Admission rules differ depending on the level of study (undergraduate and postgraduate), mode of study (stationary, extension, online, etc.), faculty, and year, so be sure to check the Harvard Admissions Office website for the most recent updates and deadlines.
Maintain your grades
Many of you have asked me if it is necessary to have good grades in order to be accepted. My response will be straightforward: Yes, grades do matter. Because Harvard has a 3% acceptance rate, those chosen are the best of the best. I understand that grades aren’t everything, but they’re still important.
Aside from the finals required to graduate in your home country, foreign students are required to take the SAT for undergraduate studies and the GRE or GMAT for graduate studies. For example, in Poland, we had to take a final exam as well as receive other grades, and if you want to study in the United States, you must take the SAT.
Discover your passion and stand out.
You must demonstrate to Harvard why they should accept you. Why should you be chosen over hundreds of other candidates?
Don’t pretend to like something; instead, stick to what you truly enjoy. If you enjoy dancing, strive to be the best by putting in a lot of practice time. If you’re interested in IT, why not start coding websites? Learn some lesser-known languages if you enjoy linguistics. The possibilities for activities are limitless! It makes no difference what you do as long as you excel at it.
Don’t ignore your surroundings.
For many years, I was surprised that I could find common ground with almost anyone and that I always had something to say. How is this even possible? simply because I never ignore any information that comes my way. For example, I’m not a big basketball fan, but when I heard my friends talking about it, I didn’t think it was stupid and walked away. By living this way, I’ve learned a little bit about everything.
The student letter is the most important part of your application.
The most important aspect of your application is the student letter! It’s your opportunity to shine and show Harvard who you really are. Don’t just say you’re smart or that you’re good at math. Tell a unique story because you want this letter to be engaging and keep them reading past the first paragraph. Use this advice when writing a cover letter for a job as well.
