How To Get Into Harvard University: Admission Criteria and Requirements 2025

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, it constantly ranks at the top in every possible ranking and criterion. Harvard has a worldwide reputation for academic and research excellence. Offering over 3,700 courses and access to outstanding staff, libraries, and resources, this university is ranked among the best in the world. 

In this blog, we will discuss what is required to get into such a prestigious university, from its entry requirements to its interview and admission process. This blog covers it all!

Why study at Harvard?

Studying at such a prestigious university offers more chances, better career prospects, more exposure to industry methods, and a higher standard of living.

Cultural diversity is one of the pillars of Harvard University where students of various backgrounds unite as one. The university is dedicated to establishing a rich community of belonging that makes everyone comfortable to learn and access bountiful opportunities.In addition, the university campus offers plentiful opportunities for you to network with professionals and peers.

And when it comes to financial and employment oppurtunities post college, among the most sought-after graduates worldwide are those from Harvard. Harvard graduates are among the highest paid graduates in the world, with an average salary of almost $90,000.

In this blog, we are going to address everything Harvard-related from its 

Harvard University Admissions Requirements

What are Harvard’s admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Admission tests such as the SAT and ACT.
• Additional requirements include a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and Essays.

But before getting into Harvard, we need to know its acceptance rate. The acceptance rate at Harvard is around 3 to 4 %, which means that out of every 100 applicants, only four people are accepted. 

This indicates that the school is highly selective. Therefore, you must prepare accordingly for the standardised test and the other part of your application.

Meeting their GPA and SAT/ACT requirements is crucial to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. Your chance of getting in is nearly zero if you don’t meet their expectations.

Once you’ve overcome this obstacle, you’ll need to wow Harvard admission committee with your essays, reference letters, extracurricular activities, and other application criteria. Let us breakdown all these criterias for better understanding.

Harvard GPA Requirements.

Although many institutions have a minimum GPA requirement, this is frequently the bare minimum needed to submit an application without being rejected right away.

The GPA you need to have a genuine chance of getting in is the one that matters most.  We do this by examining the average GPA of the school’s current student body.

And the average GPA required at Harvard is 4.2.

Harvard demands that you rank at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.2. To compete with other applicants, you must receive almost perfect scores in every class. Additionally, to demonstrate that college-level academics are easy for you, you should be enrolling in challenging courses like AP or IB.

It’s challenging to raise your GPA in time for college applications if you’re a junior or senior. A higher SAT or ACT score will be required to make up for a GPA that is at or below the 4.2 school average. You can more successfully compete with applicants who have higher GPAs than you if you do this.

Harvard Testing Policy.

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

The SAT or ACT must be taken in order to apply to Harvard. More importantly, having a solid application requires doing well.

Harvard SAT Requirements

Many schools including Harvard state that there is no SAT requirement per say but it is safe to say that there is a covert SAT requirement. And the mean score for the school serves as the basis for this assumption.

On a SAT scale of 1600, Harvard’s average composite score is 1550.

Harvard SAT Score Analysis

SAT scores in the 25th and 75th percentiles are 1500 and 1580, respectively. To put it another way, a SAT score of 1500 puts you below average, and a score of 1580 puts you above average.

SAT Score Choice Policy.

The score choice policy at Harvard is “Highest Section.” Another name for this is “superscoring.”  This implies that you have the freedom to select which SAT exams to submit to the institution.  Your application reviewers will take into account your highest section scores from all of the SAT test dates you submit, out of all the scores they receive.

Therefore, we strongly advise you to think about studying for the SAT and retaking it if your present SAT superscore is less than 1580. It is highly likely that you will improve your score, which will greatly increase your chances of admission. 

Better yet, you can concentrate entirely on one segment at a time thanks to the Superscore. Prepare solely for the Reading portion of the SAT and then take it if your Reading score is lower than your other parts. Next, concentrate on math for the upcoming test, and so forth. You will receive the maximum Superscore possible as a result.

Harvard ACT Requirements

Harvard probably doesn’t have a strict ACT cutoff, similar to the SAT, but if you receive a score that is too low, your application will be rejected. However, Harvard’s average ACT score is 35. Harvard is quite competitive when it comes to ACT scores because of this score.

ACT Score Sending Policy

Your testing strategy is significantly impacted if you choose to take the ACT rather than the SAT because you have a significant advantage in how you submit your scores.

You have complete discretion over the tests you submit to universities along with your ACT scores. You could send only your best score out of ten tests. In contrast to the SAT, several universities demand that you submit all of your previous exams.

ACT Superscore Policy

Generally speaking, the majority of universities do not superscore the ACT.  When you submit a superscore, the school aggregates your best section scores from all of your test dates to create the highest possible composite score.  Therefore, your highest ACT score from a single sitting will be used by the majority of colleges.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Only the ACT currently offers an optional essay portion that is open to all students.  The SAT no longer includes an optional essay section, unless you are taking it as part of school-day testing in some states, which was eliminated in June 2021.  As a result, no institution mandates students to complete the SAT Essay or ACT Writing portion; however, some schools do advise students to submit their results if they have them.

Due to the strict admissions requirements of this school, achieving a good GPA and SAT/ACT score is essential.  You will probably be rejected without much thought if you fail their SAT/ACT and GPA standards.

 With a SAT score of 1580 or an ACT score of 36, you should aim for the 75th percentile to increase your chances of admission.  Additionally, you ought to have a GPA of at least 4.2.  You must make up the difference with a higher SAT or ACT score if your GPA is below this.