How to Get Into Harvard Undergrad: Strategies and Essays That Worked
/How hard is it to get into Harvard? Learn Harvard’s admissions requirements and study successful Harvard essays to improve your odds of getting in
learn how to get into harvard
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Part 1: Introduction
If your child is a competitive applicant for Ivy League and Ivy Plus schools (e.g., Stanford, Duke), you’re probably encouraging them to consider applying to perhaps the most famous, prestigious, historical, and globally admired of the Ivies: Harvard. There’s nothing quite like the Harvard name, and it’s difficult to overstate how life-altering the chance to attend this renowned university in Cambridge can be.
From years of advising students, we’ve assembled some crucial information for you and your child about how to get into Harvard.
At Harvard, your child can research in the lab of a cutting-edge cancer scientist, study literature or history with a New Yorker writer, collaborate with musicians through the New England Conservatory or Berklee College of Music, or immerse in the complexities of international trade under the guidance of a legendary economist.
They can spend their summers taking advantage of the enormous network and funding opportunities available. Perhaps they’ll head to France to pursue an independent study on culinary history, or to Chile to write for an English-language newspaper. They might grab an internship in the White House, on Wall Street, or at a major tech company—at such positions, they’ll be actively courted and recruited.
And after Harvard? Graduates teach, travel, earn Rhodes Scholarships, start companies, write books, make films, set up art installations—more than you can possibly imagine, all with the help of enormous financial support, drawing on the wide and prestigious network that includes Nobel and Fields and Pulitzer winners.
Harvard University ranking
Harvard is routinely at or near the top of Ivy League rankings:
Forbes: 8
Niche: 4
U.S. News & World Report: 3
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education: 2 (USA) 3 (globally)
Where is Harvard?
Harvard is located in Cambridge, MA—a few public transit stops away from Boston proper. Cambridge’s population is just over 118,000—a small city that can often feel like its own bubble apart from Boston (the population of Greater Boston is 4.9 million).
Harvard setting
Semi-urban. Cambridge has its own life, with cafés, shops, bookstores, hotels, theaters, and more.
Harvard student population
Total Harvard graduate and undergraduate population: 24,519
Harvard acceptance rate
Here’s the admissions data for Harvard’s class of 2028:
Applications: 54,008
Accepted: 1,970
Accepted from waitlist: 41
Matriculants: 1,647
Accepted Early decision: 692
Acceptance rate: 3.59%
(Suggested reading: Ivy League Acceptance Rates)
Harvard tuition and scholarships
Harvard’s 2025–2026 cost of attendance (i.e., tuition, room, board, and fees) is estimated to range between $90,426-$95,426.
55 percent of Harvard undergraduates receive financial aid, and the average family contribution was $15,700 for the 2023–2024 year. Harvard’s financial aid covers 100 percent of demonstrated need and does not include student loans, allowing all students the possibility of graduating debt-free. However, families can take out loans if they wish.
Starting in the 2025–2026 year, Harvard will be free for students from families earning $100,000 per year or less and tuition-free for students from families earning $200,000 or less. If your family’s income is $100,000 and below, your child’s aid package will cover everything, including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs. 24 percent of Harvard families pay nothing.
Who gets into Harvard?
Examining the profiles of current students can help you determine your child’s odds of getting a Harvard acceptance. First, let’s examine the academic accomplishments of the class of 2024:
Harvard students tend to rank among the top 5-15% of their graduating classes, and nearly 76% self-reported ranking in the top 2% of their graduating class.
Average GPA: Harvard doesn’t publish its average admitted student GPA, but it’s safe to assume that the average unweighted GPA is around 3.90/4.0.
Harvard average ACT score: 34
25th percentile: 33
75th percentile: 35
Harvard average SAT score: 1520
25th percentile: 1460
75th percentile: 1580
We also know that admitted students in the class of 2025 had an average SAT score of 1494 and an average ACT score of 34. For the class of 2027, the Harvard Crimson lists average SAT and ACT scores for the class of 2027 by various categories, among them a student’s income bracket. We’ve listed the low and high ends of the scale here.
For families making under $40,000 per year
SAT: 1473.6
ACT: 33.3
For families making over 500,000 per year
SAT: 1548.9
ACT: 34.5
It should be noted that ACT or SAT test scores are currently required at Harvard. If your child is applying for entry in Fall 2025, they will need to submit test scores.
In addition, here are some demographic statistics for the class of 2028:
International students: 18%
49% intend to concentrate in STEM fields, 37% plan to concentrate in the social sciences, and 12% are currently humanities-bound.
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Part 2: Harvard admission requirements
Harvard academic requirements
Like most of its counterparts in the Ivy League and Ivy Plus cohort, Harvard is seeking excellence and passion from its students.
Excellence can show up in grades and test scores, but that isn’t enough. Extracurricular activities, and, perhaps most importantly, commitment and enthusiasm for a small number of clubs, teams, or other organizations, also demonstrates excellence.
Admissions officers will tell you they expect your child to have made the most of the opportunities that were given to them. That means if your daughter’s school offers three APs, Harvard will be happy to see your daughter took advantage of all three courses, and perhaps enrolled in community college classes and tried a summer program at Stanford, too.
Harvard notes that, while there is no single academic path for successful applicants, ideal preparation for Harvard includes the following:
English: 4 years, with extensive practice in writing
Math: 4 years
Science: 4 years, comprised of biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects
History: 3 years, including American and European history
Foreign language: 4 years of a single language
Harvard application requirements
Harvard accepts the Common Application, which means your child will need the following to apply:
Harvard supplemental essays
Required in 2025–2026: ACT or SAT scores
Optional: AP or other examination results
2 teacher letters of recommendation
School report, counselor evaluation, transcripts, and mid-year school report
Optional: Supplemental materials such as academic work, creative writing, artwork, or music
Harvard also accepts the Coalition Application and the Universal College Application.
Need inspiration for your Common App personal statement? Click below for instant access to 25 full-length example essays including advanced breakdowns of why they resonate with admissions committees.
Gain instant access to 25 exclusive full-length examples covering all seven prompts, plus comprehensive analyses for each to help you craft stellar essays.
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Part 3: Applying to Harvard early action vs. regular decision
Your child can apply early to Harvard by November 1st and receive a decision of either accepted, deferred, or denied, by mid-December.
Harvard follows the restrictive early action (as opposed to early decision) model, which means your child need not commit to attending Harvard if accepted; they can still apply to other universities and make their choice in April. Defer means your child will be re-entered into the pool and will hear back by the end of March, and may be accepted, waitlisted, or rejected then.
Your child can also apply regular decision, by January 1st.
How do you know if your child should apply to Harvard early?
Early action might be the right choice for your child if:
Harvard is their top choice
There’s no other school they’d like to apply to via early decision or restrictive early action
Their test scores and grades are strong by the end of junior year
Harvard, like many schools, lets in a significant portion of its class early—in some years, as much as half—but it’s important to remember that this discrepancy is likely due in large part to the fact that many highly prepared students choose early action. These are top candidates who make a great case for themselves to attend Harvard, whose grades and scores are ready, and who know what they want.
Most importantly: Harvard doesn’t offer preference to those who apply early.
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Part 4: Getting into Harvard as a transfer applicant
Transferring to Harvard is probably one of the most challenging routes of admission in all of American higher education. Harvard is already notoriously selective, with a roughly 3.5% acceptance rate each year, but when it comes to transfer applicants, that number is even lower. Harvard notes that in recent years, they’ve received around 2,000 transfer applications each year but only accepted around 12 students on average, for an acceptance rate of 0.6%.
However, that doesn’t mean transferring into Harvard is impossible. Your child will just have to be on their A-game in every category to have the best chance of entry.
Who can apply to Harvard as a transfer student?
First, your child will need to determine whether or not they are even eligible to apply to Harvard as a transfer. They must have completed at least 1 full academic year at another university, but not more than 2 academic years. Furthermore, this must be full-time, normal undergraduate coursework, meaning part-time, night-time, online, or vocational school work won’t count.
If your child already has a bachelor’s degree from any institution—American or international—they’re also ineligible for transfer admission.
What does Harvard look for in transfer applicants
Harvard states they look for three primary things in each candidate:
A clearly defined academic need to transfer
A proven record of achievement at your child’s current institution
Strong faculty recommendations
Harvard's admissions committee evaluates transfer candidates based on three primary criteria that they explicitly state: a clearly defined academic need to transfer, a proven record of achievement at your current institution, and strong faculty recommendations.
For your child to be successful, they’ll need to tick these three boxes, which means demonstrating exceptional achievement that goes beyond strong grades. They might have published some kind of academic research, either independently or with faculty members at their current school, or have noteworthy accomplishments in leadership roles outside of the classroom. For instance, if they’ve given back to their community somehow or won an academic competition, these would be important aspects to mention in their application.
The "clearly defined academic need to transfer" is perhaps the most misunderstood requirement. This isn't about dissatisfaction with their current school or just wanting a degree carrying Harvard's prestige. Instead, Harvard wants to see specific academic or intellectual needs that can only be met at Harvard. Perhaps your child’s research interests align perfectly with a particular Harvard professor's work, or they need access to specific resources, programs, or opportunities that their current institution simply cannot provide.
Your child should strive to make this abundantly clear in their essays and elsewhere in their application. Consider what exactly it is about Harvard that your child can’t get anywhere else? Whether that’s certain programs, an individual professor’s research, projects that only happen at Harvard, or just a unique major, remember that specificity is key.
The transfer application process at Harvard
Harvard accepts transfer students for fall semester entrance only, with no spring transfer option available. The application typically becomes available during the fall, with all materials due by March 1st.
Your child can apply using either the Coalition Application or the Common Application. The application fee is $90, although you can request a fee waiver by emailing Harvard's transfer admissions office.
Required materials include standardized test scores (SAT or ACT for most applicants), a college/dean's/registrar's report, official college transcripts, two college instructor recommendations, and official high school transcripts. All college transcripts must be sent directly by college officials, and Harvard encourages sending updated transcripts between January and March to reflect your most recent academic performance.
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Part 5: 2025–2026 Harvard supplemental essays (examples included)
(Note: While this section covers Harvard’s admissions essays specifically, we encourage you to view additional successful college essay examples.)
Acing the supplemental essays is a crucial part of your child’s strategy to get into Harvard. In addition to the Common App Personal Statement, Harvard’s essays, like other Ivy League essays, help admissions officers get a fuller qualitative sense of your child’s personality, goals, passions, analytical capacity, and creative expression.
The following students and their essays are composites of students we've worked with in nearly 20 years of advising college applicants.
Harvard supplemental essay #1
Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (150 words)
This essay prompt is a standard ‘diversity’ essay, one that’s asked by many schools. Harvard values the diversity of its student body and wants to ensure that each incoming class represents a cross-section of society that’s willing to explore and engage with each other in ways that support the intellectual life of the university.
Notice that the prompt asks about the “life experiences that shape who you are” indicating that the ‘diversity’ they are seeking is much broader than differences in race or socioeconomic factors. Your child should think through their important experiences and how those moments contributed to their personal growth, then consider how the diversity of those experiences will add a unique perspective to the campus community at Harvard.
Here’s how one student answered this question:
I was nine when a doctor inserted an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) into my chest to manage my LQTS arrhythmia. I proudly thought of myself as Iron Man, and life proceeded normally—without the seizures that had plagued me before.
Now I can go days without remembering my ICD. Having an invisible disability is both a privilege and challenge. People can't stereotype me at first glance, but some doubt disabilities they can't see.
That doubt disregards my daily realities: paranoia about my phone interfering with my device, worrying my German Shepherd might dislodge it during an enthusiastic game of fetch, and anxiety that it might stop working without my knowledge.
Countless invisible disabilities exist—severe food allergies, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. I want to connect with Harvard's Undergraduate Disability Justice Club to amplify disabled students' voices and ensure we receive the same access, opportunities, and respect as everyone else.
Here’s what the student does well in tackling this Harvard supplemental essay:
This student opens directly with their disability, an aspect of them that makes them unique. Even in the first sentence we’re hit with the unusualness of having a device implanted surgically at just nine years old. This sets up a lifetime of experiences leading up to college that truly shapes the author into a one-of-a-kind individual.
The student discusses the challenges inherent in their disability and clearly expresses how the invisible disability lingers in the back of their mind, affecting all that they do. This gives readers a sense of how their experiences mold their perspective and approach to life into who they are today. Aspects of the author’s inner life and humanity come through.
The student then turns to direct application of their experiences to Harvard. They plainly talk about how they wish to support disabled students and seamlessly connect their life to a contribution to the college.
Harvard supplemental essay #2
Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience? (150 words)
Harvard Supplemental Essay #3
Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.(150 words)
Harvard Supplemental Essay #4
How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future? (150 words)
Harvard Supplemental Essay #5
Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you. (150 words)
Gain instant access to essay examples for every supplemental essay prompt from the top universities and BS/MD programs in the United States. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
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Part 6: Frequently asked questions
How do you realistically get into Harvard?
It’s no secret that to realistically get into Harvard will require determination and a lot of hard work. What many students are asking with this question is what’s the “hack” that guarantees entry. Essentially, they’re asking if they just do X, Y and/or Z they’re all but assured acceptance.
Unfortunately, there’s no simple way to break down the entire admissions process. Harvard, like many other institutions, practices holistic review. This means that they consider all aspects of a student’s application—not just grades and test scores—when making admissions decisions. They might factor in socioeconomic status, background, life experiences, specific talents, or the overcoming of adversity in their decision.
That said, with such a low acceptance rate, Harvard is clearly highly selective. Your best chance to realistically get into Harvard is to do everything in your power to stand out among the applicant pool.
That means focusing on a few key extracurriculars that showcase your talents and leadership ability, writing exceptional essays, taking AP or IB classes, achieving high standardized test scores, maintaining a stellar GPA, and making sure you communicate specific reasons why you want to attend Harvard in your application. Taken together, this will give you the most realistic shot at entry.
Does Harvard prefer IB or AP?
Harvard does not state a particular preference for IB or AP courses. Either of these types of courses will benefit your child in demonstrating their readiness for the academic rigors of Harvard and would be a good addition to their application.
IB programs tend to offer a broader range of topics while AP courses dive deeper into specific subjects. IB courses tend to be rarer in the US, but if both are available at your child’s school, they should consider how their academic interests and abilities align with each to get the most out of the program and make the best impression on the Harvard admissions committee.
What type of student does Harvard want?
As is clear from the stats above, Harvard wants academically gifted students. However, this question is seeking a different kind of answer. One more in line with their “holistic review” ethos.
Part of the “holistic review” that Harvard engages in is seeking students whose personal qualities align with Harvard’s campus culture and vibrant, inquisitive community. To ensure your child aligns with this, they should seek out opportunities that allow them to display initiative (such as starting a community project), engage with new ideas (such as working on novel research projects), and their creativity (such as in the arts or sciences).
Your child may be interested in joining a summer program to help get exhibit these qualities on their application.
Final thoughts
You already know that getting into Harvard is no easy task. It’s a reach school for everyone, no matter how talented. With its matriculating class demonstrating such high test scores and grades, Harvard is clearly looking for something more than excellence. By cultivating intellectual and extracurricular passions, your child can become as strong a candidate as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on college admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT using his exclusive approach.
THERE'S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS ALONE, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.