What high school classes does Harvard look for?

Asked by: Prof. Cara Spinka I  |  Last update: December 8, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (47 votes)

Four years of English with a strong writing component. Four years of mathematics. Four years of science, including biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course. Three years of history, including European and U.S. history.

What high school grades does Harvard look at?

The average high school GPA of admitted students at Harvard is around 4.2. 73% of students had a GPA of at least 4.0, indicating that admitted students typically mostly earned A grades in high school. If you're studying the IB, this translates to scoring mostly 7s and achieving a minimum score of at least 42.

What kind of students does Harvard look for?

Harvard is looking for students who will be the future best in their field, so what students choose to focus their growth and potential on should relate to their future aspirations. Harvard is most interested in students who already know or have an idea of what they want to do after they graduate college.

What grades does Harvard want?

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.

What classes should I take in high school to get into Ivy League?

The high school four year plan will typically include courses in English, mathematics, social science, science, foreign language, and electives. These are considered the core courses that students need to take to be prepared for an Ivy League education.

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43 related questions found

Does Harvard Look at 8th grade?

No, Harvard does not look at middle school grades. However, developing good study habits and work ethic during middle school can build the foundations for your high school marks and academic achievements that Harvard will look at.

What is the hardest Ivy League to study at?

Harvard University

Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the US and consistently ranks #1 hardest Ivy League to get into. Founded in 1636, Harvard offers students a world-class education from some of the most brilliant professors in the world.

Do you need straight A's for Harvard?

Average GPA: 4.18

With a GPA of 4.18, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

What is the hardest school to get into?

Top 10 Hardest Colleges to Get Into
  1. Harvard. Cambridge, MA. 3.19%
  2. Columbia. New York, NY. 3.73%
  3. Caltech. Pasadena, CA. 3.92%*
  4. Stanford. Stanford, CA. 3.95%*
  5. MIT. Cambridge, MA. 3.96%
  6. Princeton. Princeton, NJ. 4.38%*
  7. Yale. New Haven, CT. 4.47%
  8. Brown. Providence, RI. 5.03%

What is the lowest GPA to get into Harvard?

Generally speaking, if your GPA is not at least equal to 4.18 then Harvard University may be a reach. However, Harvard University considers the ENTIRE application - we can make up for a weak GPA with more factors that we'll discuss below.

What is the most popular class at Harvard?

CS50 is Harvard's most popular class, and you can take it for free online. This introductory computer science course covers algorithms, data structures, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development.

What is the Z list at Harvard?

About 60 students earn admission to Harvard through the Z-List each year. Unlike typical admits, these students do not gain admission in the Early Action or Regular Decision rounds or earn a spot off the Harvard waitlist. Z-Listed students are neither accepted nor denied at the conclusion of both admission rounds.

What do most people study in Harvard?

The most popular majors at Harvard University include: Social Sciences, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Mathematics, General; Computer and Information Sciences, General; History, General; Physical Sciences, General; Psychology, General; Engineering, General; and Foreign Languages and Literatures, General ...

Is a 93 an A at Harvard?

In one class, I got a 90.55, but my final grade is a B+. The professor revealed to us after grades were finalized that the grading scale he was using was 94+ for A, 92-93 for A-, 90-91 for B+, etc.

What extracurricular activities should I do for Harvard?

Student Organizations
  • Music. Join an orchestra, chamber music ensemble, jazz combo, concert band, choral group, gospel choir, or glee club.
  • Visual Arts. ...
  • Media and journalism. ...
  • Public Service. ...
  • International and multicultural. ...
  • Drama and dance. ...
  • Political and pre-professional. ...
  • Faith, identity, and culture.

What is considered an A at Harvard?

The following scale is used to calculate the grade point average (GPA) for degree program applicants and candidates as well as premedical program students using a 4-point scale: A=4.0, A–=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, B–=2.67, C+=2.33, C=2.0, C–=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1.0, D–=0.67, E=0, WD=0, RQ=0, EXD=0.

What is the toughest year of high school?

While each year of high school will have its own stressors, many will say junior year is the most challenging. Junior year can be the hardest for several reasons, but with the right prep and expectations, high school students can make the hardest year just a little easier.

What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?

Cornell University

Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%.

Is Oxford or Harvard harder?

Oxford University has an acceptance rate of around 17% which is considered relatively good in comparison to Harvard University's low 5% acceptance rate, which makes Oxford easier to get into.

Can I get to Harvard with C?

There are people who have been accepted with C's on their transcripts and lower GPAs. You could certainly give Harvard a shot, but since its a tough school for almost anyone to get into, make sure to prioritize your applications to safety and target schools.

Can you get into Harvard with B's?

Does Harvard Accept B Students? Yes, just like I mentioned above, it's completely possible to get admitted into Harvard University with B grades.

Does Harvard take AP credit?

Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes.

Is Brown the easiest ivy?

Brown University

Founded in 1764 and located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown begins our list of easiest Ivy League schools to get an application accepted. With an acceptance rate of 6.6%, Brown accepts 2% more applicants than our hardest school to get into Harvard.

Which Ivy League has the lowest acceptance?

Although Princeton's 2023 admissions data are not yet public, we expect this trend to continue. In 2021, Columbia edged past Princeton and Harvard to become the most competitive Ivy. However, with a current acceptance rate of 3.4%, Harvard is once again the hardest Ivy League school to get into.

What is the cheapest Ivy League school?

Princeton is commonly regarded as the “cheapest Ivy” thanks to its extensive financial aid offerings. 62% of admitted students receive financial aid. The school meets full demonstrated need and 83% of recent seniors graduated debt-free, in part due to Princeton's complete no-loan financial aid policies.