How to Get Accepted Into Harvard
Harvard University is one of the most prestigious institutions of collegiate education in the United States. With approximately 25,000 applicants per year, and a minimal 2,000 applicant acceptance rate, Harvard only selects approximately 10 to 15 percent of its applicants. However, there are ways you can expand your academic abilities to the limit, and place emphasis on the strongest aspects evaluated by the Harvard Office of Admissions, so you can better your chances of acceptance.
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Things You'll Need
- Universal Application
- Application Fee of $75.00
- SAT Reasoning Test or ACT Test with Writing Official Score Report
- 2 Outstanding Teacher Evaluations
- Secondary and Mid-Year High School Report
- Official High School Transcript
Instructions
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Start building your high school transcript early. The courses you take and the grades you make are all important. Harvard usually requires advanced placement (AP) courses that most colleges do not. These courses include, Physics, and Calculus I. Calculus II is also offered at select schools, and it looks exceptionally good on your transcript. You should also have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, that has been consistent throughout your high school career.
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Complete the full application to the best of your ability. Provide accurate and honest personal information, to ensure there are no mistakes or anything that could disqualify or slow down your application review process. Keep all of the application's essay question answers direct, and brief.
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List all of your notable achievements and accomplishments, whether they are academic or not. In the accomplishments section, you should disclose everything that is commendable. These inserts can provide excellent support for your essays, and supplemental attachments.
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Provide an effective 250 word essay, which usually entails who you are as a person, aside from academics. The essay should include some of your unique interest, notable future plans, career goals, influences, and any aspirations you may have.
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Include supplemental materials with your Harvard Supplement. The overall supplement highlights your areas of interest and/or expertise, along a synopsis of the career path you desire to pursue. You also have the option to include an essay, that highlights your notable accomplishments, and supplemental materials, showcasing any visual or performing arts talent you may have. Tying these supplements into your career path predicates that you have goals, which is what the Office of Admissions is looking for.
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Make sure your teachers can provide excellent evaluations. Teacher evaluations are detailed observations of your character and academic background. These evaluations present the basis of your work ethic, academic quality, and overall productivity as a student.
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Strive to make at least a 730 on both the critical reading and math sections of the SAT, or at least a 30 on the ACT standardized tests. The writing component for both standardized tests is also required for Harvard admission consideration. Unlike most colleges, three SAT subject tests are also required for those who opt to take the SAT.
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Get your School Report and Mid-Year reports done promptly, and effectively. Although this information is completed by your school, make sure you submit it to them on time to avoid any possible delays. Read and review all of your information before submitting it with the application, as errors can occur. You'd also want to submit to allow enough time for corrections, if needed.
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Apply as early as you possibly can. Submit all of your application information and attachments at least 60 days in advance to ensure you meet all of the required deadlines. Therefore, all ACT or SAT standardized testing should be completed by the beginning of the fall semester of your senior year, at the absolute latest.
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Tips & Warnings
It starts with your mind frame. Keep in mind that you are competing with some of the country's best students, with some of the highest academic achievements. You are just trying to achieve academic success within your school. It goes much further than that. Therefore, you have to think and plan ahead.
Start planning your collegiate future early. The desire to get accepted into Harvard should start the moment you enter high school. This is where your transcript begins. Your high school transcript sets the tone for your academic future.
Stick closely to the application time-line. This is key to your acceptance. You should aim to submit all of your application information and forms at least a month, or even two months in advance. This ensures that your information is reviewed extensively and taken into consideration.
Don't just strive to meet the minimum requirements. The majority of the applicants do exactly what is expected, or they fall just a percentage below the requirements. The goal is to stand out among the crowd, so it is extremely important that you go as far beyond the minimum expectancy as possible.
ACT and SAT scores can sometimes outweigh your grade point average. As unpractical as it may sound, it is a great determining factor in acceptance. Test scores serve as disparate evaluations, which gives colleges the opportunity to judge acceptance off of more than just grades. Overall, the perspective is that an excellent, cumulative GPA doesn't have to be consistent throughout the high school career. There are chances to fix such errors, retake courses, and balance out any flaws the transcript may have. But with test scores, that's not the case.
