Record Number of African Americans, Latinos Matriculate (Harvard)
Roughly 82 percent of the 2,023 students admitted to the Class of 2018 have decided to matriculate—a figure that represents the College’s highest yield in 45 years. Due to the high rate of matriculation, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid expects to only admit around 15 to 20 students from the waitlist.
The Class of 2017’s yield rate was also close to 82 percent, even as the College had to cancel Visitas, its admitted students visiting weekend, in light of the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers.
Among those who committed to the Class of 2018, the Office of Admissions saw a record number of African American and Latino students—177 and 185—respectively. Three-hundred fifty-one Asian American students, the second highest number of students in College history, accepted offers of admissions. Twenty-seven students of Native American or Native Hawaiian descent decided to matriculate, as well. The totals mean that roughly 21 percent of the class will be Asian American, 10.5 percent African American, 11 percent Latino, and 1.5 percent Native American or Native Hawaiian.
The yield rate for African-American students went up by nearly 6 percent this year, to 73 percent, according to Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67. The yields for Latino and Native American or Pacific Islander applicants were about 70 and 71 percent, respectively. The Asian American yield was nearly 88 percent.
“We are very grateful to the many involved in the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program who worked toward these results throughout the year, and especially during the crucial month of April,” said Roger Banks, director of recruitment, in a statement.
According to Fitzsimmons, the gender breakdown of the matriculating class reflects that of the admitted pool, which was 55 percent male and 45 percent female.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/5/9/record-number-matriculate-2018/
