Harvard Admission: The Ultimate Guide (2025) –Requirements, Deadlines, Fees, and How to Apply

Harvard University is considered a dream school for many students around the world. Some students dream of attending, but admission is highly competitive. Harvard has an acceptance rate of only about 3–4%. Students are required to demonstrate a very high level of academic achievement, extracurricular leadership related to the community or school, and essays that are meaningful, compelling, and intriguing to read.

Recently, two Malaysian students were accepted to Harvard (The Star Malaysia, 2025), which sparked a discussion about getting into Harvard, how much it costs, and what Harvard is looking for, etc.

As a Malaysia education consultant specialising in overseas admissions, we will guide you through the following:

✔ Harvard Admission Requirements (GPA, test scores, essays)

✔ Specialised Admissions (Business, Law, Medical School)

✔ A Step–by-Step Process to Apply to Harvard

✔ Harvard Admission Fees & Financial Aid Options

✔ Key Admission Deadlines

1. Harvard Key Admission Requirements for 2025

Academic Excellence

For Undergraduate Programme：

GPA: Aim for 4.0 (unweighted) or top 1-2% of your class.

– SPM/IGCSE: Strong grades (A+/A in core subjects).

– Pre-University (A-Levels/IB/STPM): Minimum 3A*s or 42+ IB points**.

 SAT/ACT Test Scores:

– SAT: 1530-1600

– ACT: 34+

 For Graduate Programs (MBA, Law, Medicine)

English Proficiency (Applies To International Students Whose First Language is not English)

– TOEFL (100+) or IELTS (7.5+)

 Leadership in Extracurricular Activities

– Leadership roles in clubs, research, or projects in the community.

– Special talents or interests (e.g., Olympiads, published research, competitions at the national level).

Strong Essays & Recommendations

– For personal essays, indicate intellectual curiosity and resiliency.

– Publications or strong recommendations from teachers or mentors.

Interview Performance

– Not everyone gets interviews, but if the school allows, a good interview can make a huge difference.

2. How to Apply to Harvard University (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Select Your Application Platform

If you’re an undergraduate student, apply via the Common App or Coalition Application. For other degree programs, such as MBA, Law, or Medicine, apply through the University-specific online portal.

Step 2: Submit Official Academic Records

Official SPM/IGCSE, A-Levels/IB/STPM transcripts (with official translation if applicable).

*Send predicted grades (if you have not received final grades).

Step 3: Standardised Tests (If Necessary)

SAT/ACT test scores (optional but recommended) — register with College Board.

TOEFL/IELTS (if required) — submit through ETS or British Council.

Step 4: Write Compelling Essays

Personal Statement (650 words) – ➔ A broad essay describing yourself—who you are, your background, beliefs, experiences, and what has shaped you as a person.

➔ Focus: on you—your personality, values, and character.

*Take the opportunity to share a defining story or theme from your life that will give schools like Harvard a glimpse into your r identity and personal journey.

Harvard Supplemental Essays

➔  Shorter essays (school-specific) as to why you  fit that university. There will be 5 required, short answers, each capped at 150 words.

➔ Focus: on you + the school—how you and the school match.

*Illustrate intellectual curiosity.

Step 5: Secure Strong Recommendations

2 Academic Teachers (Math/Science + Humanities preferred).

1 Counselor/Principal (to verify school performance).

Step 6: Apply for Financial Aid (If Needed)

CSS Profile + IDOC (For need-based aid).

Financial Proof: Harvard guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated need, although you will likely need to submit bank statements for your visa.

Step 7: Interview (If Invited)

May be conducted in person by alumni in Malaysia/Singapore or via remote connection.

3. Harvard Admission Fees & Financial Aid

Submitting your application to Harvard will come with some costs, which may include the $85 application, fee waivers are available for students with demonstrated financial need, and the possibility of travel costs associated with interviews or campus visits. In summary:
✅ More on fee waiver are available on the Common/Coalition App
✅ Need-blind admissions – the ability to pay is not considered
✅ Full financial aid for students accepted to the college (which includes grants, no student loans expected)
✅ Complete the required forms: FAFSA, CSS Profile
Overall, Harvard meets 100% of demonstrated need and does not want finances to be a barrier to regular admission.
Additionally, Harvard University has a variety of scholarships and financial aid programs to help allow students of all means to attend the university. In short, the Tuition Fee (2025) is approximately $80,000/year (including housing, meals, and health insurance). While that could be expensive for some families, in any given year includes approximately 55% of our undergraduate students who receive need-based Harvard Scholarships, including awards to families that earn $200,000 or less, or $100K/ year or less. For more details, please refer to the Harvard Financial Aid Fact Sheet.
There are additional Funding Options for Malaysians that you can consider:
– Malaysian Government Scholarships (JPA, MARA, etc.)
– Private Funding (Yayasan Khazanah, Shell, etc.)

4. Harvard Admission Deadlines

The importance of timeline submitting to Harvard’s highly competitive admission process cannot be overstated. As you anticipate your in-depth experience at Harvard, keep these important upcoming dates in mind:

Early Action (Non-binding): November 1

– Decision will be released Mid-December

– Shows robust interest in the school.

Regular Application Due: January 1

– Decisions will be released Late March/Early April

– Gives you additional time to strengthen your applicant.

*Can You Appeal a Rejection?

Harvard does not allow formal appeals, but you can reapply next year with stronger credentials.

Tip: Early Action and Regular Decision candidates typically have slightly higher rates of acceptance, so choose the timeline that best processes your accomplishments in the context of the applicants achieved.

For Graduate Programs (MBA/Law/Medicine), it is varies so you may check program website.

5. FAQs (People Also Ask)

❓ Could an average student gain admission to Harvard?

→ Highly unlikely. Harvard looks for extraordinary academic and leadership achievement.

❓ Does Harvard accept international students?

→ Yes (~12% of undergraduates are international).

❓ Are SPM students able to apply for Harvard?

→ Yes, but you must also take A-Levels/IB/STPM (SPM alone is not accepted).

❓ Does Harvard accept STPM?

→ Yes, but you must have 4.0 CGPA results.

❓ Is SAT a requirement for Malaysian students?

→  No (it’s test-optional), but in fact, no Malaysian student has gained admission without submitting SAT scores. It’s 99% better if you do it to augment your application (SAT score >1530) .

❓ How many Malaysians get accepted to Harvard each academic year?

→ 2-5 Malaysians admitted a year (Very competitive).

❓ Which courses is Harvard known for?

→ Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, Medicine, Law.

Final Advice from PrepWorks, Your Education Consultant in Malaysia

Being accepted into Harvard is a lofty goal and is highly competitive; however, when students demonstrate solid academics, leadership experience, and a good story, it can help him/her stand out.  The two Malaysians who were accepted this year most likely had the perfect GPAs and/or high SAT scores, leadership in organizations/competitions at the national level, and the strong essays about their experiences as a Malaysian. And also, financial aid helps make it financially feasible.

Want to Apply?

1. Start Early – Begin building your profile in Form 4/5.
2. Success in Exams – Aim for *A grades in A-Levels or IB, >1530 *SAT**.
3. Unique Extracurricular Experiences – national competitions, research opportunities, leadership experiences.
4. Apply for Financial Aid Early – Harvard can be financially feasible with Financial Aid.
5. Seek the Right Guidance – Having a counselor who has been to the Ivy Leagues can help you find the right strategies for planning your application early and help you find out what you need in your personal essay to meet the applicant standard rate.

With the right preparation, you could be next!