McGee noted a decline in the number of international students in the Summer School, down 300 from last year’s total to 1,100.
“There are more cases of students this term not being able to get here,” she said. “It looks like all countries are sending fewer students to us. It’s across the board.”
Secondary School students cited a range of reasons for spending their summer in Cambridge.
“I came here to get a college experience,” said Sonia Nagala, a high school senior from North Dakota. “I wanted to introduce myself to some college-level classes, and explore Harvard.”
Bernadette M. Acuna, a high school senior from Texas, said the program was reccommended to her.
“I know people who’ve done this and they raved about it. They loved the program,” Acuna said.
One Secondary School student, though, who wished not to be named, noted that not everyone came entirely of their own volition.
“I needed to make up a credit,” he said. “It’s not a very exciting reason.”
—Staff writer Alexander J. Blenkinsopp can be reached at blenkins@fas.harvard.edu.