<p>As Harvards early-admissions chapter comes to a close, a plot twist has emerged: the number of early applicants for the Class of 2011 actually increased by 3.5 percent over the previous year. </p>
<p>The early-applicant pool saw increases in the number of international students and aspiring engineers vying for spots in the Class of 2011. </p>
<p>In addition, the number of Mexican-Americans seeking admission increased by 25 percent, while the number of Hispanic-Americans jumped by 13 percent. The number of African-American applicants increased by 6.4 percent, according to Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons 67. </p>
<p>Harvards increase in early applicants comes as the College plans to end its early-admissions program beginning with the Class of 2012. The move was announced in September as a way of making the admissions process fairer for low-income and minority applicants. </p>
<p>This year, 4,005 Harvard hopefuls applied for single-choice early action, compared to 3,869 applicants last year.</p>