College

Harvard Class Of 2021 Breaks Enrollment Record After 48 Years, Financial Aids Offer A Big Factor [VIDEO]

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About 84 percent of the Harvard Class of 2021 will join the prestigious university this fall. Apparently, it breaks the previous record of the Class of 1973 for the highest yield at 83.1 percent in 1969.

Reportedly, 40,000 students applied to Harvard University but only 2, 056 were admitted. This is roughly a 5.2 percent acceptance rate for the Ivy. Well, that means that around 1, 720 students officially join the Class of 2021.

According to Harvard Gazette, the students have chosen the university because of the four-fold increase in the number of freshmen seminars at 130. Also, they mention that over 400 freshmen advisers, 200 peer facilitators, and 60 resident proctors are ready to help them out. Moreover, research opportunities with close collaboration with the faculty enticed the students to enroll.

The Ivy League school then created more than 40 secondary fields and has prepared more chances for international studies. It also features the new John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science. On the other hand, the Class of 2021 may expect additional classes in Theater, Dance, Music, and Arts.

Sarah Donahue, the Griffin Director of Financial Aid, claims that this year's students are more "economically diverse" than previous turnouts. For the record, roughly 24 percent qualified for the low-income category of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative. Moreover, 19 percent wants to apply for free waivers and 17 percent hopes to acquire Pell Grants. Donahue added that those who are earning less than $65,000, which is estimated to be one in five families, pays nothing toward the cost of education.

Consequently, families with incomes reaching $150,000 and above only pay 10 percent or less of their annual salaries. Almost half of the Class of 2021 will also get need-based financial aid, making their families pay an average of $12,000 only.

Now, per The Harvard Crimson, 21.7 percent of the incoming Harvard students are Asian-Americans. Meanwhile, 13.2 percent are self-proclaimed African-Americans. Lastly, Latinos, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians represent 10.8, 1.6, and 0.5 percent respectively. What is interesting too is that nearly 50 percent of the matriculates are women.

The Citizen reported that one of these women is Morris High School senior Ifeoma White-Thorpe. She made national headlines last month for passing eight Ivy League entrance exams. Harvard was the first school to accept her in December.

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