Ivy League admissions more selective this year

More rejection letters -- that's the trend in Ivy League admissions this year as several schools hit all-time lows in their applicant acceptance rates. Harvard University, which received a record number of applications -- 17,700 -- accepted only 2,124 -- its lowest acceptance rate ever, barely more than 10 percent. And Brown University's acceptance rate was 20 percent-- four percent lower than last year. It also received an all-time high of applications this year. Princeton University accepted 2,010 students, which amounts to the same 14 percent acceptance rate as last year. Yale University accepted 2,400 of its 12,617 applicants, also consistent with last year's numbers. Dartmouth College reported that it was "more selective" than last year in accepting 2,163 of its applicants. Columbia University accepted 22.7 percent of those who applied -- down from 24.6 percent last year. The process was more competitive and selective than in past years, according to Columbia admissions spokespersons. And Cornell University accepted 33 percent of its 20,578 applicants -- the same rate as last year. The University had one of its most selective years ever with a 33 percent acceptance rate. Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said last night that the University's large class size makes it harder to move the admission rate down. "We made major progress this year both in admit rate and quality of the entering class," he said. "We must reach the point where we don't compare ourselves to the other Ivies." Stetson added that the University has improved its selectivity greatly over the last few years, pointing out that two years ago the acceptance rate was over 40 percent. "We turned away this year the same number of students that we had applications from five years ago," he said. Stetson added that through talking with rejected students, his department has learned that they have turned down a higher caliber student than in the past. "Based on the responses, it is clear that we have turned away students who have very strong alternative opportunities," he said. Stetson said he is confident the University will be able to enroll students who were accepted to other Ivy League schools. "My sense is that we will do well against the other selective schools," she said. "It will be interesting to see how many we enroll." He added that as the University continues to lower its class size, the admission rate will decrease.