Harvard University | How to apply and get in as an international student!

Harvard University | An overview

Thousands of students in the United States and throughout the world aspire to attend Harvard University. Harvard’s admissions procedure is extremely hard and difficult as one of the most prestigious colleges.

While admission to this prestigious Ivy League institution is difficult, it is doable with hard work and dedication. If you want to go to Harvard for college, you must start planning early and accept that your prospects of acceptance are slim.

Harvard graduates are widely regarded as among the world’s best intellectuals and thinkers, and many have gone on to accomplish greatness in their own lives as well as in the world at large.

You can learn everything about Harvard admissions, scholarships, and placement packages in this article. We have also listed the various programs and courses offered at Harvard, along with everything you need to know about how to get into Harvard University.

 

Harvard University | Courses

 

Harvard University has an undergraduate Harvard college, 12 graduate and professional schools, and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Some of the highest-ranking Harvard University courses are in the streams of-

1. Management
2. Law
3. Science
4. Design
5. Medicine, and
6. Arts

You can check these courses on Harvard’s official website or even visit this page to get a comparative understanding of all the colleges and their offerings alongside those of Harvard.

Harvard University | Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to Harvard University vary depending on the program you choose. But generally speaking, you will be required to share the following documents-

1. College Essay or Statement of Purpose. Your essay is your introduction to the admission committee. This 400-500 words piece has to have the most perfect and strongest pitch.
2. School Grades (CGPA). You also have to submit the academic records of your previous education. To get into Harvard, you must have scored an A in all your subjects. Aim for at least a 7+ CGPA out of 10.
3. Letter of recommendation. Your teacher or counselor will have to write a Letter of Recommendation for you. It should comprise information such as your key roles in working with professors, areas of strength, and opportunities explored.
4. Extracurricular Activities. You should have an exceptional record to prove your leadership qualities and skills when applying to Harvard University. Whether trekking or dancing, showcase a strong portfolio in the digital space that gives you a unique edge over others.
5. Standardized Tests (GRE/GMAT/SAT and IELTS/TOEFL). The tests you need to take will depend on the courses you apply for when you want to study at Harvard. A high score on standardized tests is a must for international students.
   SAT/ACT score: Minimum scorer of 1500+ in SAT with 750+ out of 800 in each subject. Harvard needs SAT1 and SAT2 scores. A 34+ score on the ACT is required.
   
   

Harvard University | Fees

Once you have solved the question of ‘How to get admission to Harvard University?’, the next one arises; ‘How to pay the Harvard University tuition fees?’

The fee for studying at Harvard is $79,450, with $54,269 being the tuition fee; the rest includes health services, room rate, student services, board rate, and student activities fee. 

However, Harvard provides need-based financial aid to those students whose family makes under $75k annually.

Please note that, other than this, there are no athletic or academic scholarships for students. The financial aid policy for studies overseas is the same for US citizens or foreign citizens. So, your application for financial aid will not hamper your chances of getting into Harvard University.

However, you can consider other scholarships or apply for an education loan with low-interest rates, get a part-time job, and learn how to manage your finances as a student.

Harvard University | What about the Return on Investment?

Harvard University students enjoy an edge over many others thanks to their premium starting packages. The average salary Harvard alumni are believed to receive is a whopping $92,000.

How to get admission to Harvard University?

We understand that admission to Harvard is easier said than done. Note that apart from your school scores, documents like your statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, essays, portfolios, and correctly filled admission forms are a prerequisite to having your name see the light of day at Harvard.

But that’s not all.

Admissions committees at Harvard give careful attention to each profile. They look at a bunch of factors when considering your application, including your-

1. Growth trajectory and your potential
2. Interests and the activities you like to do
3. Personal character, and
4. Contribution to the Harvard community

Here are some of the questions they ask when going through your application-

1. Have you reached your maximum academic and personal potential?
2. Do you have initiative? Are you a self-starter? What motivates you?
3. Do you have a direction yet? What is it? If not, are you exploring many things?
4. Do you care deeply about anything intellectual? Extracurricular? Personal?
5. How open are you to new ideas and people?
6. Would other students want to room with you, share a meal, be in a seminar together, be teammates, or collaborate in a closely-knit extracurricular group?

You will find all these questions and more on the official Harvard website.

Make sure to keep all these queries in mind as you write your essay, request for LORs, and edit your resume.

Once you have all these documents ready, it’s time to start your application. Here’s how to do it-

 

Key takeaways

• Harvard graduates are widely regarded as among the world’s best intellectuals and thinkers, and many have gone on to accomplish greatness in their own lives as well as in the world at large.
• Harvard University has 12 degree-granting schools in all. These schools offer various undergraduate, graduate & professional programs, continuing education, and summer schools.
• The requirements for admission to Harvard University vary depending on the program you choose.
• Studying at Harvard University for four years would be about $70,000- $60,000. However, Harvard provides need-based financial aid to those students whose family makes under $65k annually.
• We understand that admission to Harvard is easier said than done. Note that apart from your school scores, documents like your statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, essays, portfolios, and correctly filled admission forms are a prerequisite to having your name see the light of day at Harvard.

If you wanna know what more you can do to increase your chances of getting into Harvard, or have any other doubts, feel free to get in touch with some of the best education counselors iSchoolconnect.

You can also comment below to get in touch with us!

Liked this blog? Then read more: 8 Ideal countries for immigration for students

 

FAQs

Q1. What are the requirements to get into Harvard after class 12?

Answer- The main requirements to get into Harvard after completing class 12 are scoring above 85% in class 12, SAT score above 1200, and a TOEFL score of more than 100.

Q2. What is the rate of acceptance for International students at Harvard?

Answer- The acceptance rate is only around 14.8% for international students applying to Harvard.

Q3. Are three-year degrees accepted at Harvard?

Answer- No. The university does not ordinarily accept three-year degrees; however, they do accept a two-year degree earned from schools participating in the Bologna process on a case-to-case basis.

Q4. Who are some of the popular Harvard alumni?

Answer- Some of the famous Harvard alumni include- 

• Ratan Tata 
• Barak Obama
• Sheryl Sandberg 
• Steve Ballmer
• Kapil Sibal

Q5. How many courses are offered by Harvard University?

Answer- Harvard offers 3700 courses. You can check the entire list of courses at the university’s official website. 

Q6. Do applicants news to submit the GRE score for admission at Harvard University (Department of History)?

Answer- GRE scores are not compulsory to submit for admissions as neither will the applicants be penalized for not submitting the scores nor will the scores be used as a benchmark for admission.