May/June 2008
Around the Quads
The Beat Goes On: Applications Up, Selectivity Down
Once again, applications to the College are up and the selectivity rate is down as the Class of 2012 continues a trend that has been going on for more than a decade.
Applications rose by 5.7 percent, to 19,116, for roughly 1,050 places in the Class of 2012. This is up from 17,964 a year ago. The applications break down into 2,105 early decision and 17,011 regular. A total of 1,660 students were admitted: 454 early decision and 1,206 regular; early decision admissions represent 44 percent of the class.
The College’s overall admit rate, or selectivity, was 8.68 percent, just slightly behind Harvard (7.1 percent) and Yale (8.3 percent) and ahead of Brown and Dartmouth (both 13 percent), according to an April 1 New York Times article. The College’s selectivity was 8.9 percent a year ago.
SEAS applications also increased, to 3,463, up 6.3 percent as compared with last year’s 3,262. The applications break down into 404 early decision and 3,059 regular. A total of 609 students were admitted: 142 early decision and 467 regular, making early decision admissions 44 percent of the class. The overall SEAS admit rate was 17.59 percent.
Combined, applications to the College and SEAS climbed to 22,579, a 5.8 percent increase over last year’s 21,213. The overall admit rate for both schools was 10.05 percent.