34,295 Apply to Class of 2018, Marking Slight Decrease from Previous Year

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p><a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/2/3/class-2018-drop-slightly/"&gt;http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/2/3/class-2018-drop-slightly/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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Harvard College received 34,295 applications for admission to the Class of 2018, marking a decrease of 728 applications from last year, the University announced Monday afternoon.</p>

<p>Despite the 2 percent decrease in applications for early and regular admission, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 said that the number of applications has been largely constant in recent years. He did, however, note that there were slight demographic differences, from race to geographic background, in the type of students applying.</p>

<p>Almost a quarter of applicants—22.7 percent—requested an application-fee waiver, 6.3 percent more than last year, and 10.3 percent more than three years ago.</p>

<p>Fitzsimmons said that the increase in students requesting application-fee waivers is an indicator that more students need financial aid and follows a broader trend in the demographics of college applicants.</p>

<p>“More and more of the students out there require financial aid,” Fitzsimmons said.</p>

<p>The percentage of non-white students applying to Harvard has increased, with the exception of Native Americans, Director of Admissions Marlyn E. McGrath ’70 said in a University press release.</p>

<p>“There were also some geographic shifts, including a 5.8 percent decline in applications from the Midwest, a 5.1 percent decline from New England, and a 3.4 percent decline from international students,” she said.</p>

<p>Fitzsimmons said that the slight decline in applicants from the Midwest and New England was “quite predictable” and part of an ongoing trend in the climate of college applicants.</p>

<p>According to a report created by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education entitled “Knocking at the College Door,” the number of high school seniors has started to decline and is projected to continue to do so for the next 15 years. The report also stated that students from the Midwest and Northeast will apply to college in declining numbers, while those from the South and West will apply in higher numbers.</p>

<p>Fitzsimmons said that the number of applications has reached the “upper limit of what makes sense,” explaining that it would not be concerning if the admissions office were to receive slightly fewer applications, as was the case this year.</p>

<p>“It doesn’t do anyone any good if we, for example, decided to write many more search letters and to up the ante in recruiting and end up with 50,000 applications,” Fitzsimmons said. “We could do it easily. Any college can actually do that.”</p>

<p>Thus far, the College has already accepted 992 students from an early applicant pool of 4,692 people under the restrictive early action program, the largest group to be admitted early since the University reinstated its early action program in 2011.</p>

<p>Three other Ivy League schools released the number of applications to their respective incoming classes last month. Brown University saw 30,320 applications, the second largest number in the university’s history. The University of Pennsylvania received 35,788 applications for the class of 2018, a 14 percent increase from last year. Princeton received 26,607 applications, the highest number of applications since it reinstated its early action program in 2011.

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<p>Harvard ticks down slightly and Princeton reaches a record high – maybe there really exist people who care that much about US News rankings.</p>

<p>On a serious note, I don’t think Fitzsimmons is just doing damage control here. He’s got a good point. It’s not clear whether anyone benefits from acceptance rates plunging down below 5%.</p>

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<p>Stanford is a huge force now; many people are deciding to apply to Stanford rather than Harvard.</p>

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<p>I think stanford is a huge force but we will have to wait to see how many they get. Overall I think this could be an effect of the acceptance rates getting so low that students no longer think they have a chance.</p>

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<p>Having returned from the Parent’s Weekend at Stanford…I can tell you that the application numbers to Stanford is way beyond what they expected… </p>

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<p>Yes, this year Stanford left Harvard in the dust!</p>

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<p>^ I didn’t know there was a foot race going on to begin with. A race to see how many people can be rejected? I doubt either H or S relishes that “honor”</p>

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<p>Stanford doesn’t relish the honor and is seriously considering increasing their class size in future years to be able to accept more students</p>

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<p>Stanford is extremely fortunate that physically, it’s not too difficult to expand campus buildings/dorms/classrooms. Try that with Cambridge or New Haven…</p>

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<p>I’m not sure about Cambridge, but Yale is building two new residential colleges to increase enrollment by approx 200+ students. Ironically, although Stanford has more than 8000 acres, it cannot build in new areas according to zoning regulations and must tear down or remove a building to build something new. The university is trying to have this amended. They are also considering adding floors to one and two story dorms to make them three story dorms and add rooms.</p>

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<p>@cba is correct…Stanford would like to increase enrollment gradually within the next 3-4 years especially with its exploding application numbers…but, as cba has noted it won’t be as easy as just “expanding” on its massive “farm” due to strict zoning regulations…</p>

<p>…they would also have to consider obtaining and setting aside more donor funding to increase the financial resources necessary to expand/build new student housing, provide the necessary financial aid that comes with enrolling more students, and increase faculty size before the governing board even proceeds…</p>

<p>…I’m sure it won’t be a problem finding wealthy donors (named housing/scholarships/professorships) to fund all this once the governing board gives the OK…</p>

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<p>Stanford today feels very different from the Stanford I first saw 35+ years ago. Then, it was like a golf course – the buildings far apart, with manicured fairways leading up to each one. Now, the open spaces are almost entirely gone, at least from the central campus area. Buildings (or parking lots) have been plopped down everywhere. It’s more like an outlet mall now. It doesn’t surprise me if they’ve run out of building room.</p>

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<p>Stanford already has approved plans to add 345 beds by fall 2015.
<a href=“You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News”>You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News;

<p>They also have plans to increase the undergrad population, starting at 100 more/year when the dorms are available and eventually being at least as big as the grad population</p>

<p><a href=“University plans to expand undergraduate population”>http://www.stanforddaily.com/2013/06/04/plan-to-grow-undergrad-population-to-affect-faculty-housing/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Interesting info! I must admit I’ve not been on campus since the late 80s during a summer job. But Palo Alto weather beats the NE anytime!</p>

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<p>can you please move this conversation to the Stanford forum? No need to put down Harvard in the Harvard forum. </p>

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<p>Who’s putting harvard down? Oh no, the traditionally elite aren’t the only elite institutions anymore! The horror! Let’s all get offended and act defensively!! </p>

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<p>What does this mean for the RD acceptance rate? Anyone know what it should be hanging around, then?</p>

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<p>@wanttogetinbadly: I was only saying it’s difficult for H and Y to significantly add to their freshman intake numbers due to space (cf. Yale’s plans which are extremely complex). I surmised that Stanford’s campus was more conducive. I was informed not. HOw is that putting down Harvard? It’s a nod to the fact that more space in one of the most coveted schools extant is a real consideration. And you certainly can’t argue my opinion about Palo Alto weather vs. New Haven or Cambridge, I’d imagine.</p>

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<p>Palo Alto weather kind of gets tedious after a while.</p>

<p>But then that’s just me liking snow.</p>

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<p>I doubt admission rate will have a significant increase. It’s not like Harvard increased its capacity and the little drop in applicant numbers is easily neglected due to large base number.</p>