Applicants to learn today if they got into Harvard College; 5.9 percent accepted
Is it a thick envelope or a thin envelope?
Would-be members of the Harvard College class of 2016 are learning today via letter or e-mail whether they have been accepted to the prestigious Cambridge school.
Out of 34,302 applicants, Harvard accepted 2,032, or 5.9 percent, the university said in a statement.
“We have always been conservative about the number of acceptances sent out this at this time of year in order to avoid the possibility of overcrowding. Harvard’s high graduation rate – typically 97 to 98 percent – leaves little margin for error,’’ William R. Fitzsimmons, the school’s dean of admissions and financial aid, said. “As always, we expect to use the waiting list, and in some recent years as many as 200 students have been admitted in May and June.’’
Of the 34,000 applicants, more than 14,000 scored a 700 or above on the SAT critical reading test; 17,000 scored a 700 or above on the SAT math test; 15,000 scored a 700 or more on the SAT writing test; and 3,800 were ranked first in their high school classes, according to the college.
“This year’s applicant pool was remarkable by any standard in its academic and extracurricular excellence,’’ Fitzsimmons said.
The admitted class consists of students from 86 countries, though 89 percent of admitted students are from the United States. Students from New England make up 17 percent of the admitted class. Students from the mid-Atlantic states and Mountain or Western states make up the largest demographic groups, at 22 and 21 percent, respectively.
Accepted students have until May 1 to accept or decline their enrollment.
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