Undergraduate applications to Harvard have declined this year, following a turbulent period in which the historic Ivy League school’s once-glorious reputation was tarnished by anti-Semitism and plagiarism scandals.
Harvard University announced on Thursday The number of applicants for admission in 2028 was 54,008, a decrease of 5% from the previous year.
This marks the lowest number of applications for the storied 387-year-old Massachusetts institution since 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began.
But Harvard University tried to put a positive spin on the data, emphasizing that this is the fourth year in a row that the university has received more than 50,000 applications.
“Beyond another strong pool of applicants, we are very pleased with the incredible talent and lived experience that the Class of 2028 brings from across the United States and around the world,” said William R., Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. Fitzsimmons says. said in a statement.
Harvard University announced that it accepted 1,937 students for the Class of 2028. The admission rate was 3.58%, up from last year’s admission rate of 3.41%.
The number of applications begins with a letter signed by 30 student organizations claiming that Israel is “fully responsible” for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the Middle East war, which Harvard University announced in the fall months. It seems to reflect the crisis that has fallen into.
That was followed by damning Congressional testimony by Harvard University President Claudine Gay about anti-Semitism on campus.
Gay, Harvard’s first black president, was later forced to apologize for failing to forcefully condemn anti-Semitism and ultimately resigned in January amid multiple plagiarism allegations.
Class of 2028 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that it is unconstitutional for universities to give special consideration to students based solely on race, ending affirmative action in higher education. This is also the first admission cycle since.
