RULES OF ADMISSION ALTERED

A radical change in the method of admission to Harvard College was adopted by the Faculty at is meeting last Tuesday. The "point system," now in use will ultimately give place to what may be called a "merit system," in which the candidate for admission will be required to pass only four examinations in general subjects. His record in the secondary school will be submitted by the principal, and on the strength of this record and his examination marks the final decision of the College entrance authorities will be made. The proposed system has not yet been passed upon by the Corporation, but it appears certain that this approval will be forthcoming at the next regular meeting. For the present either the old system or the new can be used, at the option of the separate schools.

The new scheme has five main parts which may be roughly stated as: 1. Credentials. 2. Examination in four subjects. 3. Character and marking of examination papers. 4. Satisfactory record. 5. Administration of the new plan.

1. Credentials -- The candidate must present to a new committee on admission an official statement from his high school showing in detail, first, the subjects he has studied and the ground covered in each second, the amount of time he has given to each subject; third, the quality of his work in each subject.

Further, such a certificate will be accepted only from secondary schools whose course is approved by the College. An "approved" course must extend over four years; and must concern itself mainly with languages, science, mathematics and history; none of these four subjects may be omitted, and at least two of them must be carried to the stage now required by the "advanced" examinations of Harvard College.

2. Examination in Four Subjects--Having presented satisfactory credentials, a candidate for admission under the new plan must pass satisfactorily, either in June or in September, Harvard examinations, as follows:

a. English.

b. Latin, by candidates for the A.B. degree; or French or German by candidates for the S.B. degree.

c. Mathematics, which includes algebra and plane geometry, with optional questions on advanced algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry; or science, either physics or chemistry.

d. Any one of the following subjects not already taken under b or c. These subjects are: Greek, French, German, history, mathematics (algebra and plane geometry; with optional questions on advanced algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry); chemistry, physics.

3. Character and marking of examination papers--The examination papers will assume a degree of preparation not less than is required for the "elementary" examinations under the present system. They will have a large enough number of alternative questions, and will be so framed as to allow for considerable variation of methods in the high school instruction. The papers will not require a longer preparation than is ordinarily necessary for the present examinations.

In addition to marking the examinations, the marker will be required to state his opinion fully on each book.

4. Satisfactory Record -- Whether a candidate's examination record is "satisfactory" or not will depend on the judgment of the new committee on admission, based on the whole record. Distinction, or high excellence, is not required in all four subjects. The committee must be satisfied, on the record as a whole, that the candidate is desirable.

5. Administration of the New Plan--A single committee is to take the place of the present committee on admission and committee on admission examinations. This change will assure as far as is possible an administration of the existing plans and the new ones that will be consistent with the essential purposes of both