Transferring To Harvard: Is It Possible?

Harvard University accepts transfer students, but only a very small number each year. The acceptance rate for transfer students is extremely low, with only around 12-17 students accepted annually. The university seeks students with a proven record of achievement and strong faculty recommendations. Students may apply to enter as sophomores or juniors, and applications are due by March 1st for the fall semester, as Harvard does not admit students for the spring semester.

Harvard's transfer application process

Harvard University does accept transfer students, but only a very small number—12 on average—are admitted each year. The transfer application process is extremely competitive, with a 0.86% acceptance rate for entry in the fall of 2022.

Harvard University accepts transfer students from other similar liberal arts programs. US military veterans who have completed at least one full academic year and not more than two may be particularly interested in Harvard's transfer program.

The transfer application is intended for students who have completed at least one continuous academic year (fall and spring semesters) in a full-time degree program at one college and not more than two academic years by the time of enrolment at Harvard.

Harvard accepts transfer students for the fall semester only. The transfer application becomes available during the fall of the academic year, and the deadline for all transfer applications and financial aid materials is March 1.

The application requirements are the same for international students, and the financial aid program is open to all applicants, regardless of nationality or citizenship.

The application requirements are as follows:

• Transfer Application from the Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir, or Common Application.
• Harvard College Questions and Writing Supplement for the Common Application.
• $85 fee (or request a fee waiver by sending an email to adm-tran@fas.harvard.edu)
• Standardized testing: The SAT or ACT is required of all transfer applicants. In exceptional cases, when those are not accessible, one of the following can be submitted: IB Actual or Predicted Scores; GCSE/A-Level Actual or Predicted Results; National Leaving Exams Results or Predictions; College/Dean’s/Registrar’s report.
• Official College Transcript
• College Instructor Recommendations (2)
• Official High School Transcript

In addition to the standard application materials, applicants may submit supplementary materials showcasing exceptional or unusual talents, including musical performance, artistic work, and research material.

Harvard's admissions committee looks for achievement in a rigorous program of study, especially in the student's expected field of specialization. Beyond strong grades, test scores, and recommendations, the committee considers other non-academic factors such as significant extracurricular engagements and talents, as well as personal qualities such as leadership, creativity, resiliency, intellectual curiosity, and independent thinking.

Tips for a Successful Transfer Application:

• Understand the transfer requirements: Applicants must have completed at least one year of college-level coursework at an accredited institution and earned a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Maintain a strong GPA: Although Harvard does not have a minimum GPA requirement, most successful transfer students have a GPA of 3.85 or higher.
• Get involved on campus: Harvard values well-rounded students who are active in extracurricular activities, as this demonstrates leadership skills, commitment, and passion.
• Seek letters of recommendation: Harvard requires two letters of recommendation from professors who have taught college-level courses. These letters should highlight academic achievements, leadership skills, and potential for success at Harvard.
• Craft compelling essays: Essays should showcase the applicant's academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal story. They should be well-written, concise, and compelling.

It is important to note that submitting transfer applications early does not increase the chances of admission. However, doing so provides more opportunities to track down any missing documents and ensure that the application is complete by the time the review begins.

Transfer application requirements

Harvard University accepts a small number of transfer students each year. For the fall of 2022, 1,735 students submitted transfer applications, and only 15 were accepted, translating to an acceptance rate of 0.86%. Harvard University's acceptance rate for freshmen applicants is 3.2%, the lowest in the country.

Harvard College does not admit students for the spring semester. All transfer applications are due by March 1st to enter the fall term of the same calendar year. Students may apply to enter as a sophomore (2nd year) or junior (3rd year) student.

The following are required as part of the Harvard transfer application:

• Common App for Transfer
• Official college transcript
• Official high school transcript
• SAT or ACT scores (they are test-optional from 2022-2026, but Harvard strongly recommends submitting them)
• College/Dean’s report
• Two letters of recommendation from college instructors

Additionally, Harvard seeks students with:

• A clearly defined academic need to transfer
• A proven record of achievement at their current institution
• Strong faculty recommendations
• Published/co-published academic research independently or with a faculty member at their current institution
• Noteworthy accomplishments outside the classroom, such as winning an intercollegiate academic competition or achieving notable accomplishments through a leadership role

The following six prompts are also part of the Harvard transfer requirements:

• Briefly indicate the most influential factors in your decision to attend your present college (e.g., location, cost, size of the student body, etc.) (3000 characters)
• Briefly describe your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. (3000 characters)
• What alternatives to transferring to Harvard are you considering? (3000 characters)
• Please indicate your intended concentration and briefly outline your academic plans at Harvard College. (3000 characters)
• What are your current postgraduate/career plans? (3000 characters)
• Harvard has long recognised the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (200 words)

Acceptance rates for transfer students

Harvard University accepts a small number of transfer students each year. For the fall of 2022, 1,735 students submitted transfer applications, and only 15 were accepted, giving an acceptance rate of 0.86%. The rate was slightly lower for male applicants (0.7%) than female applicants (0.9%). The previous year, the acceptance rate was 0.81%.

Harvard's transfer acceptance rate has been extremely stable in recent years, with the school taking somewhere between 12 and 17 total students via transfer annually. In 2019, the transfer acceptance rate was 0.97%.

Harvard University requires several completed documents for consideration, including a high school transcript, an essay or personal statement, standardised test scores, and a statement of good standing from the student's prior institution. The minimum number of credits required to apply as a transfer student is four.

On-campus housing for transfer students

Harvard University does accept transfer students, albeit a very limited number each year. The acceptance rate for transfer students is extremely low, at under 1%. For the fall of 2022, for example, only 15 students were accepted out of 1,735 transfer applicants.

Transfer students who indicate in their application that they wish to live on campus are eligible for housing in the undergraduate Houses. Students are not required to live on campus, but nearly all undergraduate students do. The undergraduate Houses do not have accommodations for students who will be living with a spouse, partner, or other family members. Students in these situations should plan to live off campus and will be provided with information about off-campus housing resources if admitted.

Transfer students who live on campus will find a strong sense of community in their undergraduate Houses. Students who live off campus will benefit from the Dudley Community. Additionally, enrolling students take part in a fall orientation program and are connected with a dedicated transfer advisor who helps with academic planning and the transition to life at Harvard. Transfer students are also supported by peer advisors, who were themselves transfer students in previous years.

Students can apply to transfer to Harvard as sophomores or juniors. The deadline for all transfer applications is March 1st for the fall term of the same calendar year. Admitted students are not permitted to defer their admission.

Harvard's transfer application process includes a $85 fee (or a fee waiver can be requested). The following items must also be submitted as part of the application:

• Common App for Transfer
• Official college transcript
• Official high school transcript
• ACT or SAT scores (these are test-optional from 2022-2026, but Harvard recommends submitting them if possible)
• College/Dean’s report
• Two letters of recommendation from college instructors

Transferring course credits

Harvard University allows a maximum of 16 transferable semester-long courses, which is equivalent to two full years of academic work. This provides students with the opportunity to take the remaining half of the courses required for their A.B. or S.B. degree at Harvard.

The Harvard College Registrar's Office grants credit for work done at another college or university to each admitted transfer student on an individual basis after careful evaluation. While Harvard does not audit transcripts prior to application to determine eligibility, the following guidelines are provided:

• Courses taken in a full-time, daytime program of study at an accredited degree-granting institution.
• Courses comparable to those offered in Harvard’s liberal arts curriculum.
• Grades of “C” (or the equivalent) or better.

• Online or distance education courses.
• Night or extension courses.
• Courses taken on a part-time basis.
• Technical or vocational courses such as accounting, marketing, journalism, law, agriculture, nursing, business, communications or specialized military training coursework.
• Dual-enrollment courses counted for credit toward a high school diploma.
• Work done prior to admission in an isolated term, semester or quarter at another college, unless the college from which you are transferring has granted credit for that work.
• Credit gained by accelerating in an academic year at another college.
• College Level Placement Exam (CLEP), Advanced Placement Exam (AP/IB) results, or any credit earned by examination, even when credited to your degree by the college or university from which you wish to transfer.
• Summer school courses, except for those at your current college/university or courses at Harvard Summer School.

Additionally, transfer applicants are ineligible for admission if their prior coursework falls under the following categories:

• Extension or continuing education programs.
• Professional (Business/Finance/Accounting, Medical/Dental, etc.).
• Technical or Vocational (Art schools, trade schools, etc.).

Harvard does not keep a list of transferable courses and cannot advise on this matter during the application process.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

Undergraduate students can transfer a total of 64 credits toward their bachelor’s degree. College-level, undergraduate courses that are comparable in content to those offered in the ALB degree course catalog and in which students earned grades of C or higher are generally transferable.

Credits are adjusted as needed to align with Harvard’s semester system, and Harvard Extension School advisors make final determinations about course transferability.

Credit by Examination

Harvard accepts a maximum of 16 credits, combined, for coursework completed by an examination, such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or professional training approved by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Credit from Foreign Schools

Students who attended colleges or universities outside the United States must supply an official course-by-course evaluation of academic work to enable advisors to determine credit transferability.

Frequently asked questions