How many spots are there at Harvard?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Of course, there are about 1662 spots total, but how many are really available for white/asian applicants? Let's see:</p>

<p>URM (assuming 90% [there is a study that supports this figure] got in because of their status):</p>

<p>1% + 9% + 9% (native american, black, hispanic) = 19% minorities
1662(.19)(.9) = 284 kids</p>

<p>Athletes (assuming 100% got in because of their status):</p>

<p>41 teams * ~10 kids/team * 1/(4 years of undergrad) = 103 kids</p>

<p>developmental case (parents donate money):</p>

<p>5 kids</p>

<p>Both an Athlete and an URM:</p>

<p>35 kids</p>

<p>Total: 1662 - (284 + 103 + 5) + 35 = 1305</p>

<p>That makes for an overall admit rate of 1305/32,000 (assuming 3000 kids are URM/recruited athletes) = 4.1%</p>

2

<p>You forgot about legacy.</p>

<p>What happens if for some reason the yield is greater than the number of spots available?</p>

3

<p>4.1% is pretty consistent with college coach Michele Hernandez’s estimate. I can’t find where exactly (it was an internet article) she said 7% becomes 4% for people without hooks, but I know I read it about two or three months ago.</p>

<p>At any rate, just give it a shot. :stuck_out_tongue: Speculation is interesting, but ultimately doesn’t really affect anything.</p>

<p>Also, don’t forget that Harvard accepts more students than it has positions for–probably a few hundred, to make up for the admitted students that matriculate elsewhere.</p>

4

<p>I’m liking the math, for sure. Is the 1305 for one class or for all 4 undergrad classes?</p>

5

<p>you definitely need to add legacy because 30% get admitted</p>

6

<p>1305 is the number of spot available for one class.</p>

<p>I’m hesitant to add legacies because they don’t seem to be treated in the way URMs and Athletes are treated. I think legacies in general compete with the rest of the pool (i.e. whites and asians), and not just other legacies. </p>

<p>Legacies are admitted at an astounding 30% probably because their parents are aware of what it takes to get into a top school, and they are generally well informed.</p>

7

<p>^ that can be the case with some like my parents but I know a bunch of other legacies who don’t do what it takes to get into Harvard</p>

8

<p>well what percent of legacies do you think got in on their status. 50%? 25%? 10%? I can’t begin to speculate</p>

9

<p>Well they can’t get in on their status alone, but it gives them a pretty big bump because theirs chances are 5 times greater of getting in</p>

10

<p>90% URMs lolz its more like 8%</p>

11

<p>[ JBHE</a> 2010 Survey of Black Freshmen at the Nation’s Highest-Ranking Universities](<a href=“http://www.jbhe.com/2010survey.html] JBHE”> JBHE 2010 Survey of Black Freshmen at the Nation's Highest-Ranking Universities)</p>

<p>Show me your study, it would be an interesting read.</p>

12

<p>Also note that about half of caucasian students at Harvard are Jewish, even though the group makes up 3-4% of the US population. If you are a non-jewish white person, your chance of getting in is pretty low. Then the legacies/donors/athletes are mostly white/protestant(these are the stereotypical Ivy Leaguers). If you are white/catholic your chances are near zero.</p>

13

<p>I said that 90% of the blacks would have been otherwise rejected if it had not been for their URM status. I believe the study was done by princeton.</p>

14

<p>how do you know that if you are white catholic your chances are near zero?</p>

<p>My sister is white catholic and she got in…</p>

15

<p>12% of 2100 admits are legacy. So about 235 people are admitted. These reflect 30% of legacy applications which makes legacy applicants about 783 applicants.</p>

16

<p>

I’ve never understood this. When my parents went to college, admissions were absolutely nothing like they are today.</p>