Transferring To Harvard: Eligibility And Requirements

Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, offers a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program for students seeking their first degree. Harvard College does not admit students who already hold a bachelor's or other first university degree. However, Harvard University, which includes Harvard College, has 12 graduate and professional schools that offer programs for students who already hold their first degrees and seek advanced training through master's or doctoral programs. Each of these graduate and professional schools has its own admissions office and runs independently of Harvard College. Therefore, students with a bachelor's or other first university degree who wish to pursue further education at Harvard would need to apply to one of these graduate and professional schools rather than Harvard College.

Harvard does not admit students with a bachelor's degree or other first university degree

Harvard College does not admit students with a bachelor's degree or other first university degree from any other university, whether American or foreign. This is because Harvard College offers a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program for students seeking their first degree.

Harvard University, however, includes 12 graduate and professional schools that offer programs for students who already hold their first degrees and seek advanced training in their fields through master's or doctoral programs. These schools maintain their own admissions offices and teaching faculties and are run independently of Harvard College.

Harvard does not admit students based on quotas

Harvard College is committed to admitting students based on their strengths and talents. The admissions committee does not use quotas of any kind when making admissions decisions. Instead, the committee considers a wide range of criteria, including academic accomplishment, community involvement, leadership, distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character.

Harvard's admissions process is holistic, meaning that all aspects of an applicant's profile are carefully evaluated. While a student's intended field of study is certainly an important factor, it is not the only or most important factor. Demonstrating a genuine and well-developed interest in one's chosen field of study is crucial. This can be done by highlighting relevant extracurricular activities, courses, internships, or research experiences in one's application and essays. Admissions officers want to see a deep passion for the chosen major, as well as the potential to thrive and contribute to the Harvard community.

It is worth noting that Harvard does not use quotas for specific concentrations or majors. Students should feel free to choose a major that truly aligns with their interests and goals, rather than focusing solely on what they think might give them a better chance of admission. Authenticity is key, and showcasing one's genuine curiosity and intellect is far more important than the particular area of study one is interested in.

In summary, while Harvard does not admit students based on quotas or specific concentrations, it is important for applicants to showcase a strong interest in their intended field of study and back it up with relevant experiences and achievements. However, the overall focus should be on building a well-rounded application that highlights one's strengths, passions, and future potential.

Harvard requires SAT or ACT scores

Harvard requires applicants to take either the SAT or ACT standardised tests. However, in exceptional cases, when those tests are not accessible, students can meet the requirement with:

• IB actual or predicted scores
• GCSE/A-Level actual or predicted results
• National Leaving Exams results (externally assessed) or predictions

The Admissions Committee does not expect applicants to go to extraordinary measures to access SAT or ACT test sites. Applicants will have an opportunity to provide an explanation for why they are unable to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Students who have other forms of testing (AP, IB, GCSE, or National Leaving Exams) are still expected to take an SAT or ACT and submit those scores, if financial considerations or test availability would not limit their ability to do so.

Harvard's SAT and ACT score requirements

Harvard does not have a minimum required SAT or ACT score. However, the average SAT score composite at Harvard is 1550 on the 1600 SAT scale. The average ACT score at Harvard is 35.

Harvard has a Score Choice policy of "Highest Section", also known as "superscoring". This means that applicants can choose which SAT tests they want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, application readers will consider the applicant's highest section scores across all SAT test dates submitted.

Harvard does not superscore the ACT. The school will take your highest ACT composite score from a single sitting.

Harvard's SAT and ACT score analysis

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1500, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1580. A score of 1500 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1580 will move you up to above average.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. A score of 34 will make it very hard to get into Harvard, unless you have something else very impressive in your application.

Harvard offers application fee waivers

Harvard University is committed to making its application process accessible to all students. The admissions application fee will be waived for applicants who are facing financial hardship. This includes international students.

If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived. You can request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application or the Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir, if you meet their respective indicators of economic need. If you do not meet these indicators, you can follow the instructions on the Harvard website to learn how to get your fee waived.

To request a fee waiver, you must confirm that you meet at least one of the indicators of economic need and then select “Yes” to the prompt “You are eligible for application fee waivers if you meet one or more of the following criteria." You must also complete the fee waiver signature.

If you are applying through the Coalition Application, you must confirm that you meet at least one of the indicators of economic need listed in the Fee Waiver section of your Profile. 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.

Harvard offers a liberal arts and sciences curriculum

Harvard College, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It offers a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program for students seeking their first degree. Harvard's commitment to liberal arts and sciences is at the core of its mission: the college believes that before students can help change the world, they need to understand it.

The liberal arts and sciences curriculum offers a broad intellectual foundation for students to think critically, reason analytically, and write clearly. These proficiencies will prepare students to navigate complex global issues and address future innovations and challenges. The curriculum is designed to shape new modes of thinking, preparing students for leading meaningful lives as conscientious global citizens, and enhancing the greater good.

Harvard offers General Education courses that demonstrate the liberal arts and sciences in action. These courses pose enduring questions, frame urgent problems, and help students understand that no single discipline can provide answers or grapple with these problems in isolation. Students are challenged to ask difficult questions, explore unfamiliar concepts, and indulge in their passion for inquiry and discovery across various disciplines.

Harvard offers more than 3,700 courses, including exchange programs with MIT and graduate-level courses at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and many of Harvard's professional schools. The median class size is 12, with more than 1,000 of the nearly 1,300 courses offered last fall enrolling 20 or fewer students.

Harvard's curriculum emphasizes in-person peer engagement and student-faculty interactions. The college has a graduation rate of 97-98%, among the highest in the nation.

Frequently asked questions