First-Year Perspectives: Why Harvard

Over the past five months, Harvard University and the Trump administration have clashed in a series of policy disputes. On April 14, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion of federal funding from Harvard; on April 16, the federal government threatened Harvard’s international student enrollment eligibility; and on April 21, Harvard filed suit against the administration. 

Even as the University resisted federal interference, the news quickly became personal for prospective undergraduates. As decision day approached, questions about visas, financial aid, and the institution loomed large. Now that those first-years are on campus, headlines persist, and so do questions about starting their college careers amid University uncertainty.

“[Harvard] was my original dream school. But as the college process went on, I thought, well, Harvard’s really hard to get into, so I didn’t really think I had a shot,” Jack Rubin ’29 said in an interview with the Independent. “For me, it was about location and opportunity. My main interest is politics and going into public office. The resources here at Harvard are impeccable for the career field I am interested in.” 

According to official statistics from Harvard Admissions, , an estimated 53,000 students applied to the Class of 2029, with only 1,950 receiving offers. For the Class of 2028, there were 54,000 applicants with 1,970 accepted, among whom 1,647 chose to enroll, according to the Harvard admissions office. 

For many incoming first-years, Harvard’s reputation was central to their choice.

“Who was going to say no to Harvard? No matter what I end up in, the name on the degree looks pretty good,” exclaimed Samara David ’29. 

“Harvard, being an extremely prestigious, if not one of the most prestigious schools, definitely helped me make the decision to go here most of all,” Jacob Thierman ’29 said.

As the nation’s oldest college, Harvard frequently attracts national attention—whether through debates over affirmative action and admissions, campus protests, or leadership controversies. The University also plays a prominent role in national politics, with notable alumni running in the 2024 elections and serving as elected officials. Recently, disputes over the balance of power between Harvard and the federal government have dominated front-page news. 

For some freshmen, daily reports about Harvard hardly weighed on their choice: “The politics with the Trump administration, they didn’t affect my decision,” Thierman said. “But they did make me feel an increased level of pride about going to Harvard after I got in.”

Others felt more stressed before arriving. “I was worried about the situation and how students would be treated, and how our incoming class would be shaped,” one freshman—who preferred to remain anonymous—told the Independent. “But I do really think Harvard has this really special student body, and I’m really proud to be part of this institution where President [Garber] is standing up.”

Many students cited Harvard’s opportunities and financial accessibility as a key reason for enrolling, though those very opportunities now feel at risk. “I was a little bit nervous, especially with funding, because the starting cost of the school wasn’t my ideal,” David said. “But then I could see things that were like ‘free tuition if you’re under this level of income.’ I was like, ‘Will that go away? Will that change?’” 

55% of Harvard undergraduates receive need-based aid from the University. Recent funding cuts, however, primarily impact research funding rather than tuition. 

“Some things you can’t control. I couldn’t control funding, but I can control my own decisions… I’m not going to let that ruin my 18-year dream,” Lydia Donahue-Wilfred ’29 said in an interview with the Independent.

The Class of 2029 seems to share Donahue-Wilfred’s outlook, pursuing what for many has been a lifelong aspiration. The Harvard name, after all, remains an enduring force, tied to generations of presidents, scholars, and Nobel laureates.

“The school’s older than the country itself… Harvard is supposed to embody certain values that it’s able to look at within a broader scale… It’s operating on a different time frame than any other institution,” Thierman said. 

While Harvard has long been a household name, it has also harbored connotations of wealth and privilege. Now students see the University’s high-profile disputes, and the coffers that allow for its defense, as a defense of intellectual independence—an example for other universities to follow. “Harvard is fighting back, and that’s something super important to me as a student to see that our institution is taking the stance and not giving in, which is the more convenient, easier path,” said the same anonymous student. 

Undergraduates have now begun to settle into life in the Yard as classes kicked off on Sept. 2, followed by the club fair on Sept. 5. First years have thousands of courses and 500 student organizations to choose from. Courses, extracurriculars, and friendships are at the forefront of student life. 

Many speak to the friendliness and feeling of belonging they have already experienced. “I feel like I’ve been really surprised by how social and also by how generally ‘normal’ people seem here… I found that people are obviously very smart, but also you’re just a kid and you’re probably not that different from the kids in my hometown,” Thierman reflected.

As events continue to unfold, Harvard has positioned itself as a principal institution in the debate over federal authority and higher education. Recent court rulings also soften the tension between the institution and the federal government, with the Supreme Court citing some of the Trump administration’s actions against the University as unlawful on Sept. 3.

“No matter what [Harvard’s] facing nationally, at the end of the day, people are still going to be like ‘They went through all of that and they’re still pumping out geniuses,” David said. 

Sophia Gonzalez ’28 (sophiagonzalez@college.harvard.edu) writes News for the Independent.