Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College et al
Filing
454
DECLARATION of Michael Connolly in Support of SFFA's Opposition to Harvard's Motion for Summary Judgment by Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 262, # 2 Exhibit 263, # 3 Exhibit 264, # 4 Exhibit 265, # 5 Exhibit 266, # 6 Exhibit 267, # 7 Exhibit 268, # 8 Exhibit 269, # 9 Exhibit 270, # 10 Exhibit 271, # 11 Exhibit 272, # 12 Exhibit 273, # 13 Exhibit 274, # 14 Exhibit 275, # 15 Exhibit 276, # 16 Exhibit 277, # 17 Exhibit 278, # 18 Exhibit 279, # 19 Exhibit 280, # 20 Exhibit 281, # 21 Exhibit 282, # 22 Exhibit 283, # 23 Exhibit 284, # 24 Exhibit 285)(Consovoy, William) (Additional attachment(s) added on 7/31/2018: # 25 Unredacted DECLARATION of Michael Connolly in Support of SFFA's Opposition to Harvard's Motion for Summary Judgment (Filed Under Seal), # 26 Exhibit 262 (Filed Under Seal), # 27 Exhibit 263 (Filed Under Seal), # 28 Exhibit 264 (Filed Under Seal), # 29 Exhibit 265 (Filed Under Seal), # 30 Exhibit 266 (Filed Under Seal), # 31 Exhibit 267 (Filed Under Seal), # 32 Exhibit 268 (Filed Under Seal), # 33 Exhibit 269 (Filed Under Seal), # 34 Exhibit 270 (Filed Under Seal), # 35 Exhibit 271 (Filed Under Seal), # 36 Exhibit 272 (Filed Under Seal), # 37 Exhibit 273 (Filed Under Seal), # 38 Exhibit 274 (Filed Under Seal), # 39 Exhibit 275 (Filed Under Seal), # 40 Exhibit 276 (Filed Under Seal), # 41 Exhibit 277 (Filed Under Seal), # 42 Exhibit 278 (Filed Under Seal), # 43 Exhibit 279 (Filed Under Seal), # 44 Exhibit 280 (Filed Under Seal), # 45 Exhibit 281 (Filed Under Seal), # 46 Exhibit 282 (Filed Under Seal), # 47 Exhibit 283 (Filed Under Seal), # 48 Exhibit 284 (Filed Under Seal), # 49 Exhibit 285 (Filed Under Seal)) (McDonagh, Christina).
EXHIBIT 271
College admits 2,037
The members of the Harvard Class of 2020 have received their acceptance notifications. The College is admitting 2,037
applicants from a record pool of 39,041. File photo by Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer
he members of the Harvard Class of 2020 received their
acceptance notifications at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Letters
were opened across America and around the globe,
inviting students from different backgrounds and life
experiences to join and contribute to one of Harvard’s
most enriching and diverse classes to date.
The College is admitting 2,037 applicants from a record pool of
39,041.
“Harvard’s financial aid program allows us to attract and bring
together outstanding students from profoundly different walks of
life who contribute enormously to our classroom and residential
learning environments,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of
admissions and financial aid. “For the Class of 2020 admissions,
economic diversity has increased, and records were set for both
African-American and Asian-American students. Since launching
the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) in 2005, Harvard
awarded nearly $1.5 billion in financial aid to undergraduates, and
those investments have shaped a learning environment for all of
our students that is truly remarkable by any standard.”
Harvard costs the same or less than most public universities for 90
percent of American families, and students can graduate debtfree, since no loans are required. One in five of Harvard families
has an annual income of less than $65,000 and pays nothing
toward the cost of their students’ education.
The majority of Harvard students receive need-based financial aid,
and the average family contribution is $11,000. Families with
incomes up to $150,000 and typical assets pay 10 percent or less of
their annual incomes. In addition, families with higher incomes
can receive need-based aid depending on individual
circumstances.
Although many families are still completing their financial aid
forms, the percentage applying for financial aid has risen, more
were eligible for application fee waivers, and preliminary
assessments indicate that more families need substantial
assistance.
“Harvard’s financial aid program awards need-based grants and
never requires students to take out loans to cover the cost of their
education,” said Sally C. Donahue, Griffin Director of Financial
Aid. “If you have questions, we’re here to help. Our office will be
open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT in April and on
Sunday, April 17, during the visiting program to speak with
admitted students and their families. We stand ready to assist
students with financial concerns at any point during their College
years.”
As part of its financial aid program, Harvard spent $3.3 million in
2015 to help students pay for health insurance, books, travel costs
home, fees for events, performances, activities, and more so that
every student could engage in the Harvard experience.
For about one in five freshmen in the incoming class, there will be
new help to make the transition to college: a $2,000 “start-up”
grant awarded to those whose annual family income is $65,000 or
less. The grant is part of a three-year pilot program providing
additional support to eligible incoming freshmen.
“Student recruiters for the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative are
vitally important to the many prospective applicants concerned
about financial aid,” said Pharen Bowman, director of the
program.
“When students hear firsthand from students that Harvard is
financially possible for those from modest income backgrounds,
the message of access is personalized and the dream of attending
Harvard becomes real,” said Mike Esposito, assistant director.
A record 14 percent of the admitted students are AfricanAmerican, and 22.1 percent are Asian-American, also a record.
Latinos are 12.7 percent after last year’s record 13.3 percent; Native
Americans are 2.2 percent (1.5 percent last year); and Native
Hawaiians are 0.4 percent (0.5 percent last year).
“Undergraduate student recruitment is the heart and soul of our
efforts to reach students from many different backgrounds,” said
Kaitlin Howrigan, associate director of recruitment. “Student
groups reach out directly to prospective applicants, working
together where appropriate, to enroll the best class each year.”
“Members of the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program
(UMRP) played a major role in making the Class of 2020 one of the
most diverse in our history,” said Tia Ray, director of the UMRP.
“Our dedicated student coordinators have been able to build on
the decades of success created by those who are now alumni and
are helping us in numerous ways with our work,” she said.
Women constitute 48.4 percent of the admitted students
compared with 48 percent last year. About 15 percent of the
students admitted to the class are first-generation.
The Harvard First Generation Program (HFGP) informs
prospective students and their families that Harvard has long
sought those whose parents have not graduated from a four-year
college. “The program promotes early college awareness,
providing information to help first-generation students navigate
the admissions process, and works closely with the Harvard First
Generation Student Union, a student organization formed in
2013,” said Niki Johnson, who leads the program. This new
initiative adds to the efforts of Kevin Jennings, who organized
alumni through the Harvard Alumni Association to serve as
mentors, sponsor recruiting events, and reinforce Harvard’s
commitment to those who will be the first in their families to
attend.
The geographic origins of the class are similar to last year. About
23 percent come from the mid-Atlantic states, 20 percent from the
Western and Mountain states, 18 percent from the South, 16
percent from New England, 11 percent from the Midwest, and 12
percent from the U.S. territories and abroad. International citizens
make up 10.4 percent of the class, and 8.9 percent are U.S. dual
citizens. Eighty-three countries are represented, compared with
79 last year.
Compared with last year, larger percentages of admitted students
intend to concentrate in the humanities (16.9 percent vs. 14.8
percent), engineering (14 percent vs. 12.4 percent), math (7.5
percent vs. 6.4 percent), physical sciences (7.3 percent vs. 6.9
percent), and computer science (7.2 percent vs. 5.9 percent). There
were declines in the social sciences (21.9 percent vs. 26 percent),
biological sciences (18.9 percent vs. 20.1 percent), and undecided
(6.4 percent vs. 7.6 percent).
“Once again the applicant pool reflected great strength in terms of
standard academic credentials,” said Marlyn E. McGrath, director
of admissions. About 13,600 students scored 700 or above on the
SAT critical reading test; 15,700 scored 700 or above on the SAT
math test; 13,600 scored 700 or higher on the SAT writing test;
and 3,300 were ranked first in their high school classes.
“Standardized test scores and grades are only two of the many
factors of interest to our faculty as they identify promising
scholars for the next generation. Faculty members have devoted
many hours to evaluating research and portfolios across all
academic and creative disciplines,” said McGrath.
Outreach to admitted students will be important over the next
few weeks. Members of the Undergraduate Admissions Council,
UMRP, HFAI, and HFGP, the admissions and financial aid staff,
teaching faculty, and alumni will write, email, telephone, and meet
with admitted students.
“Over 10,000 loyal alumni volunteers are crucial in helping
admitted students envision themselves at Harvard,” said Bryce
Gilfillian, coordinator of the admissions alumni network. “Their
interviews are more important than ever as we make our
admissions decisions. They visit schools, call newly admitted
students, and host gatherings for them in April. They are a
constant inspiration to us in Cambridge and to prospective
Harvard students.”
A visiting program for admitted students is scheduled for April 1618. The program, known as Visitas, enables guests to sample
classes, attend faculty panel discussions, concerts, receptions,
department open houses, symposia, and events organized by
extracurricular groups. More than 1,400 admitted students are
expected to visit during Visitas weekend.
“Students admitted to Harvard have many other college choices
they could make. Past experience indicates that Visitas often
makes the difference in their decision to come to Harvard,” said
Visitas Director Timothy Smith. “We have found that many
students decide to attend Harvard based on their interaction with
faculty and future classmates.”
Admitted students have until May 1 to accept their offers of
admission.