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Frequently Asked Questions: International Applicants
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 - a bachelor's in arts or sciences. There are about 6,500 undergraduates at the College, 50% male and 50% female. The College is only one part of Harvard University, which includes 10 graduate and professional schools, all of which offer programs for students who already hold bachelor's degrees and seek advanced training in their fields through master's or doctoral programs. All 10 graduate 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 in the social and natural sciences and in the humanities, as well as trained in a particular academic field of specialization. At Harvard, students fulfill the requirements of the Core Curriculum, which introduces students to modes of inquiry in important areas of knowledge. Since the goal of the Core Curriculum is to broaden each student's perspective, students take one course in each of the eight Core areas most remote from their concentration. They also select a field of specialization from more than 40 academic divisions and may choose courses from nearly 4,500 courses offered at the College. Students will usually take about half of their courses in their field of specialization, one-quarter in Core Curriculum areas, 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 need to be taken to earn a degree in that field. Programs are, therefore, quite individual 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?
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 Service 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 1999. Moreover, our science faculty has won 29 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.deas.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 first year. Students simply change fields 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 might pertain to international citizens seeking employment or graduate school placement in the U.S.
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 policies. 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/~fdo/publications/advance.
What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?
Virtually 100%.
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 4,500. 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 more than 900 courses offered on average each fall, for example, more than 600 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 direct, 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 graduate professional schools.
What is Harvard's graduation rate?
Harvard graduates 97% 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.