Harvard University Admission 2023 Requirements, Programs, Deadlines

Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the USA offering admission in fall, winter, spring, and summer intakes.

Harvard was founded in 1636 and has campuses in Allston, Boston, and Cambridge. 16% of the Ivy League university’s students are from outside the United States and come from more than 150 different countries.

Harvard welcomes applications from all over the world. The school financial aid and admissions processes are the same for all applicants – regardless of citizenship or nationality.

Harvard University Admission 2023

Harvard University application form can be accessed via the official school portal. We advise you to begin preparing for your college applications as soon as you can.

This typically means starting the process in the spring of the junior year of high school for many students. Any tension that may develop later in the process will be reduced by getting started early.

For all programs, the application process for Harvard University begins in September. The application form and all other application materials must be submitted by any of these dates: December 1, December 15, or January 2 for master’s or postgraduate programs.

The master’s program deadlines vary depending on the program of study. The deadline for each candidate must be found by reading the program website.

For the Fall intake, Harvard University acceptance rate is only 4.7% for undergraduate programs and 10.3% for MBA programs. You can choose from about 150 graduate degree and 90 undergraduate degree programs.

Popular Harvard University programs are those in the law, business administration, and medicine departments. Only academic elites are admitted to Harvard, despite the fact that its admission requirements are equal to those of other Ivy League institutions. Mid-August marks the start of the application period for admissions.

Harvard University Admission Requirements

Harvard University’s average GPA requirement is 4.18. The majority of applicants accepted into Harvard courses have unweighted GPAs of 4.18 or higher. This means that you must receive all As in your classes to be eligible for admission to Harvard University.

Harvard University is extremely selective. It’s important to satisfy their GPA and SAT/ACT requirements in order to pass their initial screening process and demonstrate your academic readiness. Your chances of getting admitted are slim if you don’t meet up with the requirements.

If you have an ACT score of 36 or a SAT score of 1580, you will be in a stronger position and above the average applicant. However, if your SAT or ACT scores are 1460 or 33 respectively, you will fall below the cohort’s average.

Having a high GPA and a high ACT/SAT score will increase your chance of getting admission. But if your SAT/ACT scores and GPA doesn’t meet their requirements, you’ll probably be rejected without much thought.

You should strive for a 1580 SAT or a 35 ACT in order to have the highest chance of being admitted, which is the 75th percentile. A 4.18 GPA or above is also required. If your GPA is low, then your SAT/ACT score must be high to cover up.

Documents Needed for Application

For UG aspirants, the following documents are required:

• Academic transcripts
• IELTS or TOEFL scores
• Letters of recommendation (LORs)
• Advanced Placement scores (optional)
• Financial documents
• Research articles, artwork, portfolio, music/video recordings (as per course)
• Scholarship letters, if any

For PG aspirants, the following documents are required:

• Academic transcripts
• IELTS or TOEFL scores
• Resume/CV
• GRE or GMAT scores
• Essays/SOP
• Financial documents
• LORs
• Writing, video or audio sample, as per course requirement
• Scholarship letters, if any

Harvard University Application Deadlines 2023

Depending on the type of course, different PG programs at Harvard University have different application dates. There are deadlines in December for some courses and deadlines in January for others. Undergraduate programs, however, are often offered in the spring intake.

Below are the Harvard University admission deadlines for undergraduate programs for the 2023 session.

Harvard University Admission Process

How to apply for Undergraduate Programs

Candidates for undergraduate study at Harvard have three options to select from. You can submit an application using the Coalition Application Portal, the Universal College Portal, or the Common Application Portal.

You will receive an email confirmation from Harvard with a link to its applicant portal after submitting your application form through any application portal.

If necessary, the university will arrange for an applicant interview with alumni once you submit your documentation. This phase is optional; the university will only schedule it if there are open slots, and even if none are, your candidacy won’t be affected.

You can check the status of your application—whether it has been accepted or not—on the applicant portal once the results are released.

How to apply for Postgraduate Programs 

All Postgraduate applicants must submit their applications via the applicant portal. You must first register on the website of the particular school before you can access its applicant portal. You should be aware that every institution has a unique applicant portal. Avoid signing up on the website of the incorrect school.

For instance, if you want to apply for an MBA, you must register on the website of Harvard Business School and use their application portal.

You can be invited in for a personal interview after completing your application form and necessary papers via the portal.

Following the submission of the application form, MBA candidates must attend an interview, which is often led by a member of the MBA Admissions Board. Interviews last at least 30 minutes and can take place in person or over Skype.

Within 24 hours of the interview’s conclusion, a write-up or essay reflecting on the interview is required. After the interview, the student will get information via mail.

US Student Visa Application Process

A US student visa is required for a foreign student who has been admitted to Harvard University’s full-time program. Harvard University will give you an admission letter and an I -20 form. For the issuance of a student visa, a scheduled appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate is necessary, and the following documents must be brought:

• Copy of passport
• Proof of funding (A minimum amount of 46,333 USD)
• SEVIS fee receipt
• Official IELTS/TOEFL report
• A university Student’s Health Insurance Plan
• Official/Attested copies of university transcripts and degree certificate

Students receive an email confirmation with a PIN to access the school portal after submitting their online applications. The day after submitting their online application, most candidates get their confirmation email. Mail-in applications may take up to two weeks to process.