Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Type: Private research university (Ivy League)
About:
Harvard is the oldest, and one of the most famous institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636. The University is separated into 13 academic units, the main campus being Harvard Yard in Cambridge.
It is one of the Ivy League Universities, showing high academic and social prestige.
The university offers 46 undergraduate concentrations (majors), 134 graduate degrees, and 32 professional degrees.
Harvard College gives you all the benefits of a city, downtown Boston is a 12-minute subway ride away—as well as the feeling of a quiet haven, separate from the hustle and bustle of city life. It truly is the best of both worlds.
Nestled in Cambridge on the banks of the Charles River, Harvard is surrounded by one-of-a-kind shops, international restaurants, bookstores, cafés, and theaters. Take in sporting events, concerts, and colorful street performances in Harvard Square, where you can also access Boston’s comprehensive public transportation network
Nearby you’ll find the lively Boston waterfront, home to a world-famous aquarium and science museum. Buses, subways, and trains will also bring you to the beaches of the Atlantic, cozy seaside villages from Cape Cod to Maine, ski slopes, forests, and scores of local cultural venues and historic sites.
Harvard faculty are engaged with teaching and research to push the boundaries of human knowledge. For students who are excited to investigate the biggest issues of the 21st century, Harvard offers an unparalleled student experience and a generous financial aid program, with over $160 million awarded to more than 60% of our undergraduate students. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education.
As a freshman, you will live with your classmates in or adjacent to Harvard Yard, the University’s historic hub. The Yard is the site of newly renovated classrooms, dormitories sheltered by ancient trees, and Widener Library, the heart of the world’s largest university library which includes 20.4 million volumes, 180,000 serial titles, an estimated 400 million manuscript items, 10 million photographs, 124 million archived web pages, and 5.4 terabytes of born-digital archives and manuscripts. Access to this rich collection is provided by nearly 800 library staff members who operate more than 70 separate library units.
During your first year, you will take your meals in stately Annenberg Hall, the freshman dining hall. Here you will meet friends and enjoy interesting conversations with classmates from around the world.
With every aspect of the freshman experience, we work to ensure your first year is a stimulating and seamless transition into the Harvard community.
Campus-wide undergraduate activities are organized by the Freshman Dean’s Office, the Houses, or the Office of Student Life, in addition to those created by students themselves. Many are designed specifically for freshmen, including arts, intramural athletics, social events, and the “Reflecting on Your Life” series..
First-year students are supported by a broad advising network comprised by their Proctor, Academic Adviser, Peer Advising Fellow, and Resident Dean. All members of the advising team are readily available for in order to help students consider both academic and non-curricular matters.
Fast Facts:
- Harvard has consistently topped the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) since 2003
- Tops the World Reputation Rankings since 2011
- When the QS and Times were published in partnership as the QS World University Rankings during 2004-2009, Harvard had also been regarded the first in every year
- The University’s undergraduate program has been continuously among the top two in the U.S. News & World Report
- In 2014, Harvard topped the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP)
- From a poll done by The Princeton Review, Harvard is the second most commonly named “dream college”, both for students and parents in 2013, and was the first nominated by parents in 2009
- In 2011, the Mines ParisTech : Professional Ranking World Universities ranked Harvard 1st university in the world in terms of number of alumni holding CEO position in Fortune Global 500 companies
- 7 former presidents including Barack Obama studied there
- 70% of Harvard students receive some form of financial aid and 20% pay nothing
- Approximately 21,000 students attend Harvard (of which 11% are international undergraduate students)
Athletics:
Harvard University athletic teams are known as the ‘Harvard Crimson’. They participate in the Ivy League Conference and are ranked in the NCAA Division I.
Men’s teams: Baseball, basketball, crew (rowing), cross country/track, fencing, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, sailing, skiing, soccer, squash, swimming/diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
Women’s teams: Basketball, crew (rowing), cross country/track, fencing, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, sailing, skiing, soccer, softball, squash, swimming/diving, tennis, volleyball, and water polo.
School Information:
Programs:
There are 12 schools, including business, dental, medicine, arts and science, law, public health, divinity, education and engineering. Each school has further information on courses available.
Harvard University information about courses offered in each school: http://www.harvard.edu/schools
Housing:
Freshmen residence hall assignments are carefully arranged by the Freshman Dean’s Office. You will be placed in a suite (rather than a specific room) with other freshmen. Most residences in the Yard contain doubles, which usually consist of one fairly large room with a shared bath (very few singles are available). Some suites have their own bathrooms, but most students share a bathroom with other suites.
Freshmen are grouped into entryways, which house 20 to 40 students who share a floor or designated area within their dormitory.
Each entryway is a diverse, supportive community that participates in organized activities and shares informal social events, like study breaks.
Harvard University information about housing: http://college.harvard.edu/student-residential-life/residential-life/freshman
Entry Requirements:
- Common/Universal College Application
- Harvard College Questions for the Common Application or the Universal College Application Harvard supplement
- $75 fee or a fee waiver
- SAT or ACT with Writing
- Normally, 2 SAT Subject Tests
- School Report and high school transcript
- Teacher Report (2)
- Mid-Year School Report
- Final School Report
Harvard University admissions information: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-requirements
Harvard University Admissions Brochure: https://college.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/viewbook_1617.pdf
Harvard University article: “What We Look For”
Tuition:
The cost of attending Harvard depends on a few things, but for an international student it would be approximately $68,000 per year. This includes:
Tuition and fees: $47,074
Room and board: $15,951
Estimated personal expenses (including books): $3,875
Estimated travel costs: $1,200
Harvard University net price calculator: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator?citizenship=non-USA&residence=EUROPE
Financial Aid / Scholarships:
Harvard University only offers need-based financial aid and scholarships. However, the university is generous with their financial aid. 70% of Harvard students receive some form of financial aid, and more than 20% of students pay nothing.
International students are eligible for the same amount of aid as US students, and the application process is essentially the same.
Harvard University information for financial aid / scholarships: http://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/applying-aid/prospective-students
