Harvard Admission Requirements (2024 Guide)

Click the links below to access the PDF application forms.

• First Year Application
• Teacher Evaluation
• Counselor Recommendation
• Other Recommendation
• Midyear Report
• School Report
• Homeschool Supplement to the School Report
• International Supplement to the School Report
• Final Report
• Optional Report
• Harvard Supplement
• Fee Waiver

After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirmation with a PIN to access the Applicant Portal.

You should expect these daily application confirmation emails in mid-September each year. Most applicants receive their confirmation email the day after they submit their application online. And applications sent in the mail will take up to two weeks to process.

Where to mail your application form

Please mail your entire application to the following address:

Harvard College Admissions
86 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

What to do if you have not received your confirmation email

• If you have not received your confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folder for messages from [email protected] or [email protected].
• If you have searched your inbox and still cannot find your confirmation email, we encourage you to check the application system you used to ensure you clicked “Submit” and not just “Save.”
• If you still cannot locate your application confirmation email, please contact Harvard Admissions. Choose the category “Admissions” and then the subject “Applicant Questions (if you’ve already submitted your application)” in the drop-down menu.
• Call 617-495-1551.

How to pay your application fee

You can pay your application fee with a credit card online through the Common Application or Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir websites.

You can also mail your payment to Harvard College Admissions, 86 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. With the payment, please include the applicant’s name.

How to apply for a fee waiver

The school is committed to making the application process accessible to all students. If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived. Please follow these instructions to request your fee waiver.

Common Application:

1. Select “Yes” when asked, “Do you feel that your financial circumstances might qualify you for an application fee waiver?” Confirm that you meet at least one of the indicators of economic need.
2. If you do not meet one of the indicators of economic need, select “You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.” Harvard will not ask you to provide a supporting statement, and your application will not be penalized if you select this option.

Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir:

1. Confirm that you meet at least one of the indicators of economic need listed in the Fee Waiver section of your Profile.
2. If you do not meet one of the indicators of economic need, you may enter the Harvard-specific fee waiver code on the payment page: JH3S5Q2LX9.

Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way.

How to make updates to your application after you submit

To make updates, do not resend your application.

Please use the Applicant Portal to update your identification or contact information or to send updates, additional information, or corrections.

What happens if your application is inaccurate or contains misrepresentations

It is essential to make sure your application materials are completely accurate.

You will be denied admission if it is discovered that there is a misrepresentation during the admissions process.

If you have already been accepted, your offer will most likely be withdrawn. What if you have already registered? Your admission will be revoked and you will be required to leave the College. If misrepresentations in application materials are discovered after you complete your studies, Harvard revokes degrees.

The Admissions Office is solely responsible for determining whether an application is accurate or contains misrepresentations, and this determination will be resolved outside of the student disciplinary process.

Harvard Admission Requirements: Application Timeline

You can apply to Harvard through either:

• Restrictive Early Action Program, or
• Regular Decision Programs.

These programs allow you to compare admission and financial aid offers from other schools and wait until May 1 to make a final college decision.

Candidates for Restrictive Early Action must apply by November 1 and will be notified by mid-December.

Regular Decision applicants must apply by January 1 and will be notified by the end of March.

You may apply to Harvard via the Common Application or the Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir.

The Common Application will open on August 1 for applicants to begin filling out their applications.

The Coalition Application, which is being developed in collaboration with Scoir/Technolutions for the 2022-23 application cycle, will be available on September 1.

What is the Restrictive Early Action?

Restrictive Early Action is a non-binding early program, signifying that if admitted, you are not obligated to attend and have until May 1 to reply to the offer of admission from Harvard.

Applying to Harvard through the Restrictive Early Action program allows you to make a college decision sooner. Early applicants must apply by November 1st and will get a response by mid-December.

Restrictive Early Action may be an appealing option if your record and accomplishments have been consistently strong over time. You are not required to commit to attending Harvard, but you will know sooner if it is an option for you.

Notes:

1. If you are applying to Harvard under Restrictive Early Action, you may not apply to any other private institution under an Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action plan, or to a binding early program at a public university.
2. You are welcome to apply early to any public university, military academy, or university outside of the United States under a non-binding program.
3. Additionally, you are able to apply to other universities under their Regular Decision or Early Decision II programs.
4. If your application is deferred in the early action round, you may apply to another college’s binding early decision program (i.e., Early Decision II).
5. If the timing is proven to be a necessary aspect for consideration and the outcome is non-binding, you may apply for scholarships or special academic programs with an early deadline at another institution, public or private.
6. Harvard will meet the full financial needs of admitted students regardless of whether they apply Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision.
7. Harvard does not offer an advantage to students who apply early. While admit rates tend to be higher in Restrictive Early Action. This reflects the remarkable strength of the applicant pool rather than the benefit of application timing.

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Benefits of applying for the Regular Decision Program

Regular Decision offers important practical advantages.

1. You will have more time to edit and proofread your portions of the application and more time for your teachers and counsellors to become familiar with you before they write on your behalf.
2. Senior-year extracurricular achievements, course selections, academic performance, and other important factors may strengthen your application.

For more information about Harvard Admission Requirements, click here.

Harvard Admission Deadline

The deadlines for admission to PG programs at Harvard University vary depending on the course. Some courses have deadlines in December, while others have deadlines in January.

Undergraduate programs, on the other hand, are typically offered in the spring.

The following are the deadlines for Harvard University undergraduate admission in 2024:

Harvard Admission Requirements for International Students

International students are applicants who apply from schools outside the United States. Documents submitted by those schools may differ substantially from those submitted by an American high school and may require specialized knowledge.

The application requirements are the same for all applicants, whether a student attends high school inside or outside the U.S.

All first-year candidates must complete the Common Application or the Coalition Application along with the required supplements.

Harvard has no preference, and each application is treated equally by the Admissions Committee.

Harvard welcomes applications from all over the world. The admissions and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants – regardless of nationality or citizenship.

A strong knowledge of English is essential for successful study at Harvard, including the ability to understand and express thoughts quickly and clearly.

First-year and transfer applicants are not required to take an English proficiency exam, but you may submit scores if you wish to do so.

But Visiting Undergraduate Students program applicants are required to take the TOEFL.

Fun Facts about Harvard Admissions

• 77% of students say the admissions process made them feel like the school cared about them as applicants.

• A great percentage of students feel the admissions process evaluated them individually as real people, not just a set of numbers.

• Harvard admission is extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 5%.

• Admissions to Harvard University courses are the most selective among the 8 Ivy League institutes.

• Most students admitted to Harvard courses have an unweighted GPA of 4.18 or above.

• International student enrollments at Harvard are good compared to universities like Yale, MIT, and Stanford. Currently, the university houses 15.6% international students on campus.

• Students that get into Harvard have an average SAT score of between 1460-1580 and an average ACT score of 33-35.

• Harvard University tests are optional and allow students to apply for undergraduate admission without SAT or ACT scores.

• TOEFL requirement is also waived for Harvard College applicants. However, for other colleges and courses, a TOEFL score of 90 is highly recommended.

   

Tips for Increasing Your Chances of Admission to Harvard

Apply Early

If you are interested and getting admitted into Harvard, leverage the opportunity to apply for Early Action. Your chance of admission increases when you submit your application early – in fact, it goes a notch higher. Everything matters when the competition is heated!

Furthermore, through early application, you are portraying to admissions officers that Harvard is a priority of yours They seek to admit students who demonstrate interest, commitment, and willingness.

Take Challenging Classes and Get Good Grades

By getting good grades in technical classes, you prove that you are Harvard material. If opportune, sign up for honours classes and strive for the highest grades. This will make your application stand out.

Cultivate Meaningful Relationships with Your Teachers

Your teachers can craft convincing letters of recommendation that can strengthen your admission application. Cultivate robust relationships with your teachers by taking an active part in class and seeking assistance when necessary.

Build a Strong Application

Ensure you craft high-quality essays as they will help you succeed. Get a convincing letter of recommendation and a high SAT or ACT score. This will show that you are passionate about learning and excelling.

Conclusion:

Harvard admission requirements are not too tedious. Follow our guide as outlined to make a successful application to Harvard. To your advantage!

If you have any questions or inquiries, drop them off using the comment section below. Thank you.

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