With the exception of Brown University, several other highly selective institutions experienced a significant increase in the volume of applicants vying for admission this year.
While many prestigious schools witnessed a surge in applications, Harvard College, in contrast, observed a decline in application numbers.
This decrease in applications at Harvard College could be attributed to a tumultuous year marked by controversies, notably sparked by a student letter attributing full responsibility to Israel for the Hamas attacks on October 7, potentially tarnishing Harvard’s reputation and dissuading prospective students.
Harvard’s announcement coincided with Ivy Day, where all eight Ivy League schools released their admission decisions.
Although Brown University also noted a decrease in applications, numerous other top-tier colleges such as the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Columbia, M.I.T., Bowdoin, Amherst, and the University of Virginia experienced an uptick in applications.
William R. Fitzsimmons, the dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard, expressed enthusiasm about the diverse talents and backgrounds that the incoming class of 2028 will bring, emphasizing the positive aspects of the applicant pool.
While the exact reasons for the decline in Harvard’s application numbers remain uncertain, experts in college admissions and counseling acknowledge the intense scrutiny and potential reputational harm faced by the institution. The challenges began with a significant ruling on June 29 that overturned Harvard’s long-standing affirmative action policies, which had served as a benchmark for higher education nationwide. The situation escalated with the resignation of Claudine Gay on January 2, Harvard’s first Black president, amidst allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and criticism of her handling of issues related to antisemitism during her testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in December.
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