The number applications to attend Harvard University dropped by about 5% this year following months of problems including antisemitism on campus the and school president stepping down after her handling of the matter and allegations of plagerism in her academic work.
While Harvard had nearly 57,000 applicants for the class of 2027, it had about 54,000 for the incoming class of 2028.
The Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Palestinian-led Hamas on Israel, then Israel’s declaration of war in response sparked incidents of antisemitism at the Ivy League school and elsewhere in the country.
Then-Harvard President Claudine Gay came under fire for her handling of the antisemitism on campus. She resigned resigned in January following dozens of plagiarism allegations.