Holiday cheer came early this year--in the form of letters mailed Friday--for 1,101 high school students admitted early action to Harvard's Class of 2005.

Though the 6,095 applications marked a slight increase from the number received last year, the number accepted has decreased from last year's 1,135 and the record 1,185 for the Class of 2003.

When Harvard changed its admissions policy last year to allow students to apply early action to more than one school last year, the number of early applicants skyrocketed by 30 percent.

But after a mere 1.2 percent increase in this year, the number of applications seems to be leveling off.

Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis '70 said that the large increase in applications has had no effect on the quality or breadth of the applicant pool, however.

"We're happy that we didn't have any unforeseen changes in the number or the quality of applications," she said. "It was another extraordinary pool of applications."

McGrath Lewis stressed that the early action program is designed to give uncertain students a chance to apply to other colleges, but still show their interest in Harvard.

"We continue to offer early action so that students who are eager to have a positive indication can get one," Lewis said. "We of course expect that this will not be the last occasion to admit great students to the Class of 2005, but it's a tremendous start."

The Office of Admissions released figures Friday that reflect a similar variety to last year's early admittees. More than 46 percent are female, 18.4 percent are Asian-American, 7.2 percent Latin American, 6.1 percent African-American, and 0.8 percent Native American.

McGrath Lewis said Harvard has no recipe for the ideal candidate. Instead, she said the admissions office looks for students who pursue genuine interests rather than a scripted list of test scores and extracurriculars.

"Following one's own ambitions and desires in a genuine and authentic way is much more likely to result in people who don't burn themselves out and who arrive in college much more likely to take on continuing and new challenges," McGrath Lewis said.

Of the 6,095 applications, 195 were rejected and the rest will be reconsidered in the spring under regular decision.

According a press release, Harvard expects between 85 and 90 percent of the 1,101 early action admittees to matriculate.