Get in touch: +1-800-991-8924
Get in touch: +1-800-991-0126
Get a Free Consultation
Get Free Profile Evaluation
Always dreamed of studying at Harvard? Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to get into Harvard.
As a household name, Harvard University’s prestige makes it an attractive institution for college hopefuls. Harvard’s world-class education can help set you up for success after graduation.
This guide will explore Harvard’s requirements, class profile information, and how to apply. You’ll find advice and tips for writing essays and navigating the interview process.
According to U.S. News and World Report’s recent ranking, Harvard University is the nation’s #2 university. Crafting the perfect application can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re applying to a top-ranked school. However, if your dream is to attend a world-renowned school, this guide will teach you how to get into Harvard.
Before we discuss Harvard University’s requirements, here’s a breakdown of some key information you should know about the school.
Harvard University was established in 1636, making it the country’s oldest university. Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University’s main campus lies next to the picturesque Charles River, offering students the blended experience of scenic views and the excitement of the bustling city.
Harvard Square is filled with delights for students, boasting unique establishments, including the Harvard Book Store, Brattle Theatre, Harvard Film Archive, Club Passim, and more. The neighborhoods of Boston are just a short public transportation ride away, where you can see museums, cultural attractions, and the city’s iconic brownstones.
Harvard encompasses 12 graduate and professional schools, including the infamous Harvard Business School, the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and the undergraduate Harvard College. Harvard has an expansive network of over 400,000 alumni worldwide.
Harvard College states that it provides “an undergraduate experience like no other” to its students, emphasizing an inclusive and community-centered environment with world-class faculty and exciting research opportunities.
The college has numerous resources available to students, including library and museum collections. At the heart of the campus are the Houses, where undergraduates live during their studies.
There are 12 Houses in total that Harvard students are sorted into (and no, there are no Houses named Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff, or a sorting hat, for that matter).
Within the Houses, students “live and learn alongside their peers, faculty members, and graduate students.” Each House facilitates a profound feeling of community among its inhabitants, offering an enriching supportive environment.
Harvard College’s mission is to “educate future leaders…woven throughout the Harvard College experience, inspiring every member of our community to strive toward a more just, fair, and promising world.” The college aspires to succeed by offering transformative liberal arts and sciences education to its students.
The goal is for students to “begin to fashion their lives by gaining a sense of what they want to do with their gifts and talents, assessing their values and interests, and learning how they can best serve the world.”
Overall, Harvard College’s vision is to sustain the conditions that allow its students to self-discover through their educational journey in a way that shapes them intellectually, socially, and personally.
Let’s dive into Harvard University’s requirements so you know precisely what’s expected of you.
If you’re still in high school, it’s likely your school will send your transcripts to Harvard with few or no senior grades. Because of this, Harvard asks that applicants request their school counselor to send a midyear school report. This report allows the admissions committee to check the first half of your senior year academic performance.
If you’re applying Early Restrictive Action, which we will cover later in this guide, you will not be required to submit the midyear school report by the November deadline.
If you’re an international student, the admissions committee expects your school will send predicted grades “based on your current classroom work and the results of any internal or mock exams you have taken up to that point.”
However, if your school doesn’t issue official or mock midyear grades in your senior year, you are not required to send a midyear report.
Unfortunately, there is no magic GPA to guarantee your acceptance – there are no Harvard GPA requirements. The admissions committee maintains that “there is no such thing as ‘a typical Harvard student,’” and carefully examines each application as a whole.
However, due to Harvard’s competitiveness, submitting a GPA that exceeds the average of admitted students or higher can undoubtedly bolster your application.
Even if you’ve already graduated high school and your GPA is not as high as you’d like, don’t let it discourage you. Prospective students are accepted to top universities even without astounding GPAs because they’ve crafted stellar applications.
You need two teachers in two different academic subjects to complete teacher evaluation forms. Ideally, these teachers should know you quite well and should be able to speak to your character.
The teacher evaluation form asks your recommender to speak about your qualities, including your
Along with the mandatory teacher evaluation forms, you can submit additional letters of recommendation after you apply from a link in your confirmation email after you apply.
Harvard College has adopted a test-optional policy, which allows students to submit their SAT or ACT scores if they believe it would “convey their accomplishments in secondary school and their promise for the future.”
If you do decide to send ACT or SAT scores for consideration, keep in mind that there’s also no definitive score that guarantees your acceptance or rejection. These are the average score ranges earned by past admitted students:
Source: U.S. News
While your test score can act as a litmus test for your college readiness, it’s only one factor the admissions committee considers. Harvard College states, “standardized tests provide a rough yardstick of what a student has learned over time and how that student might perform academically in college.”
Remember, there are many ways to showcase your college readiness to the admissions committee that have nothing to do with the SAT or ACT scores, including your maturity, potential, and enthusiasm.
Harvard College's most recent class had a 3.41% acceptance rate, the second-lowest in the college's history. Out of the total 56,937 applications received, only 1,942 students were admitted. Here’s a breakdown of Harvard's acceptance rates for each decision pathway:
Harvard offers a Restrictive Early Action program where candidates can apply earlier but are restricted from applying to other private universities, although they may still apply to public or foreign schools.
Restrictive Early Action can be an attractive option if Harvard is your first choice, you want to know if you’ll be accepted earlier than other applicants, and “your record and accomplishments have been consistently strong over time.”The program is non-binding, meaning you're not obligated to enroll if you’re accepted.
Out of the 9,553 candidates that applied early for this application cycle, only 722 students were accepted. This gives Harvard its second-lowest early action acceptance rate at 7.56%. Despite this low rate, the early applicant pool increased from the previous year, with a total of 9,553 students applying for early admission.
Due to Harvard’s reputation and popularity, the demand for seats at the school is high. Historically, Harvard College’s acceptance rate is on the low end, with an admissions rate falling below 6% for at least the last eight years. Harvard, like other Ivy League schools, has a very competitive admissions process.
While Harvard University’s acceptance rate does paint a picture of how competitive the school is, it doesn't measure application quality. If you have a well-polished application, your chances of acceptance will be much greater than applicants who submit a hasty application.
Analyzing class profile data is a valuable tool to check the diversity of a program and see how you stack up to admitted students. Below we’ll explore Harvard College’s recent class profile data.
For the sixth consecutive year, students identifying as women make up the majority of Harvard College’s student body, with women accounting for 53.6%. The college also admitted 32 students who identify as nonbinary.
Harvard College prides itself on its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and access. The school aims to enroll students who “bring their perspective on the world—an understanding that is deeply tied to their culture, background, and experiences.” Students in the class of 2027 fall into the following demographics:
Harvard’s growing diversity is part of a long-term trend that is expected to continue in the years to come.
Harvard College’s admitted students represent all 50 states and 102 countries. Below is the recent data showing where students come from:
After the U.S., the countries with the highest numbers of permanent residents admitted include Canada, with 44 admitted students; the United Kingdom, with 24 students; and China, with 16 students.
The intended field of concentration means the fields of study students plan to enter when the school year starts. Harvard College offers 50 concentrations (or majors) and 49 secondary fields (minors). Below are the broad categories of concentrations that students are planning to enter this year.
About 7% of students were undecided.
Harvard has expanded its financial aid policy for low and middle-income families for the second consecutive year, allowing students to attend for free if they come from families with annual incomes below $85,000.
The Admissions and Financial Aid office reported that about 55% of admits qualify for need-based grants, which will reduce costs by $13,000 annually.
Harvard College’s student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, which is fantastic considering that the average at national universities is 16:1. A lower ratio means more opportunities for students to ask questions and spend time one-on-one with faculty members.
Along with the student-to-faculty ratio, Harvard College courses often have relatively small class sizes, as the median class size is 12. Out of nearly 1,300 courses that Harvard College offers, more than 1,000 classes had 20 or fewer students enrolled.
As part of Harvard College’s application process, you’re required to write one personal essay. Below are essay prompts you’ll see if you complete the Common Application:
“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”
If you apply using the Coalition Application, the essay prompts differ. Below are the Coalition Application essay prompts:
“Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
What success have you achieved or obstacles have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?”
You may also submit an essay on a topic of your choice if these prompts do not appeal to you.
The Harvard supplemental essays aren’t mandatory, but it would be in your best interest to complete one. Applicants can use the supplemental writing space in various ways; some will rework an essay they’ve written for another school, expand on another prompt listed above, or choose from the given list of supplemental prompts.
Here’s a list of potential supplemental essay prompts you may see:
Write about unusual circumstances of your life.
Write about your travel, living, or working experiences in your own community or others.
Write about what you would want your future college roommate to know about you.
Write about “an intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you.”
Write about how you plan to use your Harvard education and your future goals.
Write about a list of books that you’ve read in the past year.
“The Harvard College Honor code declares that we ‘hold honesty as the foundation of our community.’ As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.”
“The mission of Harvard College is to educate our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders for society. What would you do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing this mission?”
“Each year a substantial number of students admitted to Harvard defer their admission for one year or take time off during college. If you decided in the future to choose either option, what would you like to do?”
“Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development or the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates.”
These essays help the admissions committee learn more about you and why you’re an excellent fit!
If you’re invited to participate in a Harvard College interview, congratulations! This means the admissions committee liked your application and viewed you as a strong candidate; you’re halfway to claiming your seat at this prestigious school.
The best way to prepare for your Harvard interview is to know what to expect. You’ll be interviewed by a Harvard alum who will typically reach out to you via phone or email to arrange a time and date for your interview.
When possible, Harvard aims to connect you with an alum in your local community, but Zoom and other video conferencing apps are used when in-person meetings aren’t possible.
Your interviewer won’t have access to your application — all they know about you is your name, contact information, and where you went to high school. Because of this, you’ll want to understand your application well and use it as a tool to help you answer questions.
Remember to be authentic; on that note, Harvard College states that “there is no need to dress in formal attire. Consider wearing something you would wear to school.”
Your interview is a golden opportunity to ask an alum about their experiences at Harvard. If you have time at the end of your interview, use the opportunity to learn more about the school. This shows your curiosity and dedication, demonstrating that you’re well-prepared and are serious about Harvard.
Most Harvard College interviews are an hour long, so you should have ample time to form meaningful answers to interview questions. Try to treat your Harvard interview as more of a conversation, and it will help you sound more natural and flexible as you talk to your interviewer.
When you apply to Harvard, you can complete a Common Application or Coalition Application. The admissions committee accepts both applications, and there’s no preference for either one. You must include the following:
This table details Harvard’s application deadlines and when you can expect to receive your admission decision:
Source: Harvard
Be sure to refer back to this table to make sure you don’t miss any Harvard application deadlines!
Getting into Harvard is an impressive feat, and there are many ways to improve your candidacy.
While there is no GPA requirement at Harvard, strive for the best academic performance in high school. Although numbers aren’t everything, taking advanced IB or AP classes, having a stellar high school GPA, and earning high test scores undoubtedly strengthen your application.
Another great way to bolster your application is to provide great letters of recommendation, as these hold quite a bit of weight in the admissions process.
Your best bet is to ask the teachers that you developed meaningful relationships with if they’ll write your recommendation. Doing well within the classes that they teach is also a plus.
Perhaps the best advice to get into Harvard is to start the process early and make sure that your application reflects your character authentically. Harvard isn’t looking for machines who only go to class and nothing else – no school would expect that of any student!
You have many interesting qualities and talents. There’s no one in the world quite like you, and you should show that in your application.
Now that you know how to get accepted to Harvard, it’s up to you whether you want to apply. Because there’s no such thing as a typical Harvard student, many diverse people with different talents can be accepted.
Before deciding if Harvard is right for you, evaluate the strength of your current application. You want to do everything to boost your chances and improve your candidacy. Perhaps you want to retake the ACT or SAT because you weren’t happy with your scores or want to join a new extracurricular activity to broaden your experiences.
No matter what you want to do, identify any weaker points in your application you want to reinforce before you apply; it can only improve your chances. You should also determine if Harvard is a school that’s a good fit for you. If you’re going to spend four years at a school, you want to make sure that you’re going to enjoy your time there!
If you can, arrange a school visit or virtual tour to get a better feel for the school, talk to current students, and determine if the school’s culture will facilitate your personal growth and enjoyment.
Still have questions about how to get into Harvard? Take a look at our answers to these FAQs to learn more.
Along with meeting every Harvard admissions requirement, the school is looking for numerous qualities in candidates, including growth and potential, interests and activities, personal character, and possible contributions to the Harvard community.
Harvard seeks students who take the initiative, can reach their academic and personal potential, have some sort of direction for what they want in life, use their time wisely, and know who they are now and who they would like to be.
Harvard looks for passionate students who have learned valuable skills, take advantage of the opportunities available to them, commit genuinely, or show leadership capabilities.
In terms of personal character, Harvard wants to admit students who are open to new perspectives and experiences and can make informed choices for themselves. They want people who show maturity, leadership, self-confidence, and a sense of humor.
Yes, Harvard states it will “honor comparable coursework you have done prior to your transfer admission, while also giving you time to take advantage of Harvard’s course offerings and delve deeply into your concentration.”
You can transfer up to 16 semester-long courses (or two years of undergraduate academic work). Courses eligible for credit include any comparable to Harvard’s curriculum and earned a grade of “C” or better.
Yes, Harvard is considered one of the Ivy League schools, along with Brown, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. The title of “Ivy League” started as an athletic classification for these eight private universities.
Today, the phrase “Ivy League” connotes these high-ranked schools focused on academic excellence, high levels of competition, and quality of education.
Unfortunately, there is no magic GPA that will guarantee your acceptance into Harvard. A GPA of 3.5 is by no means considered a low GPA, but top private universities like Harvard can be incredibly competitive.
However, this also doesn’t mean that a GPA of 3.5 automatically spells rejection. Do whatever you can to strengthen the rest of your application and focus on your personal strengths. Maybe you’re a proficient athlete, are fantastic at art, or you’ve spent a lot of time taking initiative in your community or taken on other leadership roles.
According to Harvard alum Jay Chen, one of the best things you can do to stand out in the admissions process is to showcase your leadership capabilities and commitment to extracurricular activities.
Chen said, “a lot of students can get good grades and can test well, but whether or not you can lead an organization and take it to another level—that’s what Harvard is looking for.”
However, he advises against high school students overloading their schedules and effectively becoming a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. Instead of stretching yourself thin, try to pick two or three things that you’re particularly passionate about instead.
If you get rejected from Harvard, first and foremost, you should understand that feeling disappointed and discouraged is a natural reaction. Know that you’re not alone, and top universities can reject many wonderful candidates, and that rejection is an unfortunate part of life.
If you face rejection, you can either accept an offer from another university (especially because transferring later is always an option), or you can take a gap year and apply again next year. If you choose to take a gap year, spend your time accumulating new and exciting experiences that facilitate your personal growth.
Harvard College is test-optional until at least the 2025 admissions cycle, meaning there’s technically no SAT required to apply. You can choose to submit scores or not – if you obtained a high SAT score, it could bolster your application!
Applying to university is a milestone, marking your commitment to higher education and the start of your professional life. The process can be daunting, especially if your goal is to study at a world-renowned school like Harvard. However, an experienced Harvard admissions counselor can help you increase your chances of acceptance.
Now that you know more about Harvard’s culture, admissions requirements, acceptance rates, and class profile data, you better understand what you’ll need to do to give yourself the best chance of acceptance. Remember, if Harvard is your dream school, you can do what it takes to achieve your goals!
Always dreamed of studying at Harvard? Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to get into Harvard.
As a household name, Harvard University’s prestige makes it an attractive institution for college hopefuls. Harvard’s world-class education can help set you up for success after graduation.
This guide will explore Harvard’s requirements, class profile information, and how to apply. You’ll find advice and tips for writing essays and navigating the interview process.
According to U.S. News and World Report’s recent ranking, Harvard University is the nation’s #2 university. Crafting the perfect application can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re applying to a top-ranked school. However, if your dream is to attend a world-renowned school, this guide will teach you how to get into Harvard.
Before we discuss Harvard University’s requirements, here’s a breakdown of some key information you should know about the school.
Harvard University was established in 1636, making it the country’s oldest university. Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University’s main campus lies next to the picturesque Charles River, offering students the blended experience of scenic views and the excitement of the bustling city.
Harvard Square is filled with delights for students, boasting unique establishments, including the Harvard Book Store, Brattle Theatre, Harvard Film Archive, Club Passim, and more. The neighborhoods of Boston are just a short public transportation ride away, where you can see museums, cultural attractions, and the city’s iconic brownstones.
Harvard encompasses 12 graduate and professional schools, including the infamous Harvard Business School, the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and the undergraduate Harvard College. Harvard has an expansive network of over 400,000 alumni worldwide.
Harvard College states that it provides “an undergraduate experience like no other” to its students, emphasizing an inclusive and community-centered environment with world-class faculty and exciting research opportunities.
The college has numerous resources available to students, including library and museum collections. At the heart of the campus are the Houses, where undergraduates live during their studies.
There are 12 Houses in total that Harvard students are sorted into (and no, there are no Houses named Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff, or a sorting hat, for that matter).
Within the Houses, students “live and learn alongside their peers, faculty members, and graduate students.” Each House facilitates a profound feeling of community among its inhabitants, offering an enriching supportive environment.
Harvard College’s mission is to “educate future leaders…woven throughout the Harvard College experience, inspiring every member of our community to strive toward a more just, fair, and promising world.” The college aspires to succeed by offering transformative liberal arts and sciences education to its students.
The goal is for students to “begin to fashion their lives by gaining a sense of what they want to do with their gifts and talents, assessing their values and interests, and learning how they can best serve the world.”
Overall, Harvard College’s vision is to sustain the conditions that allow its students to self-discover through their educational journey in a way that shapes them intellectually, socially, and personally.
Let’s dive into Harvard University’s requirements so you know precisely what’s expected of you.
If you’re still in high school, it’s likely your school will send your transcripts to Harvard with few or no senior grades. Because of this, Harvard asks that applicants request their school counselor to send a midyear school report. This report allows the admissions committee to check the first half of your senior year academic performance.
If you’re applying Early Restrictive Action, which we will cover later in this guide, you will not be required to submit the midyear school report by the November deadline.
If you’re an international student, the admissions committee expects your school will send predicted grades “based on your current classroom work and the results of any internal or mock exams you have taken up to that point.”
However, if your school doesn’t issue official or mock midyear grades in your senior year, you are not required to send a midyear report.
Unfortunately, there is no magic GPA to guarantee your acceptance – there are no Harvard GPA requirements. The admissions committee maintains that “there is no such thing as ‘a typical Harvard student,’” and carefully examines each application as a whole.
However, due to Harvard’s competitiveness, submitting a GPA that exceeds the average of admitted students or higher can undoubtedly bolster your application.
Even if you’ve already graduated high school and your GPA is not as high as you’d like, don’t let it discourage you. Prospective students are accepted to top universities even without astounding GPAs because they’ve crafted stellar applications.
You need two teachers in two different academic subjects to complete teacher evaluation forms. Ideally, these teachers should know you quite well and should be able to speak to your character.
The teacher evaluation form asks your recommender to speak about your qualities, including your
Along with the mandatory teacher evaluation forms, you can submit additional letters of recommendation after you apply from a link in your confirmation email after you apply.
Harvard College has adopted a test-optional policy, which allows students to submit their SAT or ACT scores if they believe it would “convey their accomplishments in secondary school and their promise for the future.”
If you do decide to send ACT or SAT scores for consideration, keep in mind that there’s also no definitive score that guarantees your acceptance or rejection. These are the average score ranges earned by past admitted students:
Source: U.S. News
While your test score can act as a litmus test for your college readiness, it’s only one factor the admissions committee considers. Harvard College states, “standardized tests provide a rough yardstick of what a student has learned over time and how that student might perform academically in college.”
Remember, there are many ways to showcase your college readiness to the admissions committee that have nothing to do with the SAT or ACT scores, including your maturity, potential, and enthusiasm.
Harvard College's most recent class had a 3.41% acceptance rate, the second-lowest in the college's history. Out of the total 56,937 applications received, only 1,942 students were admitted. Here’s a breakdown of Harvard's acceptance rates for each decision pathway:
Harvard offers a Restrictive Early Action program where candidates can apply earlier but are restricted from applying to other private universities, although they may still apply to public or foreign schools.
Restrictive Early Action can be an attractive option if Harvard is your first choice, you want to know if you’ll be accepted earlier than other applicants, and “your record and accomplishments have been consistently strong over time.”The program is non-binding, meaning you're not obligated to enroll if you’re accepted.
Out of the 9,553 candidates that applied early for this application cycle, only 722 students were accepted. This gives Harvard its second-lowest early action acceptance rate at 7.56%. Despite this low rate, the early applicant pool increased from the previous year, with a total of 9,553 students applying for early admission.
Due to Harvard’s reputation and popularity, the demand for seats at the school is high. Historically, Harvard College’s acceptance rate is on the low end, with an admissions rate falling below 6% for at least the last eight years. Harvard, like other Ivy League schools, has a very competitive admissions process.
While Harvard University’s acceptance rate does paint a picture of how competitive the school is, it doesn't measure application quality. If you have a well-polished application, your chances of acceptance will be much greater than applicants who submit a hasty application.
Analyzing class profile data is a valuable tool to check the diversity of a program and see how you stack up to admitted students. Below we’ll explore Harvard College’s recent class profile data.
For the sixth consecutive year, students identifying as women make up the majority of Harvard College’s student body, with women accounting for 53.6%. The college also admitted 32 students who identify as nonbinary.
Harvard College prides itself on its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and access. The school aims to enroll students who “bring their perspective on the world—an understanding that is deeply tied to their culture, background, and experiences.” Students in the class of 2027 fall into the following demographics:
Harvard’s growing diversity is part of a long-term trend that is expected to continue in the years to come.
Harvard College’s admitted students represent all 50 states and 102 countries. Below is the recent data showing where students come from:
After the U.S., the countries with the highest numbers of permanent residents admitted include Canada, with 44 admitted students; the United Kingdom, with 24 students; and China, with 16 students.
The intended field of concentration means the fields of study students plan to enter when the school year starts. Harvard College offers 50 concentrations (or majors) and 49 secondary fields (minors). Below are the broad categories of concentrations that students are planning to enter this year.
About 7% of students were undecided.
Harvard has expanded its financial aid policy for low and middle-income families for the second consecutive year, allowing students to attend for free if they come from families with annual incomes below $85,000.
The Admissions and Financial Aid office reported that about 55% of admits qualify for need-based grants, which will reduce costs by $13,000 annually.
Harvard College’s student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, which is fantastic considering that the average at national universities is 16:1. A lower ratio means more opportunities for students to ask questions and spend time one-on-one with faculty members.
Along with the student-to-faculty ratio, Harvard College courses often have relatively small class sizes, as the median class size is 12. Out of nearly 1,300 courses that Harvard College offers, more than 1,000 classes had 20 or fewer students enrolled.
As part of Harvard College’s application process, you’re required to write one personal essay. Below are essay prompts you’ll see if you complete the Common Application:
“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”
If you apply using the Coalition Application, the essay prompts differ. Below are the Coalition Application essay prompts:
“Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
What success have you achieved or obstacles have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?”
You may also submit an essay on a topic of your choice if these prompts do not appeal to you.
The Harvard supplemental essays aren’t mandatory, but it would be in your best interest to complete one. Applicants can use the supplemental writing space in various ways; some will rework an essay they’ve written for another school, expand on another prompt listed above, or choose from the given list of supplemental prompts.
Here’s a list of potential supplemental essay prompts you may see:
Write about unusual circumstances of your life.
Write about your travel, living, or working experiences in your own community or others.
Write about what you would want your future college roommate to know about you.
Write about “an intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you.”
Write about how you plan to use your Harvard education and your future goals.
Write about a list of books that you’ve read in the past year.
“The Harvard College Honor code declares that we ‘hold honesty as the foundation of our community.’ As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.”
“The mission of Harvard College is to educate our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders for society. What would you do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing this mission?”
“Each year a substantial number of students admitted to Harvard defer their admission for one year or take time off during college. If you decided in the future to choose either option, what would you like to do?”
“Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development or the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates.”
These essays help the admissions committee learn more about you and why you’re an excellent fit!
If you’re invited to participate in a Harvard College interview, congratulations! This means the admissions committee liked your application and viewed you as a strong candidate; you’re halfway to claiming your seat at this prestigious school.
The best way to prepare for your Harvard interview is to know what to expect. You’ll be interviewed by a Harvard alum who will typically reach out to you via phone or email to arrange a time and date for your interview.
When possible, Harvard aims to connect you with an alum in your local community, but Zoom and other video conferencing apps are used when in-person meetings aren’t possible.
Your interviewer won’t have access to your application — all they know about you is your name, contact information, and where you went to high school. Because of this, you’ll want to understand your application well and use it as a tool to help you answer questions.
Remember to be authentic; on that note, Harvard College states that “there is no need to dress in formal attire. Consider wearing something you would wear to school.”
Your interview is a golden opportunity to ask an alum about their experiences at Harvard. If you have time at the end of your interview, use the opportunity to learn more about the school. This shows your curiosity and dedication, demonstrating that you’re well-prepared and are serious about Harvard.
Most Harvard College interviews are an hour long, so you should have ample time to form meaningful answers to interview questions. Try to treat your Harvard interview as more of a conversation, and it will help you sound more natural and flexible as you talk to your interviewer.
When you apply to Harvard, you can complete a Common Application or Coalition Application. The admissions committee accepts both applications, and there’s no preference for either one. You must include the following:
This table details Harvard’s application deadlines and when you can expect to receive your admission decision:
Source: Harvard
Be sure to refer back to this table to make sure you don’t miss any Harvard application deadlines!
Getting into Harvard is an impressive feat, and there are many ways to improve your candidacy.
While there is no GPA requirement at Harvard, strive for the best academic performance in high school. Although numbers aren’t everything, taking advanced IB or AP classes, having a stellar high school GPA, and earning high test scores undoubtedly strengthen your application.
Another great way to bolster your application is to provide great letters of recommendation, as these hold quite a bit of weight in the admissions process.
Your best bet is to ask the teachers that you developed meaningful relationships with if they’ll write your recommendation. Doing well within the classes that they teach is also a plus.
Perhaps the best advice to get into Harvard is to start the process early and make sure that your application reflects your character authentically. Harvard isn’t looking for machines who only go to class and nothing else – no school would expect that of any student!
You have many interesting qualities and talents. There’s no one in the world quite like you, and you should show that in your application.
Now that you know how to get accepted to Harvard, it’s up to you whether you want to apply. Because there’s no such thing as a typical Harvard student, many diverse people with different talents can be accepted.
Before deciding if Harvard is right for you, evaluate the strength of your current application. You want to do everything to boost your chances and improve your candidacy. Perhaps you want to retake the ACT or SAT because you weren’t happy with your scores or want to join a new extracurricular activity to broaden your experiences.
No matter what you want to do, identify any weaker points in your application you want to reinforce before you apply; it can only improve your chances. You should also determine if Harvard is a school that’s a good fit for you. If you’re going to spend four years at a school, you want to make sure that you’re going to enjoy your time there!
If you can, arrange a school visit or virtual tour to get a better feel for the school, talk to current students, and determine if the school’s culture will facilitate your personal growth and enjoyment.
Still have questions about how to get into Harvard? Take a look at our answers to these FAQs to learn more.
Along with meeting every Harvard admissions requirement, the school is looking for numerous qualities in candidates, including growth and potential, interests and activities, personal character, and possible contributions to the Harvard community.
Harvard seeks students who take the initiative, can reach their academic and personal potential, have some sort of direction for what they want in life, use their time wisely, and know who they are now and who they would like to be.
Harvard looks for passionate students who have learned valuable skills, take advantage of the opportunities available to them, commit genuinely, or show leadership capabilities.
In terms of personal character, Harvard wants to admit students who are open to new perspectives and experiences and can make informed choices for themselves. They want people who show maturity, leadership, self-confidence, and a sense of humor.
Yes, Harvard states it will “honor comparable coursework you have done prior to your transfer admission, while also giving you time to take advantage of Harvard’s course offerings and delve deeply into your concentration.”
You can transfer up to 16 semester-long courses (or two years of undergraduate academic work). Courses eligible for credit include any comparable to Harvard’s curriculum and earned a grade of “C” or better.
Yes, Harvard is considered one of the Ivy League schools, along with Brown, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. The title of “Ivy League” started as an athletic classification for these eight private universities.
Today, the phrase “Ivy League” connotes these high-ranked schools focused on academic excellence, high levels of competition, and quality of education.
Unfortunately, there is no magic GPA that will guarantee your acceptance into Harvard. A GPA of 3.5 is by no means considered a low GPA, but top private universities like Harvard can be incredibly competitive.
However, this also doesn’t mean that a GPA of 3.5 automatically spells rejection. Do whatever you can to strengthen the rest of your application and focus on your personal strengths. Maybe you’re a proficient athlete, are fantastic at art, or you’ve spent a lot of time taking initiative in your community or taken on other leadership roles.
According to Harvard alum Jay Chen, one of the best things you can do to stand out in the admissions process is to showcase your leadership capabilities and commitment to extracurricular activities.
Chen said, “a lot of students can get good grades and can test well, but whether or not you can lead an organization and take it to another level—that’s what Harvard is looking for.”
However, he advises against high school students overloading their schedules and effectively becoming a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. Instead of stretching yourself thin, try to pick two or three things that you’re particularly passionate about instead.
If you get rejected from Harvard, first and foremost, you should understand that feeling disappointed and discouraged is a natural reaction. Know that you’re not alone, and top universities can reject many wonderful candidates, and that rejection is an unfortunate part of life.
If you face rejection, you can either accept an offer from another university (especially because transferring later is always an option), or you can take a gap year and apply again next year. If you choose to take a gap year, spend your time accumulating new and exciting experiences that facilitate your personal growth.
Harvard College is test-optional until at least the 2025 admissions cycle, meaning there’s technically no SAT required to apply. You can choose to submit scores or not – if you obtained a high SAT score, it could bolster your application!
Applying to university is a milestone, marking your commitment to higher education and the start of your professional life. The process can be daunting, especially if your goal is to study at a world-renowned school like Harvard. However, an experienced Harvard admissions counselor can help you increase your chances of acceptance.
Now that you know more about Harvard’s culture, admissions requirements, acceptance rates, and class profile data, you better understand what you’ll need to do to give yourself the best chance of acceptance. Remember, if Harvard is your dream school, you can do what it takes to achieve your goals!
