How has Harvard's admit rate changed over time?

I've heard that Harvard’s admission rates have been fluctuating a bit, but finding up-to-date data seems impossible. Can anyone shed some light on the recent trends in Harvard's admission rates and how they've changed over the past few years?

You're correct that admission rates to Harvard University—and many other highly selective schools—are subject to change over time due to various factors such as an increasing number of applicants, changes in application strategy (e.g., early decision vs. regular decision), and alterations to the university's own admission policies.

In the past two decades, Harvard's admit rate has decreased significantly due to the increase in the number of applications the school receives annually. For instance, in 2000, Harvard's admission rate was about 11.5%, compared to less than 5% in recent years.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in applications was particularly notable due to the shift to test-optional policies. For example, for the Class of 2025, Harvard received a record 57,000 applications, a 43% increase from the previous year, driving the admit rate down to a record low of 3.4%.

It's important to note that while these data can help paint a general picture of trends over time, they should not greatly influence an individual's decision to apply to Harvard or similar schools. Each application is considered individually, and many factors beyond acceptance rates come into play during the admissions process. Investing effort in crafting a strong and unique application will do much more to increase a students' odds of acceptance than obsessing over statistical trends.