College Applications Undergo Facelift

The number of foreign students applying to Harvard rose sharply over the past few years, prompting the College to restructure the admissions process this year, several officials said yesterday.

Instead of a separate application for international students, the undergraduate admissions office will reorganize the regular application this fall to include a new section for students from abroad.

In addition, the admissions office is publishing new viewbooks specifically designed for international applicants.

"The new application and new publication was a response to the growing complexity faced by students applying from abroad," said Robin M. Worth '81, assistant director for international admissions.

According to Worth, the changes will make the admissions office more accessible to a larger and more diverse foreign applicant pool.

Nancy Pyle, associate director of the Harvard Institute for International Development, attributed the increase in applications from abroad to a concerted effort by the administration to "break down the myths about Harvard."

During the past few years, Pyle's office worked with Harvard Clubs and other alumni associations in foreign countries to encourage potential applicants to consider Harvard.

"It's one more indication of Harvard's commitment to opening doors to talent no matter where it comes from," Pyle said.

In addition, the jump in international applicants reflects major changes in the world, particularly in the countries of Eastern Europe, Worth said.

For example, Harvard received no applications from Bulgaria two years ago. Last year, the admissions office reviewed approximately 40 applications from that country, Worth said.

The educational background of international students applying to Harvard is also changing, Worth said.

Traditionally, most foreign students come to Harvard after graduating from international or American schools abroad. But Worth said that trend is beginning to change.

The College's new application is intended to be more efficient for the admissions office, as well as simpler for students, according to Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Richard I. Melvoin.

Students from abroad will be asked to provide information about their academic programs and to demonstrate their proficiency in English in a special section of the regular application, he said.

The new system gives prospective students "a little more of a sense of 'one world, one application,'" Melvoin said