Admissions Notifications in Year of New Records
This spring when most “competitive” colleges released notifications to applicants, simultaneously the institutions also unleashed the reality of shrinking acceptances rates. Only 1,954 high-achieving applicants were offered admission to Harvard University out of a pool of 61,220 worthy, hopeful students. This shocking number equates to an admit rate of 3.19 percent.
Harvard continues to increase in popularity as the numbers of applicants surged during Covid when previously the rate was right under 10 percent. Adding to the surge of applications is the elimination of standardized tests for many colleges, prompting many students to aim for highly selective institutions.
More innovative changes in admissions are reflected for the Class of 2026. Just several years ago, white students composed the majority of Harvard students. This year that number is down to 40 percent. Black students now compose 15.5 percent, Asian Americans are now 27.8 percent, Latinx now represent 12.6 percent students, Native Americans are now 2.9 percent and Native Hawaiians are 0.8 students. Similar to many colleges and universities, the percentage of admitted women is more than men. Harvard accepted 54.2 percent women.
“The Class of 2026 is truly remarkable in every way, and we hope they will choose to come to Harvard in the fall,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. “Beyond their academic and extracurricular accomplishments noted in their applications are the many contributions they made to their families, schools, and communities during a time of pandemic and economic challenge.”
For many small, lesser known colleges and regional community colleges are struggling to fill spaces. If patterns remain similar in the future, nationally recognized institutions will do well, but many less recognized colleges will struggle.
More statistics that are being revealed are as follows:
50,015 applications and 2,234 admitted
4.47 % admit rate
7% increase in applications
50,649 applications and 2,546 admitted
9% increase in applications
28,336 applications and 1,767 admitted
6.2 admit rate
55,000 applications (down from 56,00 applications last year) and 2,400 admitted
84,000 applications
6 % increase in applications
First generation student applications increased up 17%
International students applicants up 13%
Students of color rose 8%
50,962 applications up from 48,011
Applications increased 62%
105,000 applications and 12.2 % admitted students
Nursing School admitted only 3% of applicants
21,153 applications
Application numbers increased 20.6% more than last year and 146% more than two years ago
According to E. Whitney Soule, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions of University of Pennsylvania, “Nearly one-third of the admitted students engaged in academic research during their time in high school, many earning national and international accolades for research that is already pushing the boundaries of academic discovery.
What does these statistics mean for top student applicants? More than ever applicants are being placed on wait lists or facing rejection for the first time in their lives. More often than not, being admitted from the waitlist is a huge long shot. The disappointment of not being admitted after enrolling in the most rigorous curriculum offered is greatly disappointing. The reality is that most “rejected” applicants to highly sought-after colleges are unequivocally qualified for admission. There are multiple factors for sweeping increases in admissions statistics, but that doesn’t soften the blow of a non-acceptance.
More students and their families need to be more open about considering a range of potential college “fits.” In doing so, there will be more college acceptances and happy students matriculating to institutions that will offer them a range of exciting opportunities.
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