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Frequently Asked Questions
Academics at Harvard College
What is the difference between Harvard College and Harvard University?
What is a "liberal arts" education?
Can an undergraduate concentrate in architecture, business, journalism, law or medicine?
How strong are Harvard's science and engineering programs?
How easy is it for students to change concentrations?
Can students fulfill academic requirements with previous coursework?
What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?
Is it possible to talk with and get to know professors?
Are there required freshman courses?
Must students register for courses before attending class?
How many courses does Harvard offer?
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?
Are there exchange programs with other Greater Boston colleges?
What is Harvard's graduation rate?
A Residential College
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
Should students be concerned for their safety at Harvard?
Does Harvard provide services for students with disabilities?
What advising and support services are available for Harvard undergraduates?
Are there extracurricular opportunities available for students?
Admissions
What admissions criteria does Harvard use?
Are there quotas for international applicants?
How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?
Are there secondary school course requirements for admission?
Must a student have certain grades or marks to be considered for admission?
Does Harvard rank secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad?
Which teachers should write recommendations?
Should students send supplementary recommendations?
Is there a personal interview?
Does Harvard admit students to enter in the spring semester?
May admitted students defer their matriculation at Harvard?
May a student with a bachelor's degree apply to Harvard College?
What should students know about visas?
Required Admissions Testing
What standardized tests does Harvard require?
Are there minimum required SAT I, ACT or SAT II scores?
Which SAT II Subject Tests should students take?
What if English is not a student's first language?
What if students cannot take the SAT or ACT in their country?
Does Harvard consider scores from previous administrations of the SAT I, ACT or SAT II?
If a student takes the required tests more than once, which results does Harvard consider?
Financial Aid
Does Harvard offer financial aid?
Does applying for financial aid affect a student's chances for admission?
Is it easy to qualify for financial aid?
What if a family's financial situation changes while their student is attending Harvard?
Does Harvard award merit scholarships?
Does Harvard provide loans to international students who qualify for financial aid?
Does Harvard require international students to work if they qualify for financial aid?
Can students find jobs on or near campus?
Will Harvard provide travel expenses for international students who receive financial aid?
How much financial aid does Harvard award, on average, to international students?
Academics at Harvard College
What is the difference between Harvard College and Harvard University?
Harvard College offers a four-year undergraduate, liberal arts program for students seeking their first degree. There are about 6,500 undergraduates at the College, with nearly equal numbers of men and women. In addition to Harvard College, Harvard University includes 10 graduate and professional schools, all of which offer programs for students who already hold their first degrees and seek advanced training in their fields through master's or doctoral programs. All 10 graduate and professional schools maintain their own admissions offices and teaching faculties, and they are run independently of Harvard College. For information about Harvard's graduate programs, please contact these schools' admissions offices directly.
What is a "liberal arts" education?
A liberal arts education emphasizes both breadth and depth. In our liberal arts program, students are broadly educated both in the social and natural sciences and the humanities, as well as trained in a particular academic field of specialization called a concentration. At Harvard, students fulfill the requirements of the Program in General Education, which seeks to "connect a student's liberal education ... to life beyond the college." Since the goal of the General Education Program is to broaden each student's perspective, students take one course in each of the eight areas. They also select a field of specialization from more than 40 academic departments and may choose courses from nearly 3,500 courses offered at the College. Students will usually take about half of their courses in their concentration, one-quarter in the General Education Program, and one-quarter freely elected. The only specific course that is required for all students is a one-semester writing course, although each department has certain courses that a student must take to earn a degree in that field. Programs are, therefore, quite individualized for each student. Whatever a student's curricular choices, every undergraduate learns to read, write, and think critically — skills important to any endeavor. For detailed information, consult the course catalog at www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu.
Can an undergraduate concentrate in architecture, business, journalism, law or medicine?
No. Harvard's academic programs are not "pre-professional" in the sense that they provide vocational training; however, many Harvard graduates plan to continue their education in professional or graduate schools. Harvard students in general are very well prepared for admission to professional schools and graduate programs. Candidates who are not U.S. citizens but wish to continue their education in a professional program, particularly in an American medical school, are advised to consult specific graduate and professional programs in advance to understand those schools' admissions and financial aid policies concerning international students. For more information on studying medicine in the U.S. as an international student, please refer to the Office of Career Services website.
How strong are Harvard's science and engineering programs?
Science and engineering have long been priorities at Harvard. There are more than two dozen state-of-the-art facilities for science research at Harvard, and new computer science and chemistry laboratories opened in 2008. Moreover, 41 of our former and current science faculty members have won Nobel Prizes. About half of recent entering students intend to major in the natural sciences, engineering, computer science or mathematics. Read more about engineering and applied science at www.seas.harvard.edu.
How easy is it for students to change concentrations?
About a third of undergraduates change fields after declaring their concentrations at the end of their third semester. Students simply change concentrations in consultation with departmental advisers. For information about the breadth of Harvard's academic programs, consult www.fas.harvard.edu/academics/departments/all.html.
How successful are Harvard students in gaining admission to graduate schools or finding employment after graduation?
Our graduates enjoy an extraordinarily high rate of success receiving job offers and admission to graduate and professional schools. Resident tutors in each of the 12 residential Houses assist students applying to graduate schools and fellowship programs. The Office of Career Services offers all undergraduates a range of job and internship counseling and placement. Foreign citizens should be aware that some special policies pertain to international citizens seeking employment in the U.S. after graduation.
Does attending Harvard College affect a student's chances of admission to Harvard University's graduate programs in business, medicine or law?
It is important to note again that these graduate programs are separate from and independent of Harvard College, and they each make their own admissions decisions. Yet, Harvard College is almost always the best-represented undergraduate institution at Harvard's graduate schools. In some programs, however, and, particularly at Harvard Medical School, non-citizens may have a smaller representation.
Can students fulfill academic requirements with previous coursework?
Students cannot receive credit for coursework completed before matriculation, but Harvard offers an Advanced Standing Program to entering students who meet certain standards on the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations or who have earned the full International Baccalaureate diploma with grades of 6 or 7 on at least three Higher Level examinations. Admitted students who matriculate with strong results on the GCE A-levels - or on other internationally recognized examinations, such as the Abitur or French Baccalaureate - may submit their credentials to the Advanced Standing adviser in the Freshman Dean's Office for individual evaluation. Read more at www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced.
What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?
Virtually 100 percent.
Is it possible to talk with and get to know professors?
Yes. In addition to professors' weekly office hours, students often spend time with their professors before and after class. There are also many occasions when professors take meals in Harvard's 12 residential dining halls; attend gatherings in the residences of House Masters, who are themselves Harvard faculty members; and participate in other programs and special events.
Are there required freshman courses?
Harvard requires all freshmen to take Expository Writing, a one-semester course. Otherwise, freshmen may enroll in any courses in which they are interested and for which they are prepared.
Must students register for courses before attending class?
No. Students enjoy a week-long "shopping" period at the start of each semester during which they visit classes and compare curricular choices before registering for courses.
How many courses does Harvard offer?
Nearly 3,500. For a complete copy of the course catalog, consult www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu.
How large are courses?
Some introductory courses as well as several other popular courses have large enrollments. Yet, of the nearly 1,300 courses offered last fall, for example, more than 1,000 of them enroll 20 or fewer students.
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?
Yes. Many students find research projects through individual inquiries with departments and professors as well as through the Harvard Undergraduate Research Program and the Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The Faculty Aide Program links professors to undergraduates interested in becoming research assistants. Read more about these programs at www.seo.harvard.edu/research.
Are there exchange programs with other Greater Boston colleges?
Harvard students may cross-register in courses offered at MIT, which is a 10-minute trip from Harvard Yard. Students may also enroll in graduate level courses at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as well as at many of Harvard's professional schools.
What is Harvard's graduation rate?
Harvard graduates over 97 percent of its students, among the highest rates at American colleges and universities. Everyone admitted to Harvard has the ability to complete all academic requirements successfully.
A Residential College
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
Harvard guarantees housing for all four years. First-year students live in one of the 17 dormitories in or adjacent to historic Harvard Yard. Self-selected groups of students are assigned to one of 12 residential Houses for the final three years of undergraduate study. About 350 to 500 students live in a House, each of which includes its own dining hall, library and advising staff, among other resources. Read more about first-year dormitories and Harvard's Houses at www.orl.fas.harvard.edu.
Must students live on campus?
Students must live in Harvard housing their first year at the College. A very small percentage of students choose to live off-campus as upperclassmen. Many students and alumni/ae, however, consider the House system one of the hallmarks of their Harvard experiences. Considering the diversity of student backgrounds, interests and talents, Harvard's residential program enhances the degree to which students - among our most powerful educational resources - learn from one another.
Should students be concerned for their safety at Harvard?
The University sponsors a comprehensive public safety program that includes a full campus police force, a walking escort service, a campus-wide shuttle service, emergency phones, lighted pathways and a computer-card key system operating in all freshman and most other residences. Read Harvard's "Playing It Safe" handbook at the Harvard University Police Department website.
Does Harvard provide services for students with disabilities?
Yes. The Accessible Education Office assists students with any impairment limiting their ability to walk, see, hear, speak, learn or write. Based on each student's successful strategies, the Center collaborates with faculty and staff to ensure individualized accommodation. Accessible housing and transportation are also available. Read more about the AEO at www.fas.harvard.edu/~aeo.
What advising and support services are available for Harvard undergraduates?
Woven into Harvard's first-year and upper class residences are a variety of academic and other advising resources that make the residential experience at Harvard distinctive. First-year students benefit from the guidance that resident proctors provide about living in Cambridge and studying at the College. Each House also has its own staff of advisers - resident tutors - similar to first-year proctors but with expertise in particular academic and professional fields. The College offers extensive advising resources of other kinds. When students need extra help in coursework, they can turn to the Bureau of Study Counsel. The Office of Career Services offers career counseling. The University maintains its own outstanding health services. The Undergraduate Financial Aid Office helps students with financial aid issues, and the Student Employment Office helps place students in jobs on and off campus. Finally, the International Office serves exclusively the special needs of international students.
Are there extracurricular opportunities available for students?
Yes! There are more than 400 student-run organizations at Harvard, among them dozens of publications, five orchestras, an extensive community service program, 41 intercollegiate athletic teams and an assortment of other activities - artistic, musical, political and social. There is never a shortage of things to do at Harvard. Consult slao.fas.harvard.edu for more information about extracurriculars at the College.
Admissions
What admissions criteria does Harvard use?
There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and work experience. We rely on teachers, counselors, headmasters and alumni/ae to share information with us about an applicant's strength of character, his or her ability to overcome adversity and other personal qualities - all of which play a part in the Admissions Committee's decisions.
Are there quotas for international applicants?
There are no quotas or limits for international students. All students are considered in the same pool for all places in the incoming class, regardless of citizenship or the school they attend. A student's chances for admission and financial aid are not affected by citizenship or by the location of the school that the student attends.
How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?
Each case is different. Some students distinguish themselves for admission due to their unusual academic promise through experience or achievements in study or research. Other students present compelling cases because they are more "well rounded," having contributed in many different ways to their schools or communities. Still other successful applicants are "well lopsided" with demonstrated excellence in one particular endeavor - academic, extracurricular or otherwise. Some students bring perspectives formed by unusual personal circumstances or experiences. Like all colleges, we seek to admit the most interesting, able and diverse class possible.
Are there secondary school course requirements for admission?
There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curriculum available to them.
Must a student have certain grades or marks to be considered for admission?
The Admissions Committee recognizes that schools vary by size, academic program and grading policies, so we do not have rigid grade requirements. We do seek students who achieve at a high level, and most admitted students rank in the top 10-15 percent of their graduating classes.
How familiar is the Admissions Committee with secondary schools? their rigor? what marks mean in a particular school or educational system?
We have worked hard for many years to learn about schools around the world. Our careful study of different schools, curricula and educational systems benefits, too, from information we receive directly from schools, extensive personal communication with school personnel and the interview reports we receive from our alumni/ae, who meet thousands of applicants to the College each year. We can always learn more, so we welcome information students think might be helpful to the Admissions Committee in understanding their accomplishments in their school communities.
Does Harvard rank secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad?
No. While we understand there are differences in the overall strengths of secondary schools, we are most interested in how well applicants have taken advantage of available resources.
Does Harvard consider non-required test results, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Abitur or GCE A-levels?
Yes. We value predicted A-level and IB results along with any information that helps us form a complete picture of an applicant's academic interests and strengths. However, results from these examinations cannot substitute for our required admissions testing. All applicants must submit the results of the SAT I or ACT as well as three SAT II Subject Tests.
If students' curricula require more than the 12-year U.S. curriculum, may they apply after their twelfth year?
We strongly recommend that students complete whatever curriculum they have been taking. Applicants who have completed only a year of GCE A-levels or International Baccalaureate study, for instance, are at a tremendous disadvantage in our applicant pool.
Which teachers should write recommendations?
Teachers who know the applicant well and who have taught him or her in academic subjects (preferably in the final two years of secondary school) most often provide the most valuable testimony. Teachers should tell us about a candidate's significant non-academic interests and personal qualities as well as academic potential.
Should students send supplementary recommendations?
While we can make careful evaluations with only the required recommendations, we are happy to read helpful letters from people directly familiar with applicants' lives outside the classroom. Such letters are not necessary, however, and it is generally advisable to submit no more than one or two. It is also not necessary to submit copies of incidental awards and certificates.
Who reads applications?
Most applications are read by two or more members of the Admissions Committee and are considered very carefully in a series of committee meetings where a majority vote is required for admission. The entire process requires several months.
Is there a personal interview?
We encourage international applicants to have an admission interview when and where possible. Our interviewers abroad are normally graduates of the College who offer their assistance on a volunteer basis. In many countries, applicants must initiate contact with an interviewer. In some countries, applicants will be contacted by an interviewer. In still other countries, we may not have interviewers or the number of applicants may be too great for all to be interviewed. While we try to make interviewers as widely available as possible, it will not always be possible for student to have an interview; the absence of an interview will not adversely affect your candidacy.
Are a student's chances for admission lessened if there are other applicants from his or her school or community?
No. There are no quotas for individual schools, communities, states or countries. A student's application is compared rigorously with others from around the globe.
Does Harvard admit students to enter in the spring semester?
No. All students begin study in August to benefit from special programs designed for freshmen.
May admitted students defer their matriculation at Harvard?
Yes. Admitted students can take a one-year deferral to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work or spend time in another meaningful way - provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college or university. Deferrals for two-year obligatory military service are permitted.
Is there a wait list?
Yes. Our wait list includes the strongest applicants whom the Committee was not able to admit but might still wish to consider for admission if spots in the entering class open later. The wait list is not ranked. In some years, we have admitted no one from the wait list; in others, we have admitted more than 200 candidates.
May a student with a bachelor's degree apply to Harvard College?
No student who has received a bachelor's degree or other first university degrees from any other university, whether American or foreign, can be admitted to Harvard College. Students interested in continuing their studies beyond the bachelor's degree might wish to consider one of the 10 Harvard University graduate schools. The Harvard College Admissions Office is independent of these schools and their admissions policies.
What should students know about visas?
All applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must submit the Financial Statement for Students from Foreign Countries (sent with the application materials or available at www.fao.fas.harvard.edu) whether applying for financial aid or not. We can then issue a Certificate of Eligibility (the I-20 form) to admitted students who accept our offer of admission. Students may present this form at the nearest U.S. Consulate to apply for the F-1 Student Visa.
Required Admissions Testing
What standardized tests does Harvard require?
We value predicted A-level and IB results along with any information that helps us form a complete picture of an applicant's academic interests and strengths. However, results from these examinations cannot substitute for our required admissions testing. All applicants must submit the results of the SAT I or ACT as well as three SAT II Subject Tests. For information about the SATs, consult www.collegeboard.org/; for the ACT www.act.org.
Are there minimum required SAT I, ACT or SAT II scores?
Harvard does not have required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College score between 650 to 800 on each section of the SAT I as well as on the SAT II Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors. The Admissions Committee understands that international students may not be as familiar with the SAT and ACT formats as American citizens. Nevertheless, international students who distinguish themselves for admission often present the Committee with exceptionally strong standardized testing by any measure.
Which SAT II Subject Tests should students take?
Applicants must take three SAT II Subject Tests and may choose any three subjects, using the following guidelines:
- The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is not acceptable.
- Candidates whose native language is not English should not take an SAT II test in their native language as one of the three required tests.
- Applicants may wish to convey the breadth of their academic interests by taking tests in a variety of subjects.
What if English is not a student's first language?
A strong knowledge of English is essential for successful study at Harvard, including the ability to understand and express thoughts quickly and clearly. We require the results of the SAT I or ACT and three SAT II Subject Tests for all candidates. The SAT II English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is not acceptable. Students are not required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless the SAT exams are not available in their current location. Candidates whose native language is not English should not take any of their three SAT II tests in their native language.
Must students sitting for GCE A-levels or other international credentials submit SAT I and SAT II scores?
Yes. We realize students educated abroad may be unfamiliar with these examination formats, but all applicants must submit the results of the SAT I or ACT and three SAT II Subject Tests.
What if students cannot take the SAT or ACT in their country?
The SAT I and SAT II tests are now given in almost all countries. We realize that students might have to travel some distance or might have to plan for testing long in advance, but these test results are required tools in our analysis of applications. In our competitive applicant pool, students lacking these test results are usually denied admission. Foreign students in one of the very few countries where the SAT is not available (for example, China) may submit alternative testing such as the Graduate Record Examination. For more information about the GRE, consult www.gre.org. Students in such countries should also take the TOEFL.
Does Harvard consider scores from previous administrations of the SAT I, ACT or SAT II?
Yes.
If a student takes the required tests more than once, which results does Harvard consider?
We consider a student's best test scores, but it is generally our experience that taking tests more than twice does not improve scores noticeably.
Financial Aid
Does Harvard offer financial aid?
Yes. Over 70 percent of Harvard students receive some form of financial aid. Our policy of need-based financial aid is designed to meet 100 percent of a family's demonstrated need. Our recent low and middle income initiatives have made our aid program even more generous by eliminating the parent contribution for families with incomes below $60,000, reducing the parent contribution for families with incomes between $60,000 and $180,000, and eliminating student loans. These enhancements enable all students to participate fully in the extracurricular life of the college. Our financial aid policies apply equally to international students and to U.S. citizens.
Does applying for financial aid affect a student's chances for admission?
No. Admission to Harvard is need-blind, by which we mean that a lack of financial resources and need for financial aid are not impediments to admission. Applying for financial aid does not jeopardize a student’s chances for admission, and foreign students have the same access to financial aid funding as do U.S. citizens.
Is it easy to qualify for financial aid?
Financial aid is more widely available than most families expect. We no longer consider home equity in our calculation of family resources, and for families with incomes between $60,000 and $180,000 with average asset worth for those incomes, the parent contribution will be approximately 10 percent of family income. Families with incomes over $180,000 may still qualify for need-based financial aid, as we consider carefully each family’s individual circumstances, and not income alone, in determining need.
What if a family's financial situation changes while their student is attending Harvard?
We adjust individual financial aid packages to accommodate significant changes in a family's financial situation. Students apply for financial assistance each year, and we will meet students' demonstrated need for all four years.
Does Harvard award merit scholarships?
No. Harvard is firmly committed to allocating resources to sustain our policies of need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid. Our unusually talented student populations — chosen in a very competitive admissions process — would, in any case, complicate the equitable distribution of merit-based awards. However, students last year brought with them to Harvard about $13 million in scholarships from outside resources, thus enhancing their own financial flexibility during their college years.
Does Harvard require international students to work if they qualify for financial aid?
All students, international or American, who demonstrate financial need will be offered a job as part of their financial aid award, which they can typically meet with a job requiring about 12 hours per week. U.S. immigration regulations require foreign nationals to work on-campus, and they restrict the amount of time a foreign student can spend working part-time while attending college. Jobs are plentiful and are often interesting and relevant to academic interests.
Can students find jobs on or near campus?
There are always many jobs available at Harvard, and we guarantee on-campus employment for students whose financial aid packages include term-time work provisions. Employment opportunities range from dining hall duties to work in the University's libraries, laboratories and offices. Students have also earned money on campus as bartenders, teaching assistants, sportswriters, computer programmers, lifeguards and research assistants, to cite a few examples. Working eight to twelve hours on average per week, most students find that they can work, excel academically, and participate in a range of extracurricular activities. Read more at our Student Employment Office website.
Will Harvard provide travel expenses for international students who receive financial aid?
All students who are on financial aid have a travel allowance included in their financial aid award which is meant to help with the cost of travel to and from Cambridge. Because of our flexible financial aid policies and the availability of jobs on campus, many international students travel back and forth to Cambridge several times during their undergraduate years. Overseas students are advised to seek information from the nearest U.S. Cultural Affairs Office about travel grants and other financial assistance available to qualified students from various foundations in this country and from the U.S. government. Foreign nationals should also explore the possibility of aid from their own governments.
How much financial aid does Harvard award, on average, to international students?
We assess the financial circumstance of each applicant and his or her family individually in order to craft a financial aid package that will meet fully each family's demonstrated need. The College does not award merit scholarships of any kind. For international students who qualified for financial aid for the 2008-2009 academic year, an average aid package includes a $2,500 job offer, and $42,900 in scholarship.