- Harvard University's early admissions applications dropped 17 percent this year
- The significant drop comes amid a series of controversies facing the Ivy League institution regarding anti-Semitism and plagiarism
- Applicants dropped from 9,553 to 7,921, while other Ivy League schools saw applications rise
Harvard received its lowest number of early admission applications in years after a series of controversies surrounding anti-Semitism and plagiarism.
The Ivy League university saw a 17 percent decline in applications from students who applied through early admission, with a total of 7,921 applicants, down from last year's 9,553.
The decline does not come as a shock to many after the scandals in which the prestigious institute has become embroiled in recent months.
Jewish students, families and alumni have accused the school of tolerating anti-Semitism, especially in statements made by pro-Palestinian protesters since the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people.
Harvard President Claudine Gay was accused of plagiarizing multiple parts of her Ph.D. dissertation amid mounting pressure to resign following her disastrous congressional hearing on campus freedom of expression in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Harvard received its lowest number of early admission applications in years after a series of controversies surrounding anti-Semitism and plagiarism
Jewish students, families and alumni have accused the school of tolerating anti-Semitism, especially in statements made by pro-Palestinian protesters since the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people.
Presidents of Harvard, MIT and UPenn faced heated questions from committee chair Congresswoman Elise Stefanik during the recent congressional hearing
Harvard President Claudine Gay was accused of plagiarizing multiple parts of her Ph.D. dissertation amid mounting pressure to resign following her disastrous congressional hearing on campus freedom of expression in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza
Harvard launched an investigation in October into claims that President Claudine Gay plagiarized some of her academic work — months before the allegations emerged publicly, the Ivy League revealed.
Applications for early admission were due on November 1, a month prior to Gay's terrible testimony at the December 5 congressional hearing.
This year's early admission application period is the first since the Supreme Court ruled in June to ban race-based admissions to higher education.
William Fitzsimmons, Harvard's dean for admissions and financial aid, said he was excited about the 692 students the school accepted early.
“It is exciting to see so many of the nation's and the world's most promising students accepted early to the class of 2028,” Fitzsimmons said.
“Their extraordinary range of talents and their many contributions to their communities will make immeasurable contributions to Harvard over the next four years and beyond.”
The Ivy League university saw a 17 percent decline in applications from students applying through early admission, with a total of 7,921 applicants, down from last year's 9,553.
Presidents of prestigious universities – including Harvard's Claudine Gay – failed to argue at the recent congressional hearing that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment.
Harvard launched an investigation in October into claims that President Claudine Gay plagiarized some of her academic work — months before the allegations emerged publicly, the Ivy League revealed
Meanwhile, two of Harvard's Ivy League competitors saw steady increases in their early admission numbers.
Yale University had 7,856 early applications this year – a 1.4 percent increase from last year and the second-highest number in the school's history.
The University of Pennsylvania saw 500 more applications received this year than last year, from 8,000 to 8,500.
UPenn President Liz Magill resigned following her congressional testimony about anti-Semitism on campus last week.
Magill was summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce by lawmakers and the presidents of Harvard and MIT, who were concerned about reports of a rise in anti-Semitism at leading universities.
They faced heated questions from committee chairwoman Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, but failed to argue that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment.
After an international outcry, including more than 70 lawmakers calling for her resignation, Magill resigned from her position.