Local News After a year of turmoil, Harvard’s applications drop Applications to Harvard College were down this year, even as many other highly selective schools hit record highs. Pedestrians were reflected in a window near the Harvard campus. Applications to Harvard College were down this year, even as many other highly selective schools hit record highs. The drop suggests that a year of turmoil — which went into overdrive with a student letter that said Israel was “entirely responsible” for the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks — may have dented Harvard’s reputation and deterred some students from applying. Harvard’s announcement Thursday...