Harvard Can No Longer Admit International Students: What This Means for Our Work
Yesterday, in a move that stunned the academic world, the U.S. government revoked Harvard University’s ability to admit international students. For families and students who have long considered Harvard the pinnacle of academic achievement, this is not just a policy change. For many, this news represents generational heartbreak—the dimming of a North Star that has guided families’ academic aspirations for decades.
At Admissions Avenue, we work with some of Canada’s most ambitious and high-achieving students to help them earn admission to elite universities around the world. Harvard has always occupied a special place in that landscape—a global beacon of excellence, leadership, and opportunity. This new development has upended that vision for many of our students, especially those who are first- and second-generation Canadians whose families came to this country with the hope of opening doors that were closed to them elsewhere.
A Deeply Personal Moment
This news hits especially close to home: I’m a Canadian who attended Harvard College. I was a third-year student when Trump was elected to his first term in office, and I saw firsthand how both the perception and reality of a seismic shift in political landscapes can change a student body and a university at large. It creates uncertainty, distrust, and fear. Especially when that shift is away from, as Harvard would say, Veritas.
I also saw many students and scholars leaving the very institution often considered the Mecca of higher education. One student I knew was denied re-entry to the United States for issues that would not have existed during the previous administration. My first year chemistry professor — with whom I enjoyed burritos every other Wednesday or so — left a fully tenured position at Harvard shortly after Trump’s 2016 election. (He is now a professor at the University of Toronto, which is a wonderful gain for Canada). And countless other peers left the United States after graduation because they simply could not — or, most often, did not want to — stay in an America that was, in their views, devaluing higher education. This was all not because of something the University did, but because of the government of where it is located.
Now, I find myself having to tell students whom I am coaching that the path I once followed is no longer open to them. And that reality is deeply painful. Harvard changed my life. It opened doors I never imagined. And I’ve shared my experiences with countless students who set their sights high and their standards for themselves even higher. Given this, there is certainly a level of regret that comes with yesterday’s news. But we will keep fighting for our students and prepare them for whatever the admissions landscape is at the time of their application — whether Harvard, or other American institutions, are available to them or not.
Our Response: Strategy, Not Panic, and a Global Mindset
So what does this mean for applicants today? For many, not much. For others, it means it’s time to pivot from a U.S.-centric mindset to a truly global one.
At Admissions Avenue, we’ve always believed in elite education—and not only focused in one country. We work with students to apply to top-tier programs across Canada, the U.K., the EU, Switzerland, Singapore, and beyond. There are world-class institutions around the world that continue to welcome international talent with open arms, clear policies, and stable governance.
With our help, our students have overcome obstacles to find their true passions and craft the best version of their high school experience - and, in turn, their university applications. We’re going to continue that work. And right now, that means continuing to diversify their strategies and keeping an open mind to higher education institutions around the world. In some ways, not much has changed: we always encourage our students to keep as many doors open as possible, giving them and their families optionality at the time of applying to, and choosing to matriculate at, the world’s top universities.
Moving Forward
This is a difficult moment, especially for those who’ve worked toward Harvard for years. We understand the heartbreak, the confusion, and the fear. But we also know that excellence, ambition, and impact aren’t confined to any one school or border.
Our commitment to our students is simple: we will always be honest about what’s happening, we will always be strategic in how we advise you, and we will always be by your side—no matter where your path leads.
If you’re one of our students and are wondering how this affects your plans: you’ve already received an update from one of our coaches.
If you’re not one of our students and are wondering what steps to take next, reach out. We’re here to help you navigate through the noise and find clarity in the chaos.
-Connor
Founder, Admissions Avenue
Harvard College ‘18