Harvard is the oldest university in the USA and one of the most famous in the world, and it’s also one of the hardest to get into. For the Class of 2029, Harvard College received 47,893 applications and admitted 2,003 students, about 4 in every 100. Around 16% of the students who enrolled came from outside the USA.
There’s no secret formula, and nobody can guarantee you a place. Harvard says it reads every application as a whole, so strong grades and scores alone are not enough, and a single weak point won’t necessarily rule you out. But there are things you can do that make a real difference. Here are 10 of them, based on Harvard’s own guidance for undergraduate applicants. If you’re applying for a graduate degree instead, see the section near the end.
1. Take the most demanding courses you can, and do well in them
Your school record is the most important part of your application. Harvard sees your grades through the Secondary School Report from your school, and it also asks for a Midyear School Report, so your final year counts too. Admissions officers look at your results in the context of what your school offers, so take the most challenging courses available to you, such as AP, IB Higher Level, A levels or your national board’s advanced subjects, and aim for top grades in them. A steady upward trend helps; a sudden drop in your final year does not.
2. Take the SAT or ACT, and prepare properly
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT again. There’s no minimum score, but most admitted students score near the top of the scale, so leave time to prepare and to retake the test if you need to. You can self-report your scores when you apply and only send official scores if you enrol. If you apply early, take the test by the end of October. Regular Decision applicants can send scores up to February, but Harvard recommends testing as early as possible.
If the SAT or ACT genuinely isn’t available where you live, Harvard will accept AP, IB, A level or national exam results instead, in exceptional cases. English tests such as IELTS or TOEFL don’t count towards this requirement. For free preparation, see our guides to 50 free SAT practice tests and 50 free ACT practice tests. Harvard application requirements.
3. Go deep in a few activities instead of collecting many
Harvard says it is “much more interested in the quality of students’ activities than their quantity”. The Common Application lets you list up to 10 activities, but you don’t need to fill every slot. Focus on the few you care about most and give them real time: lead a club and grow it, build something people use, or reach a high level in a sport, art or competition. Family responsibilities, part-time work and caring for relatives count as meaningful activities too, and Harvard says that limited opportunities at your school won’t hold you back. Harvard’s application tips.
4. Show real intellectual curiosity
Harvard looks for students who will make the most of its academic resources. Show that you learn beyond the classroom: independent research, academic olympiads, online courses, a serious reading habit, writing, or a project you started yourself. You can upload optional research papers, writing or art and music portfolios, but Harvard says these help only when they show unusual talent, and most admitted students don’t send them. Don’t add extra material just to make your application longer.
5. Write a personal essay only you could write
Your main essay is the Common Application personal essay, up to 650 words, on one of the Common App prompts. Harvard advises choosing a subject you really care about rather than one you think the committee wants to read. The topic doesn’t need to be dramatic or unusual; an ordinary experience written with honesty and insight is better than an impressive one that says nothing about you. Write several drafts, read it aloud, and ask a teacher to check it, but keep it in your own voice. Our 50 sample SOPs are written for a different kind of application, but they show how to turn experiences into evidence.
6. Answer Harvard’s five short questions carefully
Harvard has its own supplement with five required short answers of up to 150 words each. They ask about:
- how your life experiences would help you contribute to Harvard;
- a time you strongly disagreed with someone, and what you learned from it;
- an activity, job, journey or family responsibility that shaped you;
- how you hope to use your Harvard education in the future;
- three things your future roommates might like to know about you.
With only 150 words each, every sentence must count. Don’t repeat your main essay or your activity list; use these answers to show other sides of you, including your sense of humour in the roommate question. They’re your best chance to show why Harvard specifically is the right place for you.
7. Build relationships with the people who’ll recommend you
Harvard asks for a recommendation from your school counsellor (or another school leader) and two teacher recommendations from different academic subjects. The best letters come from teachers who know you well and can describe how you think, not just your marks. Take part in class, ask questions, help classmates and talk to your teachers about your interests well before you apply. Ask them early, at least a couple of months before the deadline, and give them a short summary of your activities and plans. You can add one optional extra letter, from a coach or employer for example, but only if it adds something new.
8. Choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision wisely
- Restrictive Early Action (REA): apply by 1 November and get your decision in mid-December. It isn’t binding, so you can still compare offers until early May. While you apply REA, you can’t apply early to other private US universities or to a binding early program at a public university. You can still apply early (non-binding) to public universities and to universities outside the USA.
- Regular Decision: apply by 1 January and get your decision by the end of March.
Apply REA only if Harvard is clearly your first choice and your application is ready by 1 November, including your test scores. If your grades or scores will be stronger after a few more months, Regular Decision is the better choice. Harvard meets admitted students’ full financial need in both rounds. First-year applicant rules and dates.
9. Prepare for an alumni interview, but don’t worry if you don’t get one
After you apply, Harvard may invite you to an interview with a graduate, often online or near where you live. It’s a friendly conversation, not a test: be ready to talk about your interests, your activities and why you want to study at Harvard, and prepare a couple of questions to ask. Not every applicant can be interviewed, and Harvard says that not having an interview won’t count against you.
10. Plan your money and paperwork early
Don’t let the price stop you from applying. Harvard’s admissions decisions don’t depend on whether you apply for financial aid, and its aid rules are the same for international students as for Americans:
- Families earning under $100,000 a year are expected to pay nothing.
- Families earning up to $200,000 receive aid that covers at least full tuition.
- Harvard meets every admitted student’s demonstrated need, and loans are never required.
- If the application fee is a hardship, you can ask for a fee waiver, and asking won’t affect your application.
To apply for aid, all applicants submit the CSS Profile and the IDOC documents, and US citizens and permanent residents also submit the FAFSA. The deadline is 1 November for REA and 1 February for Regular Decision. Try Harvard’s net price calculator to see what your family might pay, and read how to apply for aid. International applicants don’t need an English test, although they can send scores. Low-income US students can also apply through QuestBridge.
International students should also follow visa news. Since 2025 the US government has taken several actions against Harvard’s ability to enrol international students, and courts have so far blocked them, so Harvard continues to admit and enrol students from abroad. New US rules on student visas were also being challenged in court in autumn 2026. Check Harvard’s International Office and the US embassy in your country for the latest position before you travel.
Applying to a Harvard graduate school?
Harvard’s graduate and professional schools, such as Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, the Kennedy School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, each run their own admissions with their own requirements. Most ask for a strong first degree, a statement of purpose or essays, recommendations and, for many programs, the GMAT, GRE or LSAT, plus an English test for international applicants. Check each school’s admissions website, and see our 50 sample SOPs and free GMAT, GRE, IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Even outstanding students are turned down by Harvard every year, simply because there are far more strong applicants than places. Apply if you want to, and give it your best effort, but also apply to universities where your chances are good, in the USA and elsewhere. Many of the steps above will strengthen every application you make. If you’re also considering other top US universities, read our guides on getting into MIT and getting into Stanford. Our guide to studying in the USA explains how US universities work, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Harvard College’s official admissions and financial aid pages and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, aid policies and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on Harvard’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Harvard University.