The Ratio Stops At 60-40

The Strauch Report makes it clear that one of the primary motives behind the move to equal access is the desire to increase the number of women in the College.

But for those who are waiting for the day when Harvard-Radcliffe admits equal numbers of men and women, the wait promises to be a long one.

With the entrance of next fall's freshman class, the aim President Bok announced shortly after taking office to reduce the male-female ration to 2.5 to 1 will have been fulfilled. The latest projections are that the ratio in the fall will dip to 2.3 to 1.

However, the progress promises to be grudging for at least the next three years. Radcliffe's pool of applicants is still less than half the size of Harvard's, and the trial runs the two offices have made indicate that under Harvard-Radcliffe's version of equal access, the ratio of admissions will roughly correspond to the ratio of the applicant pools.

It appears that the best women can hope for is achieving a 60-40 split of men and women over the next five years. Apparently, this is the ratio Stanford. Yale and Princeton have discovered to emerge under equal access.

Whether the 60-40 split has been received from heaven or just dictated as an arbitrary figure necessary to preserve, the image of Harvard. President Bok has set his mind on this ratio. It's doubtful anyone will overrule the president of Harvard on the issue.