Harvard Outreach Newsletter

You will get the chance to meet Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Anne de Luca, newsletter editors Stuart Gordon and Vicky Leung, plus Harvard alumni Monica Mendiratta, Francesca Muller, Tara Keck, Nick Shearer, Hugh Corroon, Saba Nazar and Susan von Wentzel.  We would love to see you!

Frequently asked questions at the Harvard stand

“Anyone who is thinking of the next four years as a series of stepping stones to a predetermined outcome – be it an award, a concentration, a job, a specific career, or anything else – is a person who will miss the point of this place.”
– Harvard President Larry Bacow, addressing first year students

Academic Program 

Question:  I’m interested in studying [name of subject] in the USA.  What is Harvard like for the study of this subject? 
 
Answer: 

• Harvard is a world class institution for studying most subjects across the arts and sciences.  
• When you apply to Harvard College, you don’t apply for a particular subject, you just apply to get in, and for the first 18 months, you can study whatever you like except for a small core curriculum that takes up 25% of your time.  For the other 75% you can choose from 3,700 different courses across the arts and sciences.
• The idea is that you get to try out lots of different things before making a final decision about what will be your main study area, or ‘concentration’.  
• When you choose your concentration (which other US colleges often call a ‘major’) there are 50 areas to choose from, including a ‘Special Concentration’ where you can create your own combination of courses. 

Differences between Harvard and UK universities

Question:  I understand the main difference between Harvard and UK universities is a broad liberal arts & sciences degree (Harvard) versus a specialist degree (UK).  But what are the other differences?  
 
Answer: 
Compared with UK universities, Harvard differs in the following ways:

• The broad curriculum means that it takes 4 years to complete your bachelor’s degree, rather than 3 years.
• Financial aid is available to all admitted students who need it, and the amount you receive is means tested against your family’s income.  
• There is more contact time with teachers and a greater emphasis on classroom teaching and discussion than the UK.
• There is more emphasis on continuous assessment, rather than end of year exams.
• Extracurricular activity is strongly encouraged, and there is an expectation that you will become fully engaged in the life of the College.
• Housing is guaranteed on campus for all 4 years. 
• Admission is based on a ‘whole person’ review, not just academic ability.
• Professional degrees such as medicine and law are studied at post-graduate level in the US, although you can prepare for going on to medical school or law school while still an undergraduate

What Harvard looks for in its applicants

Question:  What is Harvard looking for in prospective students? 
 
Answer: 

• Admissions decisions are made through a ‘whole person’ review – we look at everything about you, not only your exam grades. 
• Your extracurricular activities and personal qualities are just as important to us as high academic achievement. 
• Admission to Harvard is not a reward for what you have done in the past – it is our investment in what we believe you are capable of doing in the future.  

 
Application timeline

Question:  When is the best time to apply?  
 
Answer: 

• Applying to US universities is a marathon, not a sprint, but is perfectly manageable provided you plan in advance and start early. 
• Refer to the table below for the specific tasks you need to undertake in each school year.  
• If you intend to take a gap year, the best time to apply is while you are still at school and have the support of your teachers and advisers.  If you are then offered a place at a US college, you can defer your entry and start your degree the following year.  

Application components

Questions:  How do I go about applying to Harvard?  What application materials do I need to submit? 
 
Answer: 

• Although there are different types of application forms, UK students will almost certainly use the Common Application Form (or ‘Common App’ as it is usually known), as it is accepted by the largest number of US colleges.  It is an online form that goes live each year on 1st August, and UK students should complete as much of it as possible during the summer holidays at the end of Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland), or Year 13 (Northern Ireland).  
• The Common App includes a Student Essay, which is the American equivalent of the UCAS Personal Statement.  But the style of the Student Essay is very different from the type of essay an applicant would write for UCAS, as it is all about the student as a person, not about the subjects he or she might study.  So applicants should always read through the sample essays on our website before starting to draft their own.  
• If you are particularly talented in music, dance, art or writing, it is fine to include videos of your performances, art portfolios and publications as part of your application. 
• Standardised tests: applicants can take either the SAT or the ACT if they wish, but note that these tests are now optional at Harvard and many other US colleges.  
• Teachers who are asked by students to provide references should look at the sample teacher references provided on the Harvard UK Admissions website.  
• The references need to be different in style and content to the type of reference teachers would write for a UK university. 
• Because an applicant’s personal qualities are an important part of the admissions process, as many UK applicants as possible are offered an interview with a volunteer who already holds a degree from Harvard.  Interviews are now mostly undertaken remotely by Zoom, WhatsApp or phone.  It is more of a wide ranging conversation than a normal interview, and allows students to talk about their interests, ambitions and challenges, and to find out more about what life is like at Harvard.

Financial aid

Question:  Will I receive financial aid if I am accepted at Harvard?
 
Answer: 

• Harvard has a generous financial aid program, and international students are treated in the same way as US citizens.  All admitted students have access to financial aid if they need it, and the amount of money each student is offered is means-tested against family income.  
• For family incomes of £65,000 per year or less (at current exchange rates), the student will almost certainly pay nothing.  The university will pay for tuition fees, food, housing, and also provide a book allowance and travel allowance.  Students on full financial aid will also receive a $2,000 cash grant as soon as they arrive to buy the equipment they will need to start their degree.  Additional funds are available for studying abroad in the summer holidays. 
• For family incomes of between £65,000 and £130,000, the family will be expected to pay between 0% and 10% of their income towards university costs, depending on their other assets. 
• Financial aid is given in the form of grants, not loans, so students do not have to pay them back after they graduate. 

Housing

Question:  Where will I live if I go to Harvard?
 
Answer: 

• All students are guaranteed housing on campus for all four years.  Harvard is very keen on creating a thriving campus community.  
• First year students all live in dorms on Harvard Yard – right in the hub of the university. 
• In years 2, 3 and 4, students move to one of 12 residential houses.  Each house has its own library, dining hall, gym, and social activities, and all of them are within walking distance of Harvard Yard. 

Life outside the classroom

Question:  What is Harvard like for enrichment activities?  
 
Answer: 

• Students are expected to become fully involved in the life of the university, and there is a vast range of activities to choose from (see the List of Student Organiations on the Harvard College website). 

We look forward to seeing you at USA College Day on 23 or 24 September!