In the 2024 application cycle (and 2023 early admission cycle) 54,008 people applied to Harvard. Of those that applied only 1,937 students were accepted – that’s 3.58% acceptance rate and one of the lowest in the country. According the the Harvard Gazette, this makes it the fourth year running that the school has received over 50,000 applications.
Flickr user Yu-Jen Shih
So why do we care and how does it help to know how many people apply to Harvard? Knowing the number of applications received and how many students are accepted gives you an idea of your own acceptance odds and a clearer picture of how competitive that institution is. The lower the acceptance rate, the more competitive the college, and the more difficult it is to get into. Colleges with higher acceptance rates are easier to get into.
Regularly being ranked a top 3 school, Harvard’s low acceptance rate of 3.58% tells you that this is a very selective school.
A More Detailed Look At Harvard’s Admissions Statistics
For the what will be the Harvard graduating Class of 2028:
- Number of students who applied: 54,008
- Number of students accepted: 1,937
- Acceptance rate: 3.58%
- Number of students accepted during regular admissions cycle: 1,245
- Number of students accepted under early action: 692
- International students: 15.4%
What Admissions Criteria Does Harvard Use?
It’s interesting to know the criteria that Harvard’s admission committee uses to assess more than 50,000 applications and select less than 2,000 students from these.
Like all Ivy League Schools, Harvard has very high standards when it comes to evaluating applicants. However, the school does not have a fixed formula nor is it rigid in in its requirements. Instead, the admissions committee considers a combination of criteria that include academic and extracurricular achievements as well as personal attributes.
These are some of the factors that Harvard considers when evaluating applications:
- GPA
- Course rigor
- Test scores
- Admissions essay
- Letters of recommendation
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Volunteer work
- Community involvement
- Work experience
- Leadership activities
- Personal qualities
- First generation
- Legacy
Harvard makes it very clear that an applicants’ high school rank, religious affiliation, or state residency are not considered when assessing applications.
Harvard GPA Requirements
If you are one of the many people who will apply to Harvard next year, make sure you focus on your GPA. Your GPA is the single most important criterion for getting into this prestigious school. The average high school GPA of students who get into Harvard is 4.2. If you’re planning on applying to this Ivy League school, you should aim to get a minimum 4.2 GPA to stay in the competition.
When looking at Harvard GPA Requirements, it’s important to know that choosing easy subjects to improve your GPA will not give you any advantage. Instead, the admissions committee may discount your application if you have a high GPA but all easy courses. The key to demonstrating your academic abilities is to earn a high score with rigorous coursework. If you’ve got your heart set on attending Harvard, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Take challenging classes such as Advanced Placement (AP), Honors, or International Baccalaureate (IB) in high school. Your GPA carries more weight when it’s earned in these courses.
- Study hard and aim for a minimum 4.2 GPA.
Harvard Application Process
You know how many people apply to Harvard, how many get selected, and the acceptance rate. How would you rate your chances of getting accepted? If the odds look good, here’s what you need to know about the application process.
Harvard accepts both, the Common Application as well as the Coalition Application by Scoir. There’s no preference for either one so you can choose whichever you like.
Along with the completed application, you will also need to submit:
- School report and high school transcript
- Midyear school report
- 2 Teacher Recommendations
- SAT or ACT test scores
- Personal essay written to the prompts provided
- List of extracurricular activities
- 5 200-word answers to the questions provided
Admitted students also need to submit their final school report.
On receiving your application, the admin office will send you an email confirming receipt. You will also receive a PIN to log into the Applicant Portal. If you need to update your contact or other details, you can make the changes via this portal. There’s no need to re-send your application.
Application Timeline & Deadlines
The timeline and due dates are different depending on whether you are applying under the Regular Decision or Restrictive Early Action program.
Regular Decision
- Application deadline: January 1
- Expect to receive notification by end of March
Restrictive Early Action
- Applications deadline: November 1
- Expect to receive notification by end of mid-December
Application Fee/ Fee Waiver
The application fee for Harvard is $85. You can pay the fee online with a credit card via the Common Application or Coalition Application website or send a check or money order directly to the admissions office.
To ensure that the application process is accessible to all students, Harvard offers a fee waiver facility to students who cannot afford it. Applicants will need to meet certain requirements and submit the requested documents to get the fee waived. Requesting a fee waiver will not have any adverse impact on your application.
Tips To Improve Your Chances Of Getting Into Harvard
Going by Harvard’s acceptance rate, there’s no arguing that this is among the most difficult colleges to get into. But difficult does not mean impossible. You beat the odds and get accepted if you stay focused and work hard.
While the tips below don’t guarantee success, they will give you a fighting chance of getting accepted into this prestigious Ivy League School.
- Take challenging classes in high school. Harvard looks favorably on applicants who take Advanced Placement (AP), Honors, or International Baccalaureate (IB) in high school.
- Achieve a minimum 4.2 GPA while taking the challenging courses.
- Start studying early for the SAT/ACT and aim for a minimum SAT score of 1580 and minimum ACT score of 36.
- Choose your extracurriculars carefully and dedicate a considerable amount of time to your chosen activity. The aim is to highlight your contribution to that activity.
- Put some thought into writing your essay. You want it to demonstrate your unique personality and emphasize why you are the perfect fit for this school.
- You need to submit letters of recommendation written by two different teachers. Think about which two teachers you want to ask and speak to them well in advance of the due date, so they have sufficient time to write a stellar letter recommending you.
- Prepare for your admission interview. Familiarize yourself with the process and research the types of questions that the committee usually asks prospective students. Give some thought to how you would answer each of these questions.
If you are one of the many people who want to apply to Harvard, find out your acceptance odds and potential financial aid here for FREE with College Match. Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
