I remember how it was -- JR
Students rejecting early Harvard acceptance as antisemitism stigma plagues Ivy League institution
A place at Harvard used to be something to boast about — now students fear it’s a stigma.
Early applicants who received acceptance letters from the university last week are considering applying elsewhere, The Post has learned.
Some are citing concerns about experiencing campus antisemitism, while others worry a Harvard degree could hurt job prospects as employers pledge not to hire its graduates because of the university’s handling of anti-Israel protests.
This year, the school reported a 17% drop in early applications, representing a four-year low. And their acceptance rate creeped up to 8.7% from 7.6% last year.
One driver, according to college admissions consultant Christopher Rim, is students concerned that they may get tainted by the storm around the college’s antisemitism problem.
“I think it’s current events at play,” Rim told The Post. “They’re getting the worst PR ever right now.”
Thirty Harvard student groups sparked outrage in October by signing a letter saying Israel was “entirely responsible” for the October 7 attacks, while the university’s president Claudine Gay has faced pressure to resign after she testified to Congress about campus antisemitism and was forced to apologize afterwards for her disastrous performance.
Rim, who is the founder and CEO of Command Education, says every single one of his clients who applied early to Harvard this year were accepted — but that not all of them are satisfied.
“Normally, once you get into Harvard, my team and I are done. We’re like great, it’s a success, congratulations, goodbye,” Rim said.
But one particular client’s family wasn’t celebrating. Instead of taking their offer from Harvard, the student is now scrambling to send applications to the remaining Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, and Emory.
The student, who is not Jewish, is applying elsewhere over concerns that going to Harvard might hurt employment prospects.
Rim was shocked: “I was like, ‘Why would you do Emory if you’ve already gotten into Harvard?’”
The student cited billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman’s tirade against Harvard over antisemitism — as well as dozens of CEOs’ commitment not to hire Harvard Students who blamed Israel for Hamas’s attack.
Similarly, a boutique law firm halted on-campus recruiting at Harvard, and even Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy pledged not to hire a Harvard graduate ever again.
“This was the first time this concern has ever come up with a client,” Rim said. “They told me, ‘I just don’t like that attention on Harvard if it’s going to hurt my child’s chances of getting the right job in the future.’”
But, even though the school is losing applicants, Rim says Harvard seems to be spinning the news as a positive.
“Harvard really touted the increased acceptance rate…,” he said. “I think they want to distance themselves from their image as stuffy, elitist and selective because of all the bad press they’ve been getting.”
While Harvard hemorrhages applicants, other schools are absorbing the overflow.
This year early college applications soared by 41%, as compared with the 2019 admissions cycle.
Yale saw its lowest early acceptance rate in over 20 years. Meanwhile, Rim reports Duke, in Durham, North Carolina, and Emory, in Atlanta, Georgia, are popular with students seeking alternatives to the Ivy League.
Duke reported 1,000 more applicants than any previous early decision round, a remarkable 28% increase from last year.
“The second tier schools are becoming even more viable options, so their acceptance rates are going to continue to drop,” Rim projected.
Several of Rim’s own clients changed up their early applications in the wake of campus antisemitism.
One who decided not to apply early to Cornell after a student made violent threats against Jewish classmates just received an admissions offer from Stanford, where they applied early instead.
Another client submitted his binding early decision application to Cornell before the October 7th attacks took place. He just got a binding acceptance but has already contacted Rim to discuss transfer options for next year.
“It’s a binding contract, so the student is stuck,” Rim explained. “How was he supposed to know all of this would happen?”
But some other students are wishing they had applied to Harvard early now that the school appears to be getting less selective.
Rim says multiple clients have expressed regrets that they didn’t capitalize on the 17% drop.
That’s why he anticipates Harvard’s early application numbers will probably recover — especially since Harvard offers a non-binding early action application.
“I do think there are going to be more applications [next year],” Rim suggested. “If you feel like you have a better chance, why not go for it?”
https://nypost.com/2023/12/18/news/students-reject-harvard-places-over-campus-antisemitism/
*************************************************This year, give the gift that keeps on giving — a real education for our kids
Admit it. Unless you received a big-ticket item for Christmas last year — such as a car — you likely have forgotten what was under your tree. Most gifts wear out, break or are given or thrown away at some point.
What if you could give a gift that would literally keep on giving and continue to influence the lives of others for generations to come?
Would that be worth more than material stuff?
Such an opportunity exists through the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which has been helping especially low-income parents have a choice and children a chance to have a better education and a better life.
I am a regular contributor to CSF and have seen the difference it has made in the lives of children, many of whom were locked in failing public schools thanks to certain politicians and teachers unions that oppose school choice for strictly political reasons while some hypocritically send their kids to private schools.
Illinois recently and cynically refused to continue funding a popular school-choice program in the state that was benefiting 9,600 low-income kids. It expires Dec. 31.
CSF is showing positive results.
President and CEO Darla Romfo says during just the current academic year scholarships are being provided to 33,945 students nationwide.
In New York City alone, CSF is providing scholarships to more than 7,000 children this year.
They are attending more than 200 low-tuition private independent and faith-based schools in all five city boroughs.
The graduation rate for scholarship recipients beats those from public schools.
Romfo notes 96.2% of CSF alumni in New York report graduating high school on time.
I would argue they likely receive a better education than the 83.7% of public-school graduates.
With the exception of Illinois, school choice is sweeping the nation.
Just this year 10 states expanded or passed new education-savings-accounts programs, allowing money to follow a child to a private school, home school or micro-school or to be used for education expenses such as tutoring.
Letters from grateful parents are heartwarming.
Here are just two of hundreds.
Amanda, the mother of CSF Scholar Matthew, wrote this: “When Matthew and I talk about how much we appreciate this award, I use the opportunity to remind him that as a recipient, we are grateful that he will be offered the opportunities to reach his full potential. But most importantly, I remind him that one day . . . he will be able to help someone else and make a difference and an investment in their — and our — collective futures.”
And this from Laticia, who wrote to tell about her daughter, Laya: “I would like to say thank you for believing in my daughter and giving her an opportunity for a better chance at life. We will not let you down. . . . It means the world to our family.”
What gift could mean more to the receiver and the giver than this?
Having the opportunity to change a life for the better now and for many years into the future beats anything you can buy in a store or online that will soon be gone and forgotten.
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Pennsylvania School District Does Damage Control After Memo to Bus Drivers Goes Viral
A Pennsylvania school is attempting to do damage control after issuing a memo instructing bus drivers to remove Christmas decorations from their vehicles, stop wearing anything related to the holiday, and avoid playing Christmas music.
“If you have decorated your bus with anything specific to the Christmas Holiday or any other decorations relating to a specific religion, please remove them immediately,” read the Dec. 15 memo from the Transportation Supervisor at the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District. “In addition, employees are instructed not to wear clothing related to Christmas or any other religious holiday.”
District offices and bus drivers are also “to refrain from playing Christmas music” or any music connected to a particular religion.
Libs of TikTok pointed out the district took a different attitude toward “Pride Month.”
After the memo went viral, the district tried to claim the memo was a misunderstanding, telling Fox29 the message was "not clear." Holiday displays are not banned, their statement to the outlet said, emphasizing that employees should strive to create an "inclusive environment."
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My other blogs: Main ones below
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM)
http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
http://jonjayray.com/blogall.html More blogs
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