Spring 2009:  Harvard, MIT, Duke, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton and Stanford reported record numbers of applications this year. More than 29,000 students applied to Harvard, breaking last year’s record by more than 5% with nearly 78% seeking financial aid, compared with 73% last year.

Princeton received 21,869 applications (2.3% increase) according to a statement issued by the University with 75% of applicants seeking financial aid, up from 70% last year.

MIT’s applications rose 17%, according to Stuart Schmill, dean of admissions. Some of the increase is attributed to greater awareness of financial-aid opportunities at MIT.

Stanford received more than 30,000 regular applications, an estimated 20% increase from last year. Nearly 25,000 students applied to Brown, an increase of more than 20 percent.

Applications to Duke exceeded 23,500, a 17% increase. Yale anticipates an increase of more than 13% in applications.

Applications for the Class of 2013 at Dartmouth broke last year’s record. More than 18,000 applications were received, nearly a 9% increase, according to Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Maria Laskaris.

Northwestern, which experienced a 54% spike in applications over the past three years, expects a 3 to 4 percent increase this year.  Last year, more than 25,000 students applied to Northwestern University.

Record applications will result in record rejections. In 2008 Harvard rejected a record 93% of undergraduate applicants, a record expected to be broken this year.