How to Get into Harvard University? Harvard Acceptance Rate, Admission Requirements, Application Process

What is the Acceptance Rate of Harvard University?

The Harvard university acceptance rate is somewhere between 4-5% which means that of the 100 students that apply to Harvard only 4 or 5 are accepted. Thereby, making Harvard one of the most competitive Ivy Leagues to get into!

According to Harvard, for the class of 2025 (i.e., acceptance rate for 2021), the college accepted 2,320 of 57,786 applicants, the admit rate was thus a mere 4 percent.

Let us take a look at the acceptance rates at Harvard over the last 5 years:

Year	Acceptance Rate
2017	5.2%
2018	4.6%
2019	4.5%
2020	4.9 %
2021	4.5%

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Harvard University Requirements

The next questions that follow are: how hard is it to get into Harvard University, what are the Harvard University admission requirements for Indian students, how much GPA do you need to get into Harvard, how much marks do you need to get into Harvard, etc.

Let’s try to break down the score conditions and Harvard University admission requirements for international students into the following parts:

• GPA requirements
• Standardised Test Score requirements- SAT/ ACT or GRE/GMAT
• English Language Proficiency Test Scores - IELTS/ TOEFL

Let us now move on to know more about the Harvard University requirements in detail:

GPA Requirements

A good overall academic profile is one of the main factors that help to keep you in the race for Harvard. Remember that the level of competition is extremely high for Harvard, therefore, being amongst the top students in your class will definitely brighten your chances.

Many schools at Harvard specify a minimum GPA. Although it is not very high, it is the basic eligibility without which your application won’t be accepted.

Average GPA of the admitted Students at Harvard is around 4.18

However, if your GPA is low, it does not mean that you won’t be able to make it to Harvard. If your GPA is low, make sure that the other parts of your application are extremely impressive. A high SAT or ACT score can also help you get notice and compensate for the lower GPA. The whole idea is to be able to compete effectively against other higher GPA applicants.

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Standardised Test Score Requirements

Apart from a good GPA, having high scores in your standardised scores is also important.

SAT Requirements

Most schools at Harvard have their own minimum SAT requirements. Your SAT score is good enough to depend on the average score of the other applicants, therefore, having a high score gives you an advantage.

The 25-75th percentile (the middle 50% students admitted) of Harvard admitted students had SAT scores of 1460-1580.

Some schools in Harvard may allow you to send SAT scores from more than one test known as superscoring. This means that you can take the SAT multiple times and then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. So, the application readers will take the highest score from one section and add it to the highest score from another section irrespective of the test date.

ACT Requirements

Just like SAT, Harvard also comes up with the minimum ACT requirements.

The 25-75th percentile of Harvard admitted students had an ACT Composite score of 33-35.

The schools at Harvard allow students to choose the ACT scores they want to send. Therefore, if you have taken multiple tests, you can only send your highest one.

Apart from this, Harvard also requires you to take the SAT Essay/ ACT Writing section. Therefore, performing extremely well in these sections is of immense importance as well.

GRE Score Requirements

Just like undergrad admissions, the admission to graduate programs at Harvard is extremely competitive. So, if you are looking for GRE scores to get into Harvard, you must know that most graduate schools do not specify a GRE cut-off for their programs.

However, a look at the average scores of students admitted to Harvard can serve as an indicator of the requirements.

The average GRE scores for most admitted students at Harvard can range between:

• Verbal: 155 - 166
• Quant: 155 - 170 for Quant
• Analytical Writing: 4.5-5.0

Many programs may require scores of over 160 i.e., 90th percentile or above.

It is important to remember that score requirements vary widely with the program. Quant expectations are higher for maths and science related programs such as computer science, while Verbal expectations are higher for reading and writing related programs such as English Literature.

GMAT Score Requirements

Getting admission to the Harvard Business School is quite competitive just like other streams. A good GMAT score is essential to get admission into the management programs at the university.

Harvard reports its GMAT score for admitted students in terms of class median, rather than average. The GMAT median for Harvard Business school is 730.

IELTS/ TOEFL Score Requirements

International students should also submit the scores of their English language proficiency tests to Harvard. The scores may vary from one program to another, so make sure you check with the specific program and school.

Most Schools at Harvard accept the TOEFL and IELTS scores of around 80 and 7.5, respectively.

Documents Required to Get Into Harvard University

The answer to how to get into Harvard University is not as simple as getting good scores. All good universities including Harvard will consider your application holistically. This means that you must ensure that your overall application stands out in comparison to the other applicants.

My academic credentials weren’t the cream in any way and applying to the Mecca of education and the Medina of Public Health was definitely an extremely long shot. Evidently, they made their decision based on the holistic profile – a point all of us have heard many times over, but find it hard to digest in general. I hold my experience out as a flashlight to assert that one should never be scared to take a step.

 -Abhijith Asok, Data Science Program, Harvard University

The major documents required for Harvard admission include:

• Academic transcripts
• Bachelor’s degree (for PG programs)
• Passport
• Visa
• Birth certificate

Here are a few other documents for Harvard application requirements that need your attention:

Essays

A great essay is one of the most important components of Harvard University admission requirements. Make sure your essay pitch is strong, reflects your unique experience, ambition, and character.

SOPs and LORs

All universities, including Harvard, understand that no one is perfect. It is as important to know your weaknesses as it is to know your strengths. Therefore, make sure your Statement of Purpose (SoP) should have a couple of your weaknesses as well.

Also, letters of recommendation (LORs) play a very important component in your application. Make sure to choose your recommenders wisely. Most universities demand at least one recommendation from the university. So, if you are reading this and currently in college, make sure you have done some good work and maintain good relations with at least one professor.

Sample LOR for MS

Resume & Portfolios

Some Harvard graduate schools like the Harvard Business School require applicants to submit a resume. For some courses having relevant work experience really helps make all the difference to your application.

Certain courses related to artwork and design require applicants to submit portfolios of their work. In order to get into Harvard, you must ensure that your portfolio is diverse and truly demonstrates the artist in you.

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Harvard University Application Process

You can apply to Harvard using any one of the following portals:

• Coalition Application
• Common Application
• Universal College Application

These portals can be used to apply for undergraduate as well as graduate level programs. The Harvard application fee is 75 USD.

Start your application process for Harvard as early as possible. This will give plenty of time to perfect it.

Once you have selected the portal, be sure to send in the following Harvard University admission requirements for international students:

• Standardised Test Scores
• English Language proficiency proof
• Official academic transcripts
• Essays
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation - at least 3
• Resume - wherever required

The Harvard application must be submitted before the submission of supporting materials. Make sure you submit all Harvard supplements or questions along with the application. This will help the admission committee to assess your application better.

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What Does Harvard Look for in an Application?

Harvard states “We give careful, individual attention to each applicant. We seek to identify students who will be the best educators of one another and their professors… Our admissions process enables us to give deliberate and meticulous consideration of each applicant as a whole person.”

Therefore, if you are wondering about how to get admission in Harvard University, you must also focus on building up an overall diverse profile with a strong focus on extracurricular activities and volunteering work. These should highlight four aspects:

• Growth and Potential: The admission officers wish to assess whether you have been pushing yourself to reach your potential.
• Interests and Activities: They are interested to know about your passion, learning, leadership abilities and commitment.
• Personal Character: The university is interested to know the choices you’ve made, your openness to new ideas, & personal traits such as maturity, self-confidence and concern for others.
• Community Participation: Harvard is interested in students that can handle different aspects of college life, contribute to the Harvard community, and perform under pressure.

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What If You Get Rejected from Harvard?

With an acceptance rate of merely 4-5%, getting into Harvard is definitely not a cake walk. We would advise you to always apply at other US universities with a high acceptance rate, in case you get rejected at Harvard. Moreso, you can even apply at Harvard with a gap year as well!

Tips to Prepare for Harvard

Now if you are thinking how to get into Harvard, you need to prepare right away. Here are a few tips that will come in handy:

• Do Your Research: Research well on the university and programs you wish to apply for. Based on that, you need to start working on your profile, SoP, contacting recommenders etc.
• Start Preparation Early: Make sure you start your preparation early. Focus on getting extremely good grades at your school and also start preparing for the standardised exams. Practice taking tests at home.
• Build Your Overall Profile: Harvard is looking for something beyond academics. Work on building up your overall profile - work experience, volunteer work, extracurriculars, etc.
• Use Student Groups for Information: Join the Yocket group for Harvard University or other social media groups with other fellow applicants for discussions and gaining more information.
• Don’t Underestimate Yourself: Don’t underestimate yourself or your profile. Harvard admissions work very differently. What might actually work in your favour, might be some point in the corner, which you yourself thought was irrelevant. You do this only once in life, so give it your best shot and let the rest come through as it would.

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Getting into Harvard is a dream for many students and you can fulfil this dream if you focus and start your preparation early. Remember that although getting into Harvard is difficult, it is not impossible. If you still want to know more about how to get admission in Harvard University, our Yocket Counsellors are always by your side!

Frequently Asked Questions about Getting Into Harvard University

Ques. What is the acceptance rate of Harvard University?

Ans. The acceptance rate at Harvard ranges from 4-5%.

Ques. Is Harvard University a part of the Ivy League?

Ans. Yes, Harvard is a part of the Ivy League.

Ques. What is the minimum GPA requirement for Harvard?

Ans. One should have a minimum GPA of 4.0 to get into Harvard!

Ques. What are some tips to get into Harvard?

Ans. Some tips to get into Harvard are:

• Build your overall profile
• Research properly
• Start preparation early

Ques. What are the documents required to get admission into Harvard University?

Ans. Some of the major documents required for admission into Harvard are:

• Academic transcripts
• Bachelor's degree (for PG programs)
• CV, Resume
• LORs, SOPs
• Passport
• Visa
• Birth certificates
• English proficiency certificate
• Standardised test scores