INCREASE IN NEW PLAN

The following statistics have been compiled to show the effect of the new plan entrance requirements on the geographical distribution of the Freshman class. This has been accomplished by a comparison of the number of men entering from each state under the new plan with the number of men entering from the same state, under the old plan. The figures prove that the introduction of the new system has well accomplished the result for which it was established, namely, the broadening of the territory from which Harvard draws its undergraduates. This fact is easily proved by comparing the percentage of total admissions which New England has under the old system with the percentage the New England states have under the new system. Out of a total of 491 men admitted to the class of 1916 under the old plan 346 came from New England, while with the new plan men only 76 out of 154 were from New England. In other words, the New England states supplied 49.3 per cent of the total number of new system men, while of the old they furnished 70.4 per cent.

Larger Percentage Admitted This Year.

It is also of interest to note the change which has taken place in the operation of the new plan during the past year in the percentage of men admitted over the percentage of men rejected. In 1911, 59.4 per cent of the total number of applicants were admitted, while 40.2 per cent were rejected. On the other hand, in 1912, out of a total of 213 applicants 154, or 72.3 per cent, secured entrance, while 59, or 27.6 per cent, failed. This considerable growth since last year in the percentage of men admitted over the total number who applied under the new requirements, should not be taken as a sign that any considerable change has taken place in the strictness with which the new plan requirements will be enforced, but rather that a fuller understanding has been acquired among both principals and students of elementary schools as to the purpose for which the change was instituted, and that there has developed a realization of the fact that, for the average boy in a private school, the old plan continues to be the easier method of admission. Evidence that the new plan does not greatly affect the private schools is shown by the fact that out of the total of 154 new plan men 124 came from public schools.

Comparison of 1911 and 1912.

The following is a comparison by states and groups of states of the number of men admitted to the classes of 1915 and 1916 under the new and old plans, the total increase in admissions this year over last being exactly ten: New Plan.  Old Plan.   1911  1912  1911  1912 North Atlantic Division. Connecticut,  3  3  17  5 Maine,  2  5  3  4 Massachusetts,  34  64  401  326 New Hampshire,  0  1  41  7 Rhode Island,  0  1  11  3 Vermont,  1  2  0  1 New England (total),  40  76  473  346 New Jersey,  5  7  9  5 New York,  12  19  33  58 Pennsylvania,  4  14  5  13 Total,  61  116  520  422 South Atlantic Division. Delaware,  0  2  0  0 Dist. of Columbia,  3  1  0  0 Florida,  0  1  0  1 Georgia,  1  1  0  0 Maryland,  0  0  1  4 North Carolina,  0  0  0  2 Virginia,  1  0  0  1 Total,  5  7  1  8 North Central Division. Illinois,  2  4  8  20 Indiana,  0  2  0  2 Iowa,  0  1  0  1 Michigan,  1  1  3  4 Minnesota,  1  4  2  1 Missouri,  2  2  2  3 Nebraska,  1  1  0  0 Ohio,  3  10  8  9 Wisconsin,  1  0  1  2 Total,  11  25  24  43 South Central Division. Alabama,  1  0  0  0 Arkansas,  0  0  0  1 Kentucky,  1  1  0  2 Louisiana,  0  0  0  1 Oklahoma,  0  1  0  1 Texas,  0  1  1  0 Total,  2  3  1  5 Western Division. California,  0  0  0  3 Colorado,  1  0  0  0 Idaho,  0  1  0  2 Montana,  0  0  0  1 Oregon,  0  0  0  3 Washington,  3  0  1  0 Total,  4  1  1  9 Insular Possessions. Hawaii,  0  0  1  1 Foreign, Austria,  0  1  0  0 Canada,  0  1  1  1 England,  0  0  2  0 Germany,  0  0  1  1 Siam,  0  0  0  1 Switzerland,  0  0  0  1 Total,  0  2  4  4 Grand total,  83  154  552  491 1911, 635; 1912, 645.