Crisis Has Not Cut Admissions Yield

Recent events have not affected the percentage of students accepting Harvard's offer of admission to the freshman class.

Dr. Chase N. Peterson '52, dean of Admissions and Scholarships, said yesterday that this year's "yield" from admissions offers would be "about the same--within a percentage point" of last year's figure. Last year, about 85 per cent of those accepted at Harvard entered the freshman class.

The lack of a decline came as a surprise to the admissions office, Peterson said. "We anticipated that two things would drive it [the yield] down," he commented, citing the national publicity surrounding:

* The occupation of University Hall and its aftermath;

* The decision by Yale to admit women to next year's freshman class.

Harvard's admissions experience this year differs somewhat from that of Radcliffe. The number of girls accepting the Cliffe's admissions offer went down by about 30 this year--a decline attributed by the Radcliffe Admissions office to their new competition from Yale.

More than 90 per cent of the 109 blacks admitted are coming to Harvard, Peterson said. Last year, 55 blacks were admitted and nearly 100 per cent came here. Peterson attributed the percentage decline to increased recruiting of blacks by other colleges.

The distribution by residence of the class of 1973 will not vary much from that of the class of 1972, Peterson noted. "The most significant change appears to be greater success in inner city areas," he said, adding that the quality of applicants from the South and Far-West has also risen.

From 10 to 15 students wrote letters which turned down the University's offer of admission and gave the recent crisis as the reason. "They were obviously middle-of-the-road or conservative," Peterson said, commenting that the students felt that Harvard was not a University for persons of their political views.

Peterson wrote letters to some of them, urging them to reconsider their action. He said, "I told them if they really believe in what they say, they should come to Harvard and see if it holds up in the marketplace."