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Frequently Asked Questions: International Applicants
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 applicants' strength of character, their 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, 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 which the student attends.
How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?
Each case is different. Harvard seeks to enroll well-rounded students as well as a well-rounded first-year class. Thus, 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" - they have 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 curricula 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% 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 each year 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 disadvantage.
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 us 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 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 two or three. It is also not necessary to submit copies of incidental awards and certificates received beyond those required for the application.
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. A list of interviewers abroad will be provided with the application for admission. 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 hurt 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 September to benefit from special programs designed for freshmen.
May admitted students defer their matriculation at Harvard?
We encourage admitted students to 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), whether applying for financial aid or not. Then we can issue a Certificate of Eligibility (the I-20 form) to admitted students who accept our offer of admission. Students may present this form to the nearest U.S. Consulate to receive the F-1 Student Visa.