Several of the nation’s highest ranked colleges and universities have reported data on students they have accepted under early decision or early action admissions plans. Some of these selective educational institutions have provided data broken down by racial or ethnic group.
Harvard University accepted 992 students under its non-binding early action admissions plan from a pool of 4,692 applicants. Thus, over 21 percent of all early applicants were accepted for admission. Last year, less than 6 percent of all applicants to Harvard during both early and regular admission cycles were accepted. Harvard reports that of the 992 students accepted under early action this year, 98, or 9.9 percent, are African Americans. Last year, there were 77 African Americans accepted early at Harvard.
Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, accepted 237 students under its early decision plan. More than 42 percent of the college’s early decision applicants were accepted and they will make up about 43 percent of next fall’s entering class. Of the 237 students accepted in the early decision cycle, 19, or 8 percent, are African Americans.
