Harvard College on Thursday announced its early application totals and the results showed a significant decline from last year.
The Ivy League institution reported that it received 7,921 early applications and accepted 692 students. The applications submitted represent a 17% decrease from last year, which saw 9,553 applications.
Bob Sweeney, a retired college counselor at Mamaroneck High School in New York who worked as a counselor for nearly 30 years, told Bloomberg that rising anti-Semitism could be one factor in the lower number of early applications.
A law firm will stop hiring on campus at Harvard University due to the university’s president’s congressional testimony
Harvard University President Claudine Jay, who recently made headlines for refusing to say whether the genocide of Jews was against Harvard policy during a congressional hearing, was accused of plagiarism earlier this week. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)
“This is probably one of the many safety reasons on campus,” Sweeney said. “There may be other factors in addition to students becoming more realistic about their expectations and chances of admission.”
The applications were due to be submitted on November 1, before Harvard President Claudine Jay testified during a congressional hearing that addressed rampant anti-Semitic rhetoric on college campuses.
Mathias Maisch, a current Harvard Law student, told Fox News Digital that the early filing results are “not surprising” because “the academic institution’s reputation has been damaged.”
“Not surprising,” Maisch said. “Harvard’s reputation has been damaged by its failure to address left-wing extremism and anti-Semitism.”
Meanwhile, Harvard’s rival, Yale University, is seeing some gains. Yale University announced Friday that it received 7,856 early applications this year, an increase of 1.4% from last year and the second-highest number in the school’s history.
Harvard officials did not immediately respond for comment.
Harvard student criticizes university’s efforts to clean up stance on Jewish genocide: ‘He had a chance under oath’
Harvard University President Claudine Guy (second left) attends a menorah lighting ceremony on the seventh night of Hanukkah with the university’s Jewish community on December 13, 2023, at Harvard Yard, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
Jay received massive backlash for her controversy Testimony before Congress On anti-Semitism.
Under fierce questioning from Republicans at a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Jay was asked whether people calling for the genocide of Jews run counter to Harvard policy.
She seemed to evade the issue by repeatedly saying that it depends on “the context.”
The embattled professor later attempted to correct her statements under congressional questioning by issuing a statement. However, this step did not satisfy her critics.
Then, on top of being criticized for her testimony at a congressional hearing, Harvard officials also addressed reports about Gay’s academic writings.
‘SNL’ Mocking Stefanik Instead of College Presidents Was a ‘Complete Comedy Collapse’
The presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard and MIT testified last week about anti-Semitism at their universities. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
the Reported by Washington Free Beacon That Jay “paraphrased or quoted nearly 20 authors without proper attribution,” according to an analysis by the investigative news site.
Furthermore, Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute and journalist Christopher Brunet published Examples of what they said were problematic sections in a Ph.D. The thesis “violates Harvard’s stated policies on academic integrity.”
Harvard University supported senior officers Gay after intense backlash over her anti-Semitism comments and plagiarism accusations.
Many colleges across the United States are grappling with social unrest amid the war between Hamas and Israel that began on October 7, when Hamas forces launched an attack on the Gaza Strip.
Harvard College, a prestigious and highly sought-after institution, is facing a concerning trend as the number of first-time applicants has declined compared to the previous year. This downward trend has raised questions and concerns about the potential reasons behind this decrease and what it could mean for the future of the college. As one of the most competitive and selective colleges in the country, any shift in application numbers at Harvard is sure to have ripple effects throughout the higher education landscape. It begs the question of what factors may be contributing to this decline and how Harvard plans to address and adapt to this changing landscape.