How do you apply to Harvard as an undergraduate applicant?

To apply to Harvard College as a first-year undergraduate, you submit an application through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. You choose one platform, complete the main application, and select Harvard as one of your schools.

From there, you complete Harvard’s school-specific questions, submit your high school transcript, and arrange for a school counselor to send the counselor report and school profile. You also need teacher recommendations, usually from two teachers who know you well in academic classes.

Harvard also asks for a midyear school report later in senior year, which updates your grades. If you have strong optional materials like research, art, music, or other exceptional work, there may be a way to submit supplements, but those are not required for most applicants.

Testing policies can vary by year, so you would check Harvard’s admissions site when you apply to see whether SAT or ACT scores are required, optional, or handled in some other way. English proficiency testing may also apply for some international applicants.

You also choose an application round, usually Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision. Some applicants are invited to interview with a local alumnus or alumna, though interviews depend on availability and are not guaranteed.

After review, Harvard releases a decision: admit, deny, or in some cases defer if you applied early. If admitted, you would then review financial aid, confirm enrollment by the reply deadline, and send a final transcript after graduation.