Harvard Accepts 1360, Hopes for Class of 1200

The College officially completed the largest admissions process in its history early this morning, having sifted through more applications than ever before, and finally dispatched letters of acceptance to 1360 candidates--13 more than last year.

The Office of Admissions expects that 83 per cent--or about 1115--of those accepted will finally decide to come to Harvard. This would leave 85 places towards a projected class of 1200 to be filled from the waiting list, late applications mainly from abroad, and previously accepted candidates who postponed their admissions date.

Among those accepted this year are 100 National Merit Scholars. According to Humphrey Doermann '52, director of admissions, the Class of '68 should roughly parallel the Class of '67 in many areas.

If statistical studies next fall confirm this forecast, the class will have a 57-43 public school-private school ratio and average college board aptitude scores hovering around the 700 mark.

Two years ago, however, the prediction went substantially astray. The size of the class of 1966 climbed to 1220, approximately 50 more than its target goal, and caused a room shortage in the Yard.

Doermann said that because of the prospective jump in tuition next fall from $1520 to $1760, the average scholarship for an incoming freshman will rise from $1250 to $1400.

The Faculty Committee on Admissions and Scholarships has allocated a total $685,000 to 490 new freshmen with the expectation that this figure will drop to $550,000 for approximately 400 freshmen.

12% Increase

Beginning March 18 the committee reviewed the approximately 5700 applications--nearly a 12 per cent increase over last year. Working from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week, it made the final selections Monday.

There seems to have been a slight increase in the number of acceptances from the far West, the South, and Greater Boston, Doermann noted. The offsetting factor, he added, is probably a small decrease in acceptance from rural Midwestern communities, although studies are definitely needed to substantiate this point.