Harvard's New Admissions Rule: What's Changing and Why?

Recent Changes in Admissions Process

Harvard University has instructed its alumni interviewers to avoid mentioning an applicant's race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin in their reports. This directive is part of a broader shift in the university's admissions process, aimed at complying with recent legal developments.

Training and Compliance

During training sessions held this autumn, admissions officials emphasized that any report containing such information will be disregarded. They warned that even references to languages spoken at home, countries of origin, or named affinity groups could lead to the evaluation being removed from an applicant's file. In some cases, a second interviewer might be assigned to ensure compliance.

Legal Context

This change follows the US Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned race-conscious admissions practices. Many elite institutions are now reassessing their admissions procedures amid increased federal oversight. Harvard officials frame this policy change as a compliance measure, ensuring the university can demonstrate it is not considering protected characteristics when evaluating applicants.

Incoming Class Statistics

The new policy coincides with recent figures on Harvard's incoming class, the Class of 2029, which comprises 1,675 students. Of these, 11.5% self-identified as Black or African American, 11% as Hispanic or Latino, and 41% as Asian American. Notably, 8% of applicants declined to report their race or ethnicity.

Reporting Methodology

Harvard's published admissions statistics now reflect a change in reporting methodology, counting percentages based on students who self-reported their race. These figures follow a decline in Black and Hispanic representation at several highly selective colleges over the past two years, following the Supreme Court decision.

Criticisms and Legal Perspectives

Critics argue that preventing interviewers from capturing contextual information about applicants' backgrounds risks erasing critical details that explain an applicant's achievements and challenges. Legal experts have noted that there is no explicit judicial precedent forbidding the consideration of contextual life experiences related to race or origin, especially when such information explains achievements or obstacles faced.

Future Implications

Harvard's immediate implementation of these new alumni interview guidelines will be tested over this admissions cycle, as thousands of volunteer interviews take place during early decision and regular rounds. Ongoing federal oversight, litigation, and changing reporting practices across the higher education sector suggest that the composition of incoming classes and the evaluation processes will remain highly contested.

Research and Monitoring

Research institutions and independent analyses continue to monitor application, admission, and enrolment patterns across different racial and ethnic groups. These findings will be crucial in assessing the long-term impact of the Supreme Court ruling and the federal government's enforcement strategies on higher education diversity.