
Harvard College accepted 3.43 percent of applicants to the Class of 2025, marking the lowest admissions rate in College history in a year that saw a historic surge in applications.