Has anyone gotten into Harvard with a low GPA?
Asked by: Delfina Trantow | Last update: November 4, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (40 votes)
While the average GPA for admitted students is around 4.18, there have been cases of students with GPAs below this threshold who gained admission based on exceptional qualities in other areas.
Is it possible to get into Harvard with low GPA?
Can I Get into Harvard with a Low GPA? While it's certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it's improbable. For the Class of 2027, a mere 2.21% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5.
Will Harvard accept a 2.0 GPA?
The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.
Does Harvard accept 4.7 GPA?
Verdict on Final Admissions
A GPA of at least 4.18 is also required. You must make up the difference if your GPA is below this with a higher SAT®/ACT score.
Did Will Smith get a 1600 on the SAT?
Will Smith SAT score was a perfect 1600. A rare score few people have earned. Despite this incredible score, Will chose not to attend college, did not even enroll, and decided to pursue his career in music.
How I got into Top Colleges with a Low GPA | Ivy League and more
Can I get into Harvard with a 1.0 GPA?
What GPA do I need to get into Harvard? To be considered for admission to Harvard, you must earn top grades in high school. According to College Data, 76% of the admitted freshmen in the class of 2026 had a GPA of 4.0 or above, and 18% had GPAs from 3.78 to 3.99.
What's the lowest GPA Yale accepted?
We do not set a minimum GPA, nor do we attempt to re-weight GPA's to any standard other than what a school provides.
Is a 32 ACT good enough for Harvard?
In the last year that Harvard required testing, the range (10th percentile to 90th percentile) of SAT scores for enrolling students was 670 to 790 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 680 to 800 for Math. The range (10th percentile to 90th percentile) of ACT Composite scores was 31 to 36.
What is the lowest GPA Howard will accept?
With a GPA of 3.65, Howard University requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes.
Can I go to Harvard even if I'm poor?
What Does Harvard Cost? Harvard costs what your family can afford. We make sure of that. If your family's income is less than $85,000, you'll pay nothing.
Is a 2.9 GPA bad?
Because a 2.9 GPA is so close to that benchmark, it demonstrates frequent above-average academic performance. A 2.9 GPA also means that you can apply to a number of colleges and universities and can reasonably expect admission to a sampling of them.
Is a 2.5 GPA bad in middle school?
Now that you know what a 2.5 GPA is, let's understand whether it is a good grade. Well, the answer is no! The national average GPA is roughly 3.0, and a 2.5 GPA places you below it. With a 2.5 GPA, you've only received C-s and D+s in your junior high coursework so far.
Can a 2.5 GPA go to Harvard?
Is your high school GPA good enough for Harvard University? The average high school GPA for admitted students at Harvard University is 2.6 on a 4.0 scale. (You can calculate your high school a GPA here.)
What is the hardest college to get into?
Harvard University
The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.
What is the lowest GPA for Ivy?
None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply with any GPA. For Ivy League schools, however, a competitive GPA and application are best. Admission rates at Ivy League schools may be low, but it's possible with a well-rounded application.
Is a 4.4 GPA good for Harvard?
The average accepted GPA at Harvard is around 4.18 (unweighted) or higher, so your 4.4 (I am assuming it's weighted) places you in a competitive range.
What GPA is required for Yale?
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher.
Is 1300 a good SAT score?
The average composite SAT score is 1059, and the highest possible score is 1600, putting 1300 above average and competitive. A 1300 SAT score allows you to apply competitively to a large number of schools, making it an objectively good score for most students.
What GPA does UCLA require?
You should also have a 3.93 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as UCLA, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
What is the lowest GPA to get into MIT?
Aim high. Even though there are no official MIT GPA requirements, you should aim for a 4.17 weighted GPA. If you're already a junior or senior figuring out how to get into MIT and your GPA is lower than 4.17, know that scores close to the average MIT SAT scores or ACT scores can counterbalance a lower GPA.
What GPA is needed for Oxford?
Undergraduate qualifications
If your graduate course at Oxford requires a 'first-class undergraduate degree with honours' in the UK system, you will usually need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university with an an overall grade of 85% ('A') or 'Excellent', or a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0.
Does Harvard accept 2.0 GPA?
You should also have a 4.2 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
What is the lowest GPA Yale will accept?
Yale does not set a strict minimum GPA requirement for admission; however, the average GPA of admitted students is typically around 4.0. This reflects the competitive nature of the admissions process, where students are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance.
Has anyone gotten into Harvard with bad grades?
While the average GPA for admitted students is around 4.18, there have been cases of students with GPAs below this threshold who gained admission based on exceptional qualities in other areas.