<p>A record total of 22,717 students have applied for entrance next September to Harvard College. "This unprecedented applicant pool is due in large measure to the new Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) announced by President Lawrence H. Summers last February in his keynote address to the American Council on Education," said William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid. "The new program sends a strong message that Harvard is accessible to all students, regardless of family financial resources," he said. </p>
<p>"There are more students in the applicant pool this year who are likely to be eligible for the new HFAI - which requires no parental contribution from families earning $40,000 or less and a greatly reduced contribution from those who earn from $40,000 to $60,000," said Sarah C. Donahue, director of financial aid.</p>
<p>"Admissions selection meetings stretch from Jan. 28 to March 22. "Applications are read by as many as four admissions officers and faculty members prior to the meetings."</p>
<p>so are they saying the apps are read BEFORE jan 28th? by for ppl? how is that possible.. hmm i dont get in...</p>
<p>also.. when they say less then 40 000 / year, is that before or after tax? thx. </p>
<p>"Applying for a fee waiver is a strong indication that a student will be eligible for the HFAI. "</p>
<p>my family income is less then 40000 after tax... but i didnt apply for fee waiver...</p>
<p>... is the claim that overall SAT scores "rose slightly" even though an increase in applications from low income applicants is credited substantially for the higher total, and African American and Hispanic applications increased at a greater rate than the overall total.</p>
<p>Byerly,
What you point out is very interesting. I am wondering if perhaps Harvard has been missing in the past apps from high stat URMs and low income students, who may not have realized that they could afford it. Previously, such students may have been creamed off by historically black colleges, which will send full ride offers to black students in the fall, before the students have had time to apply to places like Harvard. Flagship state universities may have been creaming off low income, high stat applications. Since many state universities have rolling admission, such students could get their admission offers and even merit aid offers in the fall, too.</p>
<p>Yes. The trend in the destination for top African American students - as shown by the destination for NAS winners - indicates that the top elites seeking "diversity" - and the flagship state schools such as Texas, Florida etc. are indeed "skimming the cream." The "Historically Black Colleges" are getting killed.</p>
<p>The undefeated 10-0 football team - which out-ranked Stanford and many athletic-scholarship schools nationally - may have led to a flood of applicants for Harvard, just as Northwestern achieved its still-record application number after it went to the Rose Bowl in 1997!</p>
<p>Harvard football + the Red Sox + the Patriots have combined to make Boston the Mecca this year for Ivy-inclined high school students who are sports fans!</p>
<p>No, thats not the case. Our admissions rep told my counselor that about 100-200 deferees will be accepted in April. This number is not going to change because of a record number applicants -the only people whose chances go down are the ones that applied RD. </p>
<p>Also, I had a quick question for Northstarmom and Byerly since both seem to really know what they're talking about. I know this sounds redundant, but at this point in time what do you think the best course of action would be for me(as a deferee) to take as far as sending stuff in to Harvard goes(new ecs, letters, etc..) I know I should have done this earlier, but I've been rediculously busy with schoolwork and track. Harvard is still my first choice school and I want to be able show the adcom why I deserve to attend. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>Send it now. The admissions subcommittees at Harvard start meeting at various times. Some start meeting Jan. 28, and the last ones start March 2. When the subcommittee handling your application meets depends on who is your region's adcom. After the subcommittees meet, the full committees meet from March 7-March 22.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The RD pool consists of about 18,500 RD applicants, and about 3,000 EA deferreds, for a total of 21,500 people.</p></li>
<li><p>I assume: (a) a target class size of 1,640, (b) net matriculants from those accepted EA of 805, (c) that EA deferreds will be accepted at roughly the same rate as RD applicants.</p></li>
<li><p>Therefore: 835 slots remain to be filled from the combined RD/EA deferred pool.</p></li>
<li><p>I assume that Harvard's anticipated yield on applicants from the combined pool will be - conservatively - 70%, and that Harvard will not intentionally "program in" slots to be filled from the waitlist.</p></li>
<li><p>Therefore, Harvard will arguably admit 1,175 people from the combined pool . This will result in an admit rate of 5.47% for RD people and EA deferreds.</p></li>
<li><p>The total admits will thus be 1,175 (RD) plus 885 (EA) or 2,060, for an estimated overall admit rate of 9.1%, and an overall yield rate of 79.6%.</p></li>
<li><p>If the yield rate is somewhat lower - say, 78% - then another 50 people might be admitted - either RD or (more likely) from the waitlist.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It's incredibly disheartening to know that almost 10% of applicants have that SATI V score I was so proud of-- 800-- and MORE(!!!) than 10% have 150 pts higher SATI M scores than I did (650)</p>
<p>Oh yeah -- my admissions representative also confirmed this as well. Although I'm very cynical and I didn't know who to believe, but if two separate representatives said the same thing, then I am guessing it is true.</p>
<p>Wow. In this pool, I think even high-achieving URM's, recruited athletes, legacies and winners of national level awards might have to be a bit concerned.</p>