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What is Harvard Known For?
The oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, Harvard University, is a household name—students around the world dream of attending this extremely selective and prestigious university. However, Harvard is much more than just a symbol; it’s a university with exemplary academics, rich traditions, and a tight-knit community. Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,038 Acceptance Rate: 4% Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1580 Middle 50% ACT: 34-35 In addition to an outstanding academic record, Harvard values leadership and community engagement in applicants, preferring those who have made an impact on and are involved with their communities. Candidates should demonstrate these qualities through their activities section and supplemental essays. Harvard also values intellectualism, especially in the humanities and social sciences, and looks favorably upon students with interesting academic backgrounds who have pursued their passions through research, fieldwork, or other extracurricular involvement. For more tips on your application, see our guide to getting into Harvard, written by a Harvard graduate. Harvard boasts world-renowned faculty, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, and other leaders of their fields. Undergraduates have plenty of opportunities to engage with faculty even outside their classes, through First-Year Faculty Dinners, Faculty-Student Initiatives, the Faculty Luncheon Series, and more. The foundation of Harvard’s academic life is its deep commitment to liberal arts and sciences, which prepares students to think critically, reason analytically, and write clearly. All students take General Education courses, which encourage them to connect the topics they study to the world beyond the classroom. Students will grapple with difficult questions and urgent issues, including climate change, racism, artificial intelligence, and many others. Harvard offers more than 3,700 courses and 50 majors, called concentrations, in fields including: The number of students pursuing a double concentration has grown in recent years—14% of the Class of 2025 pursued one, a significant increase from fewer than 4% of the Class of 2023. Popular concentrations include: Students may also create their own special concentration that addresses a “uniquely challenging academic goal” with approval. Students may also pursue a secondary field (equivalent to a minor). Learn more about Harvard majors and minors in our guide. Harvard students with advanced standing can apply to earn a master’s degree in certain disciplines in their fourth year. They can also cross-enroll or take courses at Harvard’s graduate schools and other institutions in Cambridge or Boston. Harvard also offers dual-degree music programs with the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. Students who participate earn both a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a master’s from one of these two renowned music schools. There are plenty of research opportunities available to undergraduates through the Harvard College Research Program, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, the Faculty Aide Program, and other programs. More than half of Harvard College students study abroad as undergraduates. Students can choose from options like Cambridge or Oxford, as well as programs in countries such as: Harvard offers 42 Division I sports teams, the most of any college in the U.S. The Crimson compete in the Ivy League. Varsity athletics include: The university also has club teams, such as: Nearly 80% of students participate in some type of athletics. Additionally, Harvard offers more than 500 student organizations. Whatever your interest—literature, music, religion, politics, writing, art, or multicultural organizations—the university has something to offer. The Harvard Lampoon is one of the longest-running, continually published humor magazines in the world. Other organizations of note include Act on a Dream, which encourages students to learn about and advocate for immigration reform, and Beekeepers, focusing, of course, on beekeeping. [amp-cta id="9459"] One of Harvard’s most time-honored traditions is an annual event known as “The Game.” Far more than a football game, this event celebrates the rivalry between the Crimson and the Yale Bulldogs. Harvard has a number of other celebrated events, though none as widely attended as The Game. They include: First-year students live in neighborhoods called “Yards”, usually in suites, and have the opportunity to participate in activities to help them bond with fellow students. They are then assigned to one of Harvard’s 12 residential houses, which are homes to 350-500 students with whom you’ll share meals, participate in activities, and develop connections. Houses are led by faculty deans who live in the facility with their families. Harvard is one of a few colleges that practice need-blind admissions for all applicants, including international students. The university meets 100% of demonstrated need and is no-loan for accepted students. At Harvard, students from families earning $100,000 or less annually attend for free, while those from families earning $200,000 or less pay no tuition and may qualify for additional aid. Overall, 26% of Harvard students pay nothing to attend, and 46% attend tuition-free. World-famous libraries housing treasures and artifacts like the Gutenberg Bible, cutting-edge research facilities, digital collections, and art and science museums are just some of the resources students can access at Harvard. Harvard also has Common Spaces, such as the Chairs at Harvard Yard, available in the spring, and the Plaza, which features events like the Arts First Festival, Farmer’s Market, a monthly petting zoo, chair massages, and lunchtime concerts. Students can also get discounted event tickets and entrance to nearby museums and attractions like the Museum of Fine Arts and the New England Aquarium. Just a 10-minute ride on the T will get you to Boston from Harvard, but you’ll find plenty to do without leaving Cambridge. The city is largely defined by Harvard and its neighbor, MIT, and offers plenty of museums, shops, and restaurants. Harvard Square, a plaza with bookstores, music, theaters, art, and restaurants, draws millions of visitors each year. Boston and Cambridge together are home to roughly 50 institutions of higher learning, making the area a city with a collegiate-town vibe. Harvard is one of the most selective universities in the world. While you may be anxious about its extremely low acceptance rate, your unique chances of admission depend on factors like your GPA, standardized test scores, leadership and community engagement, intellectual pursuits, and more. You can learn more about your odds of acceptance to the highly acclaimed college by using our free chancing engine. Based on your profile, we’ll estimate your real chances of admission to Harvard and other schools across the country. We’ll also give you free tips to improve your profile. What’s Covered:
Overview of Harvard Admissions
Unique Aspects of Harvard
Academics
Extracurriculars
Traditions
Dorms
Financial Aid
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What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Harvard?
