harvard optional essay word limit

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The Admissions & Financial Aid Office will be closed for winter recess from Friday, December 20, 2024 at 5:00PM ET through Tuesday, January 2, 2025 at 9:00AM ET. We will reopen with normal business hours on January 2 for phone calls and emails, and on Monday, January 13 for regular drop-in visitors.

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Application Requirements

We look forward to learning about you through your application.

Here you'll find a detailed explanation of each admission application requirement. Most of the information here applies to both first-year and transfer applicants, and requirements are the same for domestic and international applicants.  

Don't forget to reference our Application Tips for guidance on filling out the Common Application.

Application

We accept the Common Application  and the Coalition Application by Scoir . Both are treated equally by the Admissions Committee. Complete and submit your materials as soon as possible to ensure full and timely consideration of your application. Your portions of the application are due by the application deadlines (November 1 for Restrictive Early Action and January 1 for Regular Decision); high school counselors are given an additional week to submit materials on your behalf. 

If you use the Common Application , you must submit your application before your supporting materials (Secondary School Report, Teacher Recommendations, etc.) can be released to a college. Until you submit your own application sections, no part of your application will be transmitted to the Harvard Admissions Office.

If you use the Coalition Application , remember you must submit the separate Harvard supplement in addition to the application by the application deadline for your application to be considered complete. 

Submitting Your Application

Receiving confirmation of your application.

After you submit your application, we will send an email confirmation with a PIN to access the Applicant Portal. We begin sending these daily application confirmation emails in mid-September each year. Most applicants receive their confirmation email the day after they submit their application online. Applications sent in the mail will take up to two weeks to process.

If you have not received your confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folder for messages from [email protected] or [email protected]. 

If you have searched your inbox and still cannot find your confirmation email, we encourage you to check the application system you used to ensure you clicked "Submit" and not just "Save".

If you still cannot locate your application confirmation email, please contact us . Choose the category “Admissions” and then the subject “Applicant Questions (if you've already submitted your application)” in the drop-down menu, or call 617-495-1551.

Paying the application fee or requesting a fee waiver

You may pay your application fee online with a credit card via the Common Application or Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir websites.

You may also send a check or money order to Harvard College Admissions, 86 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Please include the applicant’s name with the payment.

Fee waivers: We are committed to making the application process accessible for all students. If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family and you plan on applying for financial aid, the fee will be waived. Please follow these instructions to request your fee waiver . Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way.

Completing the Harvard supplement questions

Complete the Harvard Questions with the Common Application or Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir*. This includes the following five required short-answer questions, each with a 150 word limit. 

• Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?
• Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience? 
• Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.
• How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?
• Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you. 

*Please note that the Harvard supplement is separate for the Coalition Application, so you must submit both the application AND supplement for your application to be considered complete. 

Additional application questions

What if i am homeschooled.

Each applicant to Harvard College is considered with great care and homeschooled applicants are treated the same as all other applicants. There is no special process, but all relevant information about your educational and personal background is welcome. In addition to the application, all applicants are required to submit a transcript (which can be created by the family member or agency overseeing your schooling), and recommendations. If the application fee presents a hardship for your family,  simply request a fee waiver .

Hear from Harvard students who were homeschooled, in the Harvard Gazette article ‘ Homeschooled en route to Harvard .’

What if I need to make updates to my application after I submit it?

Do not resend your application in order to make updates. If you need to update your identification or contact information, or send updates, additional information, or corrections, please do so via the  Applicant Portal .

Misrepresentation of Credentials

Be completely accurate in your application materials. If we discover a misrepresentation during the admissions process, you will be denied admission. If you have already been admitted, your offer will typically be withdrawn. If you have already registered, your admission will normally be revoked, and we will require you to leave the College. Harvard rescinds degrees if misrepresentations in application materials are discovered.

The determination that an application is inaccurate or contains misrepresentations rests solely with the Admissions Office and will be resolved outside the student disciplinary process.

School Reports and Teacher Recommendations

Secondary school report.

The secondary school report is a required form that is submitted by your school counselor or another school leader. This form gives an overview of the student's academic record. It includes the applicant's academic transcript(s), a letter of recommendation, and a school profile (if available). If a counselor is unable to submit a letter of recommendation for the applicant, another teacher or school leader may submit an additional recommendation letter. 

Midyear School Report

When you apply, your school counselor will often send your transcript with few or no senior year course grades included. That is why the midyear school report is required - to allow us to review your performance in the first half of your senior year coursework .  The midyear school report must be completed by your school counselor or other school official. Please request that the midyear school report is completed and returned to our office as soon as possible. 

Midyear School Report FAQs

What if i'm applying restrictive early action and i don't have my midyear grades yet.

Restrictive Early Action applicants are not required to submit the midyear report by the November 1 deadline. If you applied Restrictive Early Action and are deferred to Regular Decision, please submit the midyear report and transcript in February, or as soon as your midyear grades are available.

I'm an international student and my academic year is different. Do I still need to submit the midyear report?

If you study the IB curriculum or the A-level curriculum, then we expect that your school will send predicted grades, based on your current classroom work and the results of any internal or mock exams you have taken up to that point. If your school does not issue official or predicted midyear grades for your final year of school, then you do not need to submit the midyear report form, although the item may remain on your checklist.

What if I have already graduated from high school?

If you have already graduated from high school, you should ignore the midyear report requirement (though the item may remain on your Checklist in the Applicant Portal) and simply ask your school to send a final school report if you have not already done so.

Teacher Evaluations

Ask two teachers in different academic subjects who know you well to complete the Teacher Recommendation forms (which includes an evaluation form and a letter of recommendation). If you wish to submit additional letters of recommendation, you can do so after you submit your application. In your application confirmation email, there will be a personalized link to send to your recommenders.

What courses should I take to prepare for applying to Harvard?

There is no “one size fits all” rule about which curriculum to study during secondary school years. Students should challenge themselves by taking courses deemed appropriate by their teachers and counselors. But some students believe that “more is always better” when it comes to AP, IB or other advanced courses.

While some students prosper academically and personally by taking large numbers of such courses, others benefit from a more balanced approach that allows them additional time for extracurricular and personal development. Even the best students can be negatively affected by taking too many courses at once, and might benefit instead from writing, reading or research projects on subjects of great interest to them.

To learn more, read our Guide to Preparing for College. To avoid the “burnout” often seen among secondary school students, please refer to our article, Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation .

Is there a specific math requirement?

Applicants to Harvard should excel in a challenging high school math sequence corresponding to their educational interests and aspirations. We recommend that applicants take four years of math courses in high school. Ideally, these math courses will focus on conceptual understanding, promote higher-order thinking, and encourage students to use mathematical reasoning to critically examine the world. Examples include rigorous and relevant courses in computer science, statistics and its subfields, mathematical modeling, calculus, and other advanced math subjects.

Students’ math records are viewed holistically, and no specific course is required. Specifically, calculus is not a requirement for admission to Harvard. We understand that applicants do not have the same opportunities and course offerings in their high schools. Moreover, many programs of study at Harvard do not require knowledge of calculus. We encourage applicants to take the courses that are available to them and aligned with their interests and goals.

Students intending to study engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, statistics or other fields where calculus is needed may benefit from taking calculus in high school. However, students at Harvard can still pursue such fields by starting with one of our introductory calculus classes that has no high school calculus prerequisite. On balance, we encourage all students to master foundational mathematical material instead of rushing through any of the more advanced courses.

Final School Report and Transcripts

All admitted students who choose to enroll are required to send a Final School Report and transcript as soon as their final grades become available – no later than July 1 . The Final School Report and transcript should be completed and sent by a school counselor or other school official through:

• Naviance Network
• Common Application
• Coalition/Scoir Application

IB students should send their final results as soon as they are released in mid-July. We will expect to see final A levels results by mid-August. We are unable to accept a transcript as an email attachment.

Standardized Test Scores

Harvard requires the SAT or ACT to meet its standardized testing requirement. In exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible, one of the following can meet the requirement:   

• AP exam results
• IB Actual or Predicted Scores   
• GCSE/A-Level Actual or Predicted Results   
• National Leaving Exams Results (externally assessed) or Predictions

Exceptional cases typically involve a student facing challenges in paying for or accessing a test site or a student being unable to secure an available seat at a test site prior to the Regular Decision deadline. The Admissions Committee does not expect applicants to go to extraordinary measures to access SAT or ACT test sites. Applicants will have an opportunity to provide an explanation for why they are unable to submit the SAT or ACT. Students who have other forms of testing listed above (AP, IB, GCSE, or National Leaving Exams) are still expected to take an SAT or ACT and submit those scores, if financial considerations or test availability would not limit their ability to do so.

Standardized Testing FAQs

Can i self-report my test scores.

Yes. Applicants may provide self-reported SAT and ACT test scores (including Subject Tests, Advanced Placement, IB, etc.). Admitted students who decide to enroll at Harvard College will be required to submit official test scores.

How do I send my official test scores?

You are free to use the College Board Score Choice option or the similar option offered by the ACT. Our official codes are 3434 for the College Board SAT Reasoning Tests and 1840 for the ACT.

• How to send your SAT scores
• How to send your ACT scores

Are there test score "cutoffs"?

There are no score cutoffs, and we do not admit “by the numbers.” For the ACT, we will evaluate your highest composite score and any other scores you choose to share with us. We take into account your educational background when reviewing your scores.

When do I need to take standardized tests?

If you are applying Restrictive Early Action, we would like your testing results by the end of October; however, you may submit the November series if needed.

For Regular Decision, although it is possible to submit scores from tests taken as late as the February, we recommend that you submit testing as early as possible.

How should I prepare for standardized tests?

Our admissions committee understands that opportunities to prepare for standardized tests vary greatly for students of different socioeconomic backgrounds. You may find it helpful to utilize free-test prep from Khan Academy or join a free SAT bootcamp on Schoolhouse.world . The ACT provides sample tests to practice.  Such free programs could help students from under-resourced schools by providing the academic tools that will serve them well on standardized tests and also in college. Students can also do well by studying widely and deeply  on their own with the help of family, school, or community organizations.

What do standardized tests and grades indicate about academic preparation for college?

SAT and ACT tests are better predictors of Harvard grades than high school grades. However, admission officers understand that not all students attend well-resourced schools throughout their lives, and that those who come from modest economic backgrounds or first-generation college families may have had fewer opportunities to prepare for standardized tests.

High school grades in a rigorous academic program can also be helpful in assessing readiness for college courses, but the thousands of secondary schools around the country and the world employ various high school curricula and a wide range of grading systems - and some have no grades at all. Other students have been homeschooled or prepared for college by taking part in multiple schooling opportunities both in person and electronic.

Given the wide variation in how students prepare for Harvard – as well as the fact that most applicants and admitted students have outstanding academic records – it is difficult for high school grades to differentiate individual applications. That does not mean that high school grades are unimportant. Students who come to Harvard have done well day to day in their high school studies, providing a crucial foundation for academic success in college, including a 97% - 98% graduation rate.

Each application to Harvard is read with great care, keeping in mind that talent is everywhere, but opportunity and access are not.

What if it would be a financial hardship to register for the test?

If the cost of taking the SAT or ACT is of concern, keep in mind that both the College Board and ACT provide fee waivers to some domestic students from low-income families. Students who are non-US citizens attending secondary schools outside the US are not typically eligible for SAT or ACT fee waivers. If applicants are ineligible for fee waivers, but still face financial hardship in paying for a SAT or ACT, the Admissions Committee still encourages these students to apply. We encourage students in this situation to take and submit results from other standardized tests to which they have greater access. For instance, students lacking access to the SAT or ACT may submit AP results or IB/GCSE/A-level/other national leaving exam predictions or results.

How will Harvard evaluate the new digital SAT?

The College Board's shift to a digital delivery of the SAT will not impact the way in which Harvard reviews test scores within applications. Please  visit the College Board FAQs  for more information.  

Supplemental Materials

Our standard application materials typically give us ample information for making admission decisions. However, we recognize you may have truly exceptional talents or achievements you wish to share, and we want you to have every opportunity to best represent yourself.

At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, supplementary materials—such as music recordings, artwork, or selected samples of academic work—may be evaluated by faculty. These materials are entirely optional.

Material Types

How to submit documents and articles.

Scholarly articles, research, creative writing or other documents of which you are the primary author should be submitted in the Upload Materials section of the Applicant Portal . This is the most efficient and direct method of submitting these materials, because they will be added directly to your official application. All submissions should include a list of any individuals with whom you collaborated in the production of the work. If appropriate, please identify your research sponsor, mentor, and/or laboratory or research group leader and provide a short description of your particular contribution to the work.

How to submit media (video, audio, or images)

You may submit optional supplementary media materials (e.g. videos, audio recordings, or images) electronically via Slideroom . Details for submissions in art, dance or choreography, musical performance or composition, will be found on the Slideroom website. There is a small submission fee, but if this fee causes you economic hardship, you may request a fee waiver at the point of submission. You may also contact us to request a fee waiver.

If you encounter technical difficulties on Slideroom, you may submit a document via your portal with YouTube video links. Our team may follow up to request a Slideroom submission at a later time. 

Should I submit other academic materials?

Harvard accepts other standardized tests or other academic credentials if you choose to submit them. In any admissions process, additional information can be helpful. For example, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-levels, national leaving examinations, national or international contests, early high school assessment scores such as the PSAT or pre-ACT, or courses taken outside your school during the school year or summer are just some examples of information that could be submitted. Subject Tests and the essay portion of the SAT have been terminated, except in certain special circumstances. Harvard admission officers review all materials that an applicant submits, so if you’ve already taken Subject Tests or the essay portion of the SAT, you may still submit them along with your other application materials.

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Related Topics

Not sure how to fill out the admissions application to Harvard? Here are some helpful tips from our admissions committee.

First-Year Applicants

Here's everything you need to know about applying to Harvard College as a first-year applicant.

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Let’s Talk About Harvard’s Brand New College Application

Last month, the Common Application portal officially opened, inviting high school students across the globe to showcase themselves and their talents to admissions officers at top U.S. universities. With this application comes a variety of supplements: excitement about the potential outcomes of the process, apprehension about the mortifying ordeal of being known by admissions officers, and of course, the actual supplemental essays themselves.

These elements of the application process are as old as the Common App itself. But this year, with the end of race-based affirmative action in university admissions, applicants are facing an added uncertainty: the extent to which their diverse backgrounds can factor into their essays, and in turn, their admissions.

Recognizing this confusion, Harvard decided to change its supplemental essay questions from one optional open-ended essay and two optional short essays to a series of five required short essays, each with a 200-word limit.

While Harvard’s new prompts signify a notable effort to meet the moment, we have misgivings about the ability of these new questions to thoroughly capture the diverse array of student experiences.

Our foremost concern: How can students reasonably condense discussions about formative life experiences and their identities into 200 words or less?

Moreover, shortening the essays has a disparate impact that falls heaviest on those from marginalized backgrounds. Learning to package yourself within a shorter amount of space is a product of advanced education; longer essays more equitably allow applicants to discuss their experiences in full, particularly if they are from non-traditional backgrounds and require more space to elaborate on nuanced qualifications.

Another issue is the prompts themselves. Formerly, students picked one topic from a list of prompts, giving them maximum agency over the best way to share their own narratives; now, the new mandatory prompts force students to answer questions that may not even be relevant to their background at all.

Take one of the new prompts: “Briefly describe an intellectual experience that was important to you.” This question seemingly privileges applicants from well-resourced backgrounds for whom additional academic opportunities were plentiful in high school.

And while one may argue that students without equivalent resources can compensate with the other prompts, in what world is it equitable to have one out of the five required short-answer prompts seemingly cater to those from highly privileged backgrounds?

Harvard’s restructuring of its supplemental essay questions amid the post-affirmative action turmoil also gives us an opportunity to reevaluate the role of “trauma dumping” in the application process. Despite the negative connotations of this term, we feel that oversharing past hardships can be appropriate in college admissions essays considering that evaluators are seeking to understand the sum total of applicants’ experiences and how they’ve excelled despite personal circumstances.

Given polarized conversation surrounding the imprecise phrase “trauma dumping” and its place in college applications, we need to distinguish between explaining how past life experiences have shaped who you are and voluntarily offering highly volatile and sometimes triggering life experiences in social contexts. Those who have undergone traumatic experiences should not have to fear that writing about the experiences that shaped them looks like a beg for admission.

If we have faith in the college admissions system, we can trust that evaluators will not reward students who merely provide a litany of past traumas in their applications, but instead give credit to applicants who discuss how they have grown from or coped with these experiences. If Harvard is willing to entirely restructure its supplemental essays in the aftermath of affirmative action’s fall, it ought to also provide underprivileged students with resources on how they can write about trauma productively given the new prompts.

Furthermore, Harvard needs to communicate what other steps they will take to ensure the College’s student body remains diverse. How will the University conduct outreach to underprivileged communities? Organizations like QuestBridge — a service that connects low-income students with selective universities — could play a helpful role in promoting student diversity.

As the Class of 2028 gets to writing, we mourn the loss of Harvard’s old application. However, the focus on retaining a diverse student body in the questions Harvard asks its applicants is a welcome supplement.

​​This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.

Have a suggestion, question, or concern for The Crimson Editorial Board? Click here .

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Home » Tulane University » Should I Write The Harvard Optional Essay?

Should I Write The Harvard Optional Essay?

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The Harvard supplement essay, as it’s known, is completely optional —you may, but do not need to, write this essay and submit it with your application. Also, this essay also has no word limit, though if you do write it, it’s best to stick to a typical college essay length (i.e., somewhere around 500 words).

Should I answer the Harvard optional essay?

Technically, no. But we highly recommend that you write it anyway . When applying to a selective school like Harvard, you should take any chance you can get to share more information about yourself and further impress admissions officers. You may also notice that the optional essay has no word limit.

Should I write an essay if its optional?

Optional essays may help schools differentiate between students with similar qualifications . Writing the optional essay demonstrates that a student has initiative and is serious about attending. In addition, a strong “optional” essay gives the admissions officer more information to consider in their decision.

What makes a strong Harvard application?

The higher the admission rate, the more emphasis will be placed on your scores . The other pieces I’ll present below—personal statements, extracurriculars, recommendations—will matter less. Still, it doesn’t hurt to aim for a stronger application.

How many essays do you have to write to get into Harvard?

Harvard requires two 150 word essays and one non-required third essay . There is also a 50-word supplement for International Students.

Should I write a personal statement if it is optional?

Anybody is welcome to write a personal statement, but if you fall in the lower end or below either range, we recommend that you submit one .

Do colleges read supplemental essays?

Policies vary from college to college on whether the supplemental materials are looked at. If it’s an extra essay, it might not be read , but if it’s a sample of art, it may be sent to the art department for an official evaluation.

How long should an optional college essay be?

Main application essays are generally 500-650 words . For example, the Common Application, which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words. Similarly, the Coalition Application, which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-550 words.

Can you buy your way into Harvard?

You may be able to buy your way onto the ‘Dean’s Interest List’ or ‘Director’s List’ — but you can’t buy your way into Harvard . Harvard’s admissions rate for all students was 6.2% in 2015 and has since dropped to 4.6%.

What does Harvard look for in essays?

With this prompt, Harvard wants you to focus on an intellectual or learning experience that’s had a big impact on you in terms of your personal growth, your academic/intellectual interests and passions, the field of study you want to pursue , etc.

What extracurriculars does Harvard like?

What Extracurricular Activities Does Harvard Look for? There are no particularly “best extracurricular activities for ivy league applications”. It could be anything from creative writing to swimming to theatrics to cooking to cinematography , as long as it shows some exceptional talent.

How long should Harvard optional essay be?

between 500 and 700 words Although Harvard gives no explicit word or character limit for the supplemental essay, most accepted students will write between 500 and 700 words (or about a page when written in Times New Roman 12-point font).

Does Harvard have a why US essay?

Since there is no direct “Why Harvard” essay , you could also include what excites you when you think about the opportunity to attend the university.

Who accepts Harvard?

Harvard applicants must be at the top of their class and meet the minimum GPA requirements for acceptance into the college. While there are a small number of exceptions, students with GPAs of 4.0 – 4.18 have the best chance of getting accepted.

What should we write in optional essay?

4. Employment Gap or Major Career Change : If you have a long gap between the two jobs, explain it in the optional essay. A short gap between school and your first job post-graduation doesn’t need to be explained here, but an employment gap of more than three months needs to be addressed in the optional essay.

How long should Optional statements be?

Every law school requires a personal statement, typically limited to two or three double-spaced pages . Nearly all law schools also allow for an optional diversity statement of one or two double-spaced pages.

Should I submit a personal statement if it is not required?

You can certainly ask the program if they’d be OK with you sending a statement of purpose (or anything else they didn’t ask for) in addition to the rest of the application. If so, then go ahead. But in general, you shouldn’t provide information that isn’t requested for by the program in question .

Should I submit supplemental materials to Harvard?

Supplemental materials don’t help. In general, supplemental materials are not required . Therefore, it would not be fair for committees to evaluate them for some students and not others. Most counselors don’t even have time to look at the supplemental materials.

Do admissions officers skim through essays?

If a student’s essay isn’t great OR good, the admission officer will probably just skim past the essay and move right on to your transcript and your test scores to evaluate your candidacy for admission. Bad essays don’t get read.

Can a really good essay get you into college?

The short answer here is: No, an essay won’t get you into college on its own . Your acceptance at most universities is dictated primarily by your GPA, course-load (how hard your classes are) and, to varying degrees, your test scores, recommendations, and extracurriculars.

Is 400 words enough for a college essay?

Writing too much will likely result in your essay being cut off, and writing too little may cause readers to think that you aren’t truly interested in their school. If no range is given, remember to stick to 400-600 words . This will give you enough space to demonstrate your interest and help readers learn about you!

By Edmund Duncan

Edmund Duncan is an education expert and thought leader in the field of learning. He has dedicated his life to helping students achieve their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

Edmund's work as a teacher, administrator, and researcher has given him a unique perspective on how students learn and what educators can do to foster a love of learning in their students. He is passionate about sharing this knowledge with others, and he frequently speaks at education conferences around the world.

When Edmund isn't working or speaking, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He loves traveling and exploring new places, and he is an avid reader who loves learning about new cultures and customs.

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Harvard Essay 2024-2025

Harvard essay: quick facts.

• Harvard acceptance rate: 3% — U.S. News ranks Harvard as #3 on its National Universities list. Harvard is one of the most competitive schools in the world, which makes writing your Harvard essay one of the most important tasks in your college application process. 
• 5 short answer (~150 word) essays
• Harvard application note: Harvard University accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application by Scoir. When applying , students will complete the personal statement as well as the five Harvard supplemental essays. 
• #1 Harvard essay tip: Harvard is a competitive, elite Ivy League university. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete the application, including the essays, to the best of your ability.

Where is Harvard?

Harvard University is one of the eight Ivy League universities in the United States. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Founded in 1636, Harvard has been a leader among higher education institutions for centuries. It is a medium-sized university with over 7,000 undergraduate students. Its campus is idyllic for those looking to study in New England. Just over 5,600 acres, the campus is filled with historic buildings in which students receive one of the most renowned educations in the world. 

Applying to Harvard University

With an acceptance rate of just 3%, Harvard admissions receives — and rejects — many qualified candidates each admissions cycle. For that reason, your Harvard application needs to stand out from the crowd. All applicants will have high grades and impressive extracurricular activities. As such, each Harvard application essay is a new opportunity to impress admissions . 

The Harvard supplemental essays make up a significant part of the application. Every Harvard essay is an opportunity to show a new part of yourself that hasn’t been seen elsewhere in your application. When applying to Harvard, you need to tell a compelling story. The five Harvard supplemental essays and the Harvard personal statement will help you do so. 

In addition to the Harvard application essays, students will also complete the Harvard personal statement. This is also known as the Common App or Coalition App personal statement. 

Harvard Personal Statement

As a part of the Harvard application essay requirements, students must complete the Harvard personal statement. Depending on which application platform you decide to use, the Harvard personal statement prompts will vary. That is to say, the Common Application has different prompts from the Coalition Application. However, the five Harvard essay prompts for the supplemental essays are the same, no matter the application platform. 

The Harvard personal statement is an important part of your overall application. Keep in mind that you will likely send your personal statement to various schools. Since your Harvard personal statement should ideally add new and valuable information to your candidate profile, think about your supplemental essays in relation to the personal statement. You don’t want your Harvard personal statement to repeat information from a different Harvard application essay. 

What are the Harvard supplemental essays?

The Harvard essay requirements for the 2024–2025 admissions cycle are straightforward. Students must submit five short answer supplemental essays in addition to the Harvard personal statement. Essay requirements can change yearly, so it’s important to stay on top of your schools’ requirements.

Harvard admissions wants to learn more about applicants through every Harvard essay. No one Harvard application essay is more important than another. Therefore, you should give each Harvard essay the attention it deserves to craft an outstanding overall application. 

Wondering what this year’s Harvard essay prompts are? Here are the current five short answer Harvard application essay prompts: 

Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?

Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you., how do you hope to use your harvard education in the future, briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are., describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. how did you communicate or engage with this person what did you learn from this experience.

The Harvard essay prompts have a word limit of 150 words. These are indeed short answer essays, so you’ll need to choose your words carefully when responding to the Harvard essay prompts. 

What should I write my Harvard essay about?

Choosing the topic to respond to these Harvard essay prompts can feel overwhelming. You may have many possible topics you’d like to write on, or maybe you have absolutely no idea what to say. Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to get ideas for your Harvard supplemental essays. 

Consider reading Harvard essay examples or Ivy League essay examples . Although the Harvard essay prompts may change yearly, reading Harvard essay examples can help get you started on your unique story. You’ll be able to see what makes a successful Harvard essay. However, when reading Harvard essay examples, don’t simply reuse a topic in your own essay. Your topic should be unique, personal, and meaningful to you. Essay examples should just be used to get you started when brainstorming potential topics. 

Keep in mind that each Harvard essay should share something new with admissions. That’s why it’s important to choose topics that don’t simply reiterate other parts of your application . Harvard is a competitive school, and every candidate is well qualified. Writing an impressive Harvard essay is an opportunity to stand out and impress. So choose your topics carefully! 

Harvard Short Answer Questions

Each Harvard essay is an important part of the application. That can be stressful to think about, since essay writing can be time consuming even when you have a great idea. Of course, it’s even more stressful if you don’t plan ahead or aren’t comfortable with writing in this format. Luckily, Harvard offers some tips on filling out their application. Additionally, doing your research on Harvard will help when writing the Harvard supplemental essays. Learn the ins and outs of Harvard’s admissions process , as well as different opportunities only available at Harvard. 

Now, let’s dive into how to approach the Harvard essay prompts. 

Harvard Essay #1- Contributing to Harvard

The first of the Harvard essay prompts asks applicants to consider what they will bring to Harvard’s campus. Here’s the first Harvard essay prompt: 

This essay is a take on the classic diversity essay . As such, you’ll want to consider important aspects of your background, identity, culture, personality, or upbringing that have made you who you are. What lived experiences have defined your values, goals, or perspectives? How will where you came from impact what you bring to Harvard’s campus?

“Life experiences” is a broad term. This means that you have plenty of room for interpretation in this Harvard essay. Really, the most important part of this Harvard essay is choosing a meaningful topic that shows what sets you apart from the crowd. It could be something as simple as a unique hobby. For example, you might write about how instead of keeping a journal, you write short stories loosely based on your life. 

The second part of this Harvard essay asks you to show how this part of your identity will inform your time at Harvard. Harvard needs to know that you will make a positive impact on their campus community by bringing a unique perspective. Going back to our previous example, maybe by romanticizing your daily life with short stories, you’ve found an appreciation for the little things. This gratitude makes you more prepared to take on any obstacles in life.

Harvard Essay #2- Harvard Roommate Essay

While the first Harvard essay prompt was a college essay classic, the second is a bit more quirky.  

This Harvard essay also leaves the response quite open-ended. You could share anything! However, you’ll want to choose three things that only someone who will live with you would want or even need to know. This prompt is meant to be light and fun. So, you don’t need to get serious here or try to work in something academic to impress admissions. On the contrary, keep things aligned with the prompt: quirky, creative, and fun. 

To start brainstorming, you’ll want to think about your routine. Is there anything that is out of the norm? A unique interest or superstition? If you’re at a complete loss, you might ask your family members. If you share a room with a sibling, they might have some valuable intel about your quirks!

You might also consider what you’ll want your college room to be like. Will you bring a bunch of photos from home or deck it out with your favorite artwork? Or will you prefer to have it clutter less, instead using the minimal space for the necessities? It may not seem like it, but room decor can be very telling. 

Additionally, think about what you’d like from the roommate experience. Do you hope to have weekly Sunday dinners? Or would you love to have movie night on Tuesdays? These dreams of what you could share with your future roommate can absolutely be highlighted in this Harvard essay. 

Finally, make sure to follow the prompt guidelines. Choose just three things to mention, and keep it under 150 words. Don’t just simply write a list. This is a Harvard essay, so it needs to flow. Think about how to connect your three points and tell a story that captivates your reader. 

Harvard Essay #3- Using Your Harvard Education

Let’s move back to a more traditional Harvard essay. Here’s the third of the five Harvard essay prompts: 

This is the time to show that you have done your research on Harvard. This prompt is similar to a “ why this school ” or “ why this major ” essay. The key is to be specific about why you need a Harvard education. You’ll want to highlight opportunities that would only be available to you as a Harvard student. Of course, these should genuinely align with your future goals. If you plan to major in economics or sociology, you might highlight those specific programs at Harvard. However, you certainly don’t have to know your specific major to successfully write this Harvard essay. 

You might start by making a list of future goals. If you aren’t certain where you see yourself in five years, that’s all right! You’re certainly not alone. And you don’t have to know to be able to write a successful and impressive Harvard essay. 

For example, maybe one of your goals is living and working in another country. If this has influenced your major, then highlight specific curriculum opportunities or professors at Harvard. Or perhaps you might mention Harvard’s study abroad opportunities. You don’t need to know your future career or even major to write this Harvard essay. You just need to hone in on your interests, passions, and future goals and connect them back to your Harvard education. 

Harvard Essay #4- Extracurricular Essay

The fourth Harvard essay focuses on a meaningful extracurricular activity. 

Similar to the diversity, you’ve probably come across this type of essay in your college applications. And, if not, you surely will! This is a typical extracurricular activity essay . In this type of essay, you have the opportunity to expand or introduce an important activity that you haven’t yet been able to highlight in your application. 

Of course, this essay should add new information — don’t just repeat what’s on your extracurricular activities section. More important, however, is writing about an activity that has deep meaning to you. What has shaped who you are? Is there an activity that is integral to your life? Now’s the time to highlight it!

If you’re at a loss for a topic, consider the less traditional options listed in the prompt. You don’t need to talk about a club , sport, or volunteer activity. After all, “extracurricular” means anything outside of the classroom. You might focus on a job, family responsibility, or particularly meaningful travel experience. Do you work at a diner on the weekends? How has the experience impacted you? What have you learned and how has it affected who you are?

You might also consider mentioning a unique hobby. For example, maybe you learned to crochet from your grandmother, and you’ve bonded over the craft. You could write a powerful essay about discovering a new passion while making a blanket with a relative.

There are plenty of topics you could write about for this Harvard essay. Just remember to consider the following questions: Have you mentioned this activity elsewhere in your application? If so, find a new angle on it that highlights something new for the admissions team. Also, has this activity shaped who you are, and does that growth align with the rest of your application?

Harvard Essay #5- Disagreement Essay

The last Harvard essay prompt can be the most challenging. However, you may come across similar prompts in other applications. 

Believe it or not, this Harvard essay will tell admissions a lot about how you navigate the world around you. Are you able to engage in discussions with people of differing perspectives? Are you able to reflect and learn from these types of conversations?

There may be many disagreements or even heated conversations that come to mind when reading this Harvard application essay prompt. However, keep in mind that this is an application essay. You need to choose a conversation in which you demonstrate maturity, good communication, and growth. 

To start brainstorming, think about your causes. What do you believe in? And, what are you willing to stand up for? You’ve probably had some conversations on these topics. Are there any in which you were able to convey your perspective and opinion to another in a respectful manner? What was the overall outcome? Did you learn something from the exchange? These types of questions will allow you to choose the best topic for this Harvard application essay. 

Additionally, your Harvard essay should demonstrate your passion for the topic discussed. You’ll also need to specify what you learned. For example, were you able to compromise or create a unique solution?

In this essay, be sure to not speak down about the other person in the disagreement. You don’t want to come across as patronizing or superior. This could leave a bad impression on the admissions committee. Stay neutral about the person with which you are in the disagreement. Show passion for the topic at hand. The goal shouldn’t be to show that you “won” the argument. It’s to demonstrate you can engage with those of differing opinions, convey your own beliefs, and learn from these exchanges. 

How to write the Harvard supplemental essays

We’ve given you some specifics on how to approach each Harvard application essay. However, let’s review some common best practices to ace your Harvard essays. 

Choose a meaningful topic

There’s no “perfect” topic that will suit everyone. Instead, the key is to choose a topic that is meaningful to you and shares more about who you are to admissions. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure to choose topics that add new information to your application. Don’t repeat the same topic from your Harvard personal statement in one of your Harvard supplemental essays. 

Answer the prompt

This might seem obvious, but you need to be sure that you answer all parts of every Harvard essay prompt. It’s easy to get caught up in writing an enticing anecdote that reels in your reader. However, if in doing so you aren’t left with any words to answer the second part of the prompt, then that’s not good! These are the Harvard essay prompts for a reason. Admissions wants unique and comprehensive answers. A good practice to follow is to ask yourself after writing your draft this question: Did I completely answer every part of the prompt?

Write, edit, and revise

There’s a reason we urge students to start their Harvard essay long before the application deadline. It’s because writing outstanding Harvard supplemental essays is time consuming. You’ll need to write, then revise and edit, and rewrite again! This cycle should repeat until you have the best version possible of each Harvard essay. Enlist the help of a friend, family member, or teacher to check for grammatical or spelling errors. You can also read your essay out loud to check for any oversights or clumsy wording. Don’t let spelling or grammar mistakes distract your reader from the impressive Harvard essay you’ve worked so hard on!

Choosing Outstanding Topics for Your Harvard Supplemental Essays

As we’ve mentioned many times throughout this Harvard essay guide, choosing your topic for each Harvard application essay is the most important part of the process. This doesn’t mean there is a one-size-fits-all topic for each Harvard essay. This simply means that you need to choose the right topic for you!

In short, the right topic is meaningful, highlights your personality and values, and demonstrates what you’ll bring to the Harvard community. Additionally, each Harvard essay should center on a different topic. This way you can highlight new facets of yourself to the admissions committee. After all, they receive thousands of qualified candidates every admissions cycle, and only 3% are accepted. Each Harvard application essay is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd. 

Let’s look at some questions you can ask yourself to be sure you’ve chosen the right topic for each Harvard application essay:

Topic Reflection Questions

• Do my topics allow me to fully answer the Harvard essay prompts?
• Am I sharing new information?
• Does the topic hold significance and meaning to me? Has it shaped who I am?
• Is the topic unique to me? 
• Do I highlight my best qualities and demonstrate how I would be a positive asset to the Harvard campus community?

What does Harvard look for in applicants?

With such a low Harvard acceptance rate, you might be wondering what Harvard wants to see in its applicants. Well, there isn’t any one factor that will secure your admission. While academics are highly important, Harvard needs to see other outstanding qualities in candidates for them to earn admission. 

One important factor that admissions looks for is the potential a student has for future contributions to society. Harvard expects its graduates to go on to be leaders, making meaningful impacts long after their time on campus. If there are no signs of this future promise in an applicant, then Harvard admissions will not extend an acceptance letter. 

Additionally, students need to show outstanding talents, skills, or personal qualities. Harvard wants their students to excel in an extracurricular activity. Leadership and community involvement are also important. Harvard admissions also value diversity in their student population, so they want students who will bring unique perspectives and experiences.

Of course, nothing else matters if your academics aren’t extremely impressive. Harvard wants students that excel academically and don’t back down from an intellectual challenge. Therefore, if you’re serious about getting into Harvard, plan to take accelerated courses such as AP and IB. 

Consider these application tips provided by Harvard when applying. Additionally, check out this guide on what to expect after you’ve applied to Harvard. 

Harvard Application Timeline

Your application timeline will vary based on your application deadline . For example, if you’re applying Restrictive Early Action, you’ll need to get started earlier than if you’re applying Regular Decision. 

The Restrictive Early Action deadline is November 1st, and students will receive an admissions decision by mid-December. REA applicants may only apply early to one school. However, it is a non-binding option. Therefore, if you gain acceptance to Harvard, you are not required to attend. If Harvard is your #1 choice, then consider applying early. The early acceptance rate is 7.6%, which is still extremely competitive but higher than the overall Harvard acceptance rate. 

Regular Decision candidates need to apply by January 1st and will receive a decision by the end of March. 

Harvard is not a test-optional school. It requires the submission of standardized tests, so plan to take these exams by spring or summer of the year you apply. These scores should be submitted by the end of October for REA students. 

Consider that you’ll need to submit additional materials such as letters of recommendation . Start requesting these letters months in advance to give your recommenders plenty of time to finish and submit them on time. 

The most time consuming part of your application will be each Harvard application essay and the Harvard personal statement. Start working on your Harvard supplemental essays the summer before you plan to apply. This will give you time to write your best version of each Harvard essay. 

Additional Harvard Essay Resources from CollegeAdvisor

When considering how to get into Harvard, you’ll want to do everything possible to heighten your chances. CollegeAdvisor provides students with a myriad of useful resources to guide them through the college application process. 

When coming up with a “how to get into Harvard” plan, remember the importance of each Harvard application essay. You won’t gain admission without outstanding Harvard supplemental essays. Reading college essay examples will allow you to see what works. They can serve as vital inspiration when starting your own essays. Check out these Ivy League essay examples as well as these Harvard essay examples. 

Additionally, we provide guides on how to get into your dream school, including this guide on how to get into Harvard. While this Harvard essay guide focuses mainly on your essays, our How to Get Into Harvard guide shows you how to maximize every part of your application to optimize your admissions chances. 

We learned about what Harvard admissions looks for in its applicants, but you might still be curious as to how admissions officers rate your application against the rest. Check out this article that outlines just how admissions at Ivy League universities rate their candidates. Or watch our webinar and learn from Harvard alums what it takes to apply and get into Harvard. 

Harvard Essay- Five Takeaways

Knowing how to get into Harvard — or any of the Ivy League universities — and actually getting in are two entirely different things. However, every Harvard application essay is an opportunity to highlight a new and unique skill, interest, value, or goal. Admissions is looking for outstanding students who are engaged in their communities, passionate about their interests, and motivated to learn. The Harvard supplemental essays are your opportunity to fill in any gaps in your application and put your best foot forward!

5 Key Harvard Essay Takeaways 

1. there are 5 harvard essay prompts that students need to complete in addition to the harvard personal statement. , 2. each harvard essay is important to your overall application. choosing the best topic for you is vital. consider topics that highlight your best and unique qualities. , 3. be creative yet concise when writing each harvard application essay. the harvard supplemental essays have a 150 word limit. so you need to choose your words carefully. however, that doesn’t mean you should cut out descriptive language or skimp on style. , 4. fully and completely answer each harvard application essay prompt. setting the scene with descriptive language or an anecdote is important. however, that doesn’t mean you can use your entire harvard application essay to do so. many harvard supplemental essays have various parts to the prompts. be sure you have answered them all in each harvard essay. , 5. plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to revise and edit each harvard essay. you want each harvard application essay to be meaningful, interesting, and mechanically impeccable. be sure to factor in enough time to revise and edit your harvard application essay. ideally, start writing in the summer before you apply.

This article was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, harvard essay word limit.

Hi! I'm starting to work on my application for Harvard and I was wondering if there is a strict word limit for the supplemental essays or if it's more of a general guideline. Any insight would be helpful, thank you!

Hi there! While there isn't a strict word limit for the Harvard supplemental essays, they do have some general guidelines. It's recommended to keep your response to their supplemental essay prompts around 150-500 words. This range gives you enough room to fully develop your ideas while also keeping the essay concise and more easily digestible for the admissions officers.

That being said, it's essential to focus on the content of your essay and effectively convey your ideas, rather than solely focusing on hitting a specific word count. Make sure your writing is clear, engaging, and showcases your unique qualities and experiences. And, of course, always proofread your essay and revise as necessary to ensure it's polished and well-written.

For more information on the Harvard essays click here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-harvard-university-essays/

In summary, while there isn't a strict word limit for the Harvard supplemental essays, it's best to aim for a range of 150-500 words. Focus on making your essay impactful and well-written within this range, and you should be good to go. Good luck with your application!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Harvard "Optional" Essay Length

<p>Does anyone know if there is a word limit to this essay? Thanks!</p>

<p>See: <a href=“ http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/11/15/common-app-new-word-limit/[/url] ”> http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/11/15/common-app-new-word-limit/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt ;

<p>"I think in our situation if people happen to go over 500 words, that’s fine with us,” Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 told The Crimson. “And if they want to use our supplement and send almost anything they can imagine, we’re happy to read that too … It’s really not an issue for us.”</p>

<p>My worry is that in the supplement, I do not even see them mention 500 words</p>

<p>If Harvard is wiling to read more than 500 words for the common app personal statement, they are also willing to read more than 500 words for the supplement. That said, you should probably keep the supplement to one side of a page.</p>

<p>I have a similar question. I’m applying as a transfer student. In the common app there are only 2 questions. The first one is about an extracurricular activity experience, and the second one is under the personal essay tab, but the question ask: 2- Please provide a statement (appr. 250-500 words) that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. Should I write my personal essay addressing this question?? I also think that 500 words is not enough to talk about myself, I need more than that express who i’m and what my goals are. Please give some advice, some hints, Please. Thank you very much!!!</p>

<p>Yes, You should write your essay on that topic. Harvard wants to know why you wanna go there. What do they offer that your current school cannot. Again I would try to keep it to one side of the page.</p>

<p>so im new to this process and am really confused by the supplement.</p>

<p>basically to apply to harvard, we need to fully fill out the common app, and then for the supplement we are allowed to write ONE essay on a various amount of topics with NO WORD COUNT? </p>

<p>thanks to anyone who can help me clear this up</p>

<p>Many students are accepted to Harvard without submitting anything extra. It’s not required and you’re correct, there isn’t a word limit. Harvard’s directions are pretty clear:</p>

<p>Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide a sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If there is something you would like us to know, please inform us below. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so.</p>

<p>Possible Topics:

• Unusual circumstances in your life
• Travel or living experiences in other countries
• Books that have affected you the most
• An academic experience (course, project, paper, or research topic) that has meant the most to you
• A list of the books you have read during the past twelve months</p>

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