# Application Requirements

**Source**: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-requirements
**Parent**: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

## Overview

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**](https://college.harvard.edu/guides/application-tips "Application Tips - Guide") for guidance on filling out the Common Application.

## Application

We accept the [Common Application](https://www.commonapp.org/explore/harvard-university) and the [Coalition Application by Scoir](https://app.scoir.com/app/signup/2100353). 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.

**We are also a QuestBridge partner institution.** Visit our [QuestBridge page](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/questbridge) for more information on applying via the National College Match.

### Submitting Your Application

- #### Receiving confirmation of your application
- #### Paying the application fee or requesting a fee waiver
- #### Completing the Harvard supplement questions

### Additional application questions

- #### What if I am homeschooled?
- #### What if I need to make updates to my application after I submit it?
- #### Misrepresentation of Credentials

## 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?
- #### I'm an international student and my academic year is different. Do I still need to submit the midyear report?
- #### What if I have already graduated from high school?

### 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?
- #### Is there a specific math requirement?

### 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:

- Credential exchange (preferred method)
  - Parchment
  - Scrip-Safe
  - Naviance Network
- Via the application system through which you applied 
  - 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:

1. AP exam results
2. IB Actual or Predicted Scores
3. GCSE/A-Level Actual or Predicted Results
4. 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](https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq/what-if-i-do-not-have-access-sat-or-act-testing-my-hometown-or-home-country-what-if) 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?
- #### How do I send my official test scores?
- #### Are there test score "cutoffs"?
- #### When do I need to take standardized tests?
- #### How should I prepare for standardized tests?
- #### What do standardized tests and grades indicate about academic preparation for college?
- #### What if it would be a financial hardship to register for the test?
- #### How will Harvard evaluate the new digital SAT?

## 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
- #### How to submit media (video, audio, or images)
- #### Should I submit other academic materials?

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## Related Topics

[### Application Tips

Not sure how to fill out the admissions application to Harvard? Here are some helpful tips from our admissions committee.](https://college.harvard.edu/guides/application-tips)

[### First-Year Applicants

Here's everything you need to know about applying to Harvard College as a first-year applicant.](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/first-year-applicants)