Early Action Admissions Increase by 22 Percent

The number of students accepted early to the College rose 22 percent this year, and the proportion of minorities also increased slightly.

This jump was even higher than the 12 percent surge in early action applicants, reassuring officials who last year saw a significant drop in interest in the program.

Director of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons '67 said last week that the figures reflect an increase in Harvard's appeal noting that the number of applicants for April admission is also currently running much higher than normal.

"Of the 12 years I've been here, there are now significantly more people asking for forms and information," he explained.

Fitzsimmons attributed the rise to better distribution of information and stepped-up recruiting, especially of minorities. He also cited two national trends the improved economy and the end to the Reagan Administration's threatened deep cuts in student aid funding.

Fifteen hundred and eighty eight students applied early for slots in the Class of 1988, and 575 were admitted. One hundred and five of those are minorities including 69 Asian-Americans and 25 Blacks.

Minorities make up 19 percent of the total accepted so far compared to 18 percent accepted early last year, and 20 percent eventually included in the Class of 1987. Women made up 41 percent or 238 of those admitted roughly equal to the expected proportion in the whole class.

Harvard rejected outright 116 applicants and deferred the remaining 893 for consideration for April admission. About 17 to 20 percent of those deferred are usually accepted, Fitzsimmons said.

An unusually high number--around 90 percent--of those accepted early go to Harvard, compared with about 75 percent for students seeking April admission.

Harvard is one of five Ivy group schools--along with Brown, Yale, MIT, and Princeton--participating in an early action agreement allowing students to apply to one of the colleges and be admitted to the school before regular application are due. Unlike other Ivy schools, students accepted early by a school in this group are not obliged to attend.

Harvard and MIT drew about 12 percent more early action applicants this year. Princeton has a 6 percent hike. Yale had a 50 percent increase, but officials attributed that in part to mailing inefficiencies last year. Brown, which last year had a 33 percent jump, leveled off with a 14 percent decrease.