The U.S. Department of Education is currently investigating Harvard’s undergraduate admissions in response to a complaint that the process discriminates against Asian Americans, according to a Department of Education spokesperson.

For the first time in five years, Harvard College has seen a dip in applications.

As 2011 comes to an end, The Crimson looks back at the most important events at Harvard over the year.

At 5 p.m. yesterday evening, 4,231 high school seniors received an email from the Harvard College admissions office that may determine the next four years of their lives, or at least whether or not they have to spend their winter vacations frantically writing college essays. Of these 4,231 applicants, 772 were accepted to Harvard under the newly reinstated early action program. A few of them took a break from their revelry to discuss their happy news.

Harvard College announced Thursday that it accepted 18 percent of the 4,231 early applicants to the Class of 2016. These 772 students mark the first group to be admitted early since the College eliminated its early admission program four years ago.

Harvard does not consider age as a factor when admitting students to the incoming freshmen class, administrators say, and once admitted to the College, young students say that, for the most part, they’re able to fit in.

As Harvard reintroduces early admissions, it should seek additional ways to increase access for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. One way the admissions office could do so is by abolishing policies that privilege children of alumni, or legacies. Harvard should pursue this option. The admissions office should not consider legacy status as a criterion for admittance.

In the first year after reinstating its early admission program, Harvard College received 4,245 applications for early admission to the Class of 2016.

We welcome the College’s decision to offer students the option to self-identify as queer.

The College is considering adding language to its application for admission that would allow prospective students to self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 told The Crimson.