Admissions

The Future Is Calling

Harness your curiosity and learn about the world—and yourself. Through our liberal arts and sciences curriculum, you'll discover how to use your passions to build a bright future.

There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curricula available to them. An ideal four-year preparatory program includes four years of English, with extensive practice in writing; four years of math; four years of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects; three years of history, including American and European history; and four years of one foreign language.
Do not let the admissions application fee prevent you from applying! In the spirit of our honor code, if the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived.

There are a few ways to request a fee waiver for your admissions application. You can easily request it within the Common Application, Coalition Application, Universal College Application, or simply email us at fileroom@fas.harvard.edu (or intlfeewaiver@fas.harvard.edu for students applying outside the U.S.). If you are emailing your request, please include your full name, your date of birth, the name, location of your high school, and indicate which application platform you are using. If you are using the Common Application, please also include your Common Application ID number in your email.

The Common Application and the Coalition Application outline the indicators of economic need, but if you do not meet any of those indicators and would still like to request a fee waiver, please do not hesitate to email us and we will grant your request. Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way.

A Message for Students Applying to Harvard College This Year

Students facing difficulties in meeting admissions deadlines due to extreme events such as major storms, community crises, or unusual personal challenges should rest assured that we are prepared to help in any way we can. For assistance, please contact our office at (617) 495-1551 or fileroom@fas.harvard.edu

Why Harvard

Discover what makes Harvard the standard for liberal arts and sciences education. From our unparalleled academics to our revolutionary financial aid, we strive to offer the best resources to the next generation of leaders.