What does Harvard look for in a student?

There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character.

What type of student does Harvard look for?

While the heart of the matter will always lie in academic promise, we prize candidates with special talents and with outstanding personal qualities; we are interested in students who excel in one or more extracurricular activities; and we seek a distinctive and diverse national and international student body.

What subjects does Harvard look for?

What marks does Harvard look at?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

What is the personality of a Harvard student?

Harvard students are generous with their time, knowledge, and energy. They help each other out, even when they aren't guaranteed anything in return. They volunteer to share knowledge they possess when people are too afraid to ask for it.

Harvard 101: What you need to know about applying to Harvard

What type of people does Harvard accept?

Article. There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character.

How do you stand out to Harvard?

How can I increase my chances of getting into Harvard?

How likely am I to get into Harvard?

The acceptance rate at Harvard is 3.2%.

In other words, of 100 students who apply, only 3 are admitted. This means the school is very selective. Scores are vital to getting past their first round of filters. After that, you will need to impress them beyond just your academic scores.

Can I get into Harvard with a 3.9 GPA?

What GPA should I have? Applicants should be between 3.9 and 4.0 to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score.

How do I prepare my child for Harvard?

What does Harvard mostly focus on?

The mission of Harvard College is to educate the citizens and citizen-leaders for our society. We do this through our commitment to the transformative power of a liberal arts and sciences education.

What is the most popular subject at Harvard?

For Harvard undergraduates, the most popular majors include social sciences, biology/biological sciences, history, math and psychology. The university's academic calendar is semester-based and English is the language of instruction.

What is the Z list at Harvard?

The Z-List is a special category of admission that allows Harvard to accept students who are the children of mega-donors or other highly influential people. Harvard University has a secret way of admitting students who have influential connections but low academic scores: the Z-List.

Can I get into Harvard with 3.3 GPA?

While it's certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it's improbable. For the Class of 2026, a mere 2.09% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5. Such students often meet other institutional needs (e.g., star quarterback for the football team, development case, etc.).

Does Harvard look at 8th grade?

Harvard usually doesn't look at your middle school grades to determine whether you meet the expectations. Instead, Harvard University pays more attention to your GPA's (unweighted and weighted), SAT, ACT, basically all High School grades.

Can a 4.0 GPA get you into Harvard?

In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard. That means nearly straight As in every class, while also taking the highest rigor classes available to you at your high school.

Can a 3.5 GPA get into Harvard?

It's true that a 3.5 GPA might be considered low for Harvard, but it doesn't mean that your application will be dismissed entirely. Your unique background and achievements could compensate for your GPA to some extent.

Can I get into Harvard with a 3.7 GPA?

Can I Get Into Harvard With a 3.7 GPA? Harvard does not have a minimum GPA requirement. However, Harvard is highly competitive, so it may be challenging to get in with a 3.7 GPA. The average GPA for entering Harvard students is 3.9.

Can I realistically get into Harvard?

Harvard University is a highly competitive school with an acceptance rate of 4.64%. The Harvard Early Action acceptance rate was 7.9% for the class of 2026. Nearly 60,000 applicants applied for the Harvard class of 2025, a marked increase from just over 40,000 the previous year.

Is it expensive to go to Harvard?

It costs around $80,000 a year. However, Harvard offers excellent financial aid for those who need it. The aid is based on family income.

What AP score is needed for Harvard?

Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes.

What does Harvard look for in essays?

Essay topics include: 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.

What essays does Harvard require?

General Tips. In addition to your Common or Coalition Application essay, Harvard College has five supplemental essay prompts, all short responses of 200 words. Unlike previous years, all five supplemental essays are required. Don't let this intimidate you!

What does it mean when Harvard wants to interview you?

If the Committee would like more information about a student or has questions about any application materials, someone may reach out to schedule an interview. It is not possible to request an interview and we are not able to conduct interviews in Cambridge.