Admissions News
Marsh USA Files to Dismiss Harvard Lawsuit Regarding SFFA Legal Fees
Insurance broker Marsh USA asked the federal District Court of Massachusetts to dismiss its liability for up to $15 million in legal fees, according to filings made last month.
Ten Stories That Shaped 2023
In 2023, Harvard had a tumultuous year. Claudine Gay’s first semester ended amid a leadership crisis as she came under fire for her response to tensions on a campus divided by the Israel-Hamas war and faced allegations of plagiarism. Harvard’s legacy and donor preferences in admissions also faced national scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling striking down the University’s affirmative action policy. Across campus, scandal after scandal hit parts of the University. Here, The Crimson looks back at the 10 stories that shaped 2023 at Harvard.
Harvard College’s Acceptance Rates for Men and Women are Nearly Identical. That’s Rare in the Ivy League.
Harvard seems to be an outlier in the Ivy League for its extreme parity in admissions rates between male and female applicants, even at the expense of equal shares of men and women in the class.
As American Colleges Struggle to Fill Classes, Ivy League Yield Rates Continue to Rise
Yield rates at the eight Ivy schools have soared over the past 30 years, according to a Crimson analysis — and show no sign of slowing.
Harvard Says Insurance Company Knew of Affirmative Action Lawsuit, Should Cover Legal Fees
Harvard told a federal judge last week that its insurance company was aware of a high-profile lawsuit challenging its race-conscious admissions process, saying the firm, Zurich American Insurance Company, should have to cover the University’s legal fees.
Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Harvard Affirmative Action Case on Oct. 31
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month in a high-stakes affirmative action lawsuit brought against Harvard that could end race-conscious college admissions in the United States.
As Acceptance Rates Fall, Some Ivy League Universities Stop Publicizing Admissions Data
As acceptance rates to the country’s most selective universities fall to all-time lows each year, more and more elite schools have stopped promoting key admissions data, including acceptance numbers and demographic breakdowns.
‘Surreal,’ ‘Thrilled’: Applicants React to Admission to Class of 2026
Students admitted to the Class of 2026 expressed shock, excitement, and disbelief upon receiving their Harvard acceptances.
As Tuition Rises 3%, Harvard College Raises Non-Contribution Threshold to Expand Financial Aid
Beginning with the Class of 2026, families with annual incomes under $75,000 will pay nothing to attend Harvard College — marking a $10,000 increase from the previous threshold — the College announced Thursday evening.
HGSE Experts Split on Benefits of Standardized Testing
Despite a national move away from standardized testing amid the pandemic, experts from the Harvard Graduate School of Education are divided over the future of testing in college admissions and K-12 education.
Congressional Bill Seeks to End Legacy Preferences in College Admissions
United States Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Jamaal A. Bowman (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation last week that would ban consideration of legacy status in higher education admissions.
Admissions Consultants Praise College Board's Shift to Virtual SAT
Admissions experts welcomed the College Board’s move to shift the SAT to a virtual format, but described the change as an effort to stay relevant amid a rise in test-optional admissions policies.
Harvard College Admits 7.9% of Early Applicants to Class of 2026
Harvard College admitted 7.9 percent of early applicants to the Class of 2026 Thursday as its early acceptance rate remained markedly lower than pre-pandemic years.
Harvard College Suspends Standardized Testing Requirement for Next Four Years
Applicants to Harvard College will not be required to submit standardized test scores for at least the next four years.
Undergraduate Admissions Council Establishes Role to Support Veteran Applicants
As student coordinators on the Harvard Admissions Office’s Undergraduate Admissions Council, Ashley N. Emann ’23 and Hudson T. Miller ’23 hold talks for prospective veteran applicants covering topics like housing, financial aid, and transfer credit.
