Updated: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
If Harvard is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out to the admissions committee. This is where your college essays come in. If done well, they can set you above other applicants. However, these essay prompts require short, creative answers, which is not an easy task. Keep reading to learn more about Harvard’s supplemental essays for the 2024-25 admissions cycle and how to craft them.
Writing a compelling personal essay as part of the Common Application or Coalition Application is one way for Harvard to get to know you. However, the additional prompts provided by Harvard University are meant for the admissions committee to learn even more about who you are, what you hope to get out of Harvard, and what contributions you can make to the campus community both personally and academically.
Most admissions committees, including Harvard’s, review applications holistically, which is why college essays matter. While academic performance is important, the other parts of your application, such as your essays and activities list, are what differentiate you from other students who submit comparable transcripts and test scores.
Students applying for admission to Harvard College — the undergraduate college at Harvard University — during the 2024-25 admissions cycle are required to respond to five supplemental essays. Each response should be no more than 150 words, so the challenge is to write a brief essay that tells a compelling story about you. Just keep in mind that each response should convey something new and interesting about you that isn’t mentioned elsewhere in your application.
Harvard is one of the most selective schools in the U.S. The acceptance rate for Harvard College was only 3.66% for the class of 2028, with similarly low admissions rates the previous few years. Understanding how to get into Harvard can help you prepare for the highly competitive admissions process. Ensuring you meet all the academic requirements and getting a head start on your essays can be crucial to your success.
Harvard offers both Restrictive Early Action (REA) and Regular Decision options. While applying early to college can sometimes help your chances of admission, you should only do so if you can submit a strong application. Many students opt to wait for the Regular Decision deadline to give themselves time to submit stronger grades and test scores.
The Harvard application deadlines are:
| Admission Type | Deadline | Decision |
| Restrictive Early Action | November 1, 2024 | Mid-December |
| Regular Decision | January 1, 2025 | End of March |
Learn more about the different types of Early Action and whether applying early is right for you.
These supplemental essays give you a good idea of what Harvard values, such as personal development, intellectual activities, and the positive impact you have made on your community. Your responses should demonstrate how your experiences, passions, and responsibilities have shaped you and influenced your view of the world. Let’s look at each prompt and how you might respond.
Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?
Like many other colleges and universities, Harvard responded to the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on affirmative action by adding a prompt that will allow students to discuss aspects of their background that may not be considered elsewhere in their application — like race, for example.
Your response to this essay should connect your experiences and life lessons with the ways you plan to contribute to the diverse campus community. Diversity can take many forms: religion, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, way of thinking, etc. If you don’t feel like you fall into any of these categories personally, then write about how your experiences with diverse individuals and groups impacted you. The example below may help you think about ways to answer this prompt.
Growing up in a multicultural household, I’ve experienced a blend of traditions, perspectives, and languages that laid the foundation for my commitment to inclusivity.
In high school, I co-founded a cultural exchange club, providing a platform for students to share their unique backgrounds. This experience taught me the power of dialogue in breaking down barriers and fostering empathy.
Participating in community service programs exposed me to the challenges faced by marginalized populations. I sought opportunities to advocate for equitable access to education and resources. This deepened my understanding of the complexities surrounding diversity.
At Harvard, I’m eager to promote an environment where all perspectives are valued. Whether through campus organizations, classroom discussions, or community outreach, I’m committed to nurturing an inclusive space where every student feels heard and supported. I look forward to learning and collaborating with my peers to create a campus culture that celebrates diversity and individuality.
Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?
Colleges like Harvard are looking for students who can engage with others thoughtfully and respectfully, even when opinions clash. View this prompt as an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking, communication skills, and maturity. The admissions committee is interested in how you navigate conflicts, particularly when dealing with differing perspectives. This could involve debates on social, political, or personal issues, or disagreements in a collaborative setting like a group project.
When responding, focus on showing your ability to listen, articulate your own views, and engage in constructive dialogue. Highlight your personal growth, revealing how the experience shaped your understanding of others and improved your ability to work in diverse environments — qualities that are valuable in a college setting.
During a group project in my history class, my teammate proposed a controversial viewpoint on colonialism, suggesting it was a net positive for the countries colonized. I strongly disagreed, believing this perspective overlooked the oppression and exploitation that occurred.
Instead of dismissing their argument outright, I chose to engage in a constructive dialogue. I listened carefully to their points, asking questions to understand their reasoning. Then, I presented historical evidence and perspectives from those affected by colonialism, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple viewpoints.
This exchange taught me the value of respectful disagreement. It reinforced the importance of empathy and open-mindedness when confronting differing opinions. While we didn’t reach full agreement, the conversation deepened both of our understandings of the topic. I learned that meaningful discussions can lead to growth and that engaging with opposing views can strengthen my own beliefs.
Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.
This is an opportunity to expand on an activity or experience that had a profound effect on you, especially if it represents what you’re passionate about and how you can contribute to the Harvard community. This prompt presents another opportunity to talk about your background. For example, students from low-income families might write about how they took a job to help contribute to the household.
You are likely to see similar supplemental essay questions for other schools, so this is an ideal one for recycling. However, make sure you tailor your response each time to make it specific to the school — and avoid the common mistake of naming the wrong school in your response! The following example can give you an idea of how you might approach this essay.
Volunteering at my local food bank has significantly shaped me and my view of the world. What started as an extracurricular activity quickly became a passion.
As I packed boxes and distributed food, I encountered people from all walks of life. Hearing their stories opened my eyes to the challenges many face and instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and social responsibility. This experience also fueled my desire to pursue social justice and community service. I learned the importance of giving back and how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a significant impact.
Beyond volunteering, this experience shaped my perspective on privilege and gratitude, reminding me of the power of community and collective effort. The lessons I learned at the food bank continue to influence my actions and aspirations, inspiring me to be a positive force in the world.
How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?
Your response to this prompt will require some research about academic programs, faculty, and opportunities at Harvard. It may be challenging to imagine how you’ll apply your college education to the real world, so think about your current goals and the learning outcomes for your program(s) of interest. How are they relevant to your future career and/or in everyday life? The example below demonstrates why the student wants to major in history and how they plan to apply what they learn as an educator.
Your response to this prompt will require some research about academic programs, faculty, and opportunities at Harvard. It may be challenging to imagine how you’ll apply your college education to the real world, so think about your current goals and the learning outcomes for your program(s) of interest. How are they relevant to your future career and/or in everyday life? The example below demonstrates why the student wants to major in history and how they plan to apply what they learn as an educator.
Driven by a passion for understanding the past and its influence on the present, I aspire to leverage my Harvard education for a career in historical research, education, and advocacy. As a Venezuelan, I’m particularly interested in uncovering untold narratives, such as Venezuela’s historical ties with the U.S. and the impact of U.S. sanctions on our economy.
History is a powerful tool for social change, and I aim to challenge prevailing narratives and promote inclusivity. I see myself as an educator, inspiring future generations to explore the complexities of our world’s past.
Through public history projects with museums, archives, and community organizations, I plan to make history accessible and relevant to a wider audience. Harvard will equip me with the skills and resources to contribute to preserving and understanding our collective past.
Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.
This is an opportunity to be a little less formal in your response — just remember that the admissions committee is reading this. What do you want them to know about you in terms of your personality, daily habits, passion projects, hobbies, etc.? This is an opportunity to share things that aren’t mentioned anywhere else on your application so the committee can get a little more insight into who you are and what makes you tick. Check out this example for a little inspiration.
The first thing my roommates should know about me is my sense of curiosity and eagerness to embrace new experiences. Whether it’s trying different cuisines, picking up a new instrument, or engaging in thought-provoking discussions, I’m always eager to learn and grow from every encounter.
Secondly, I’m passionate about mental health awareness and believe in creating a supportive, nurturing environment. My roommates can count on me to be a compassionate listener, a source of encouragement, and someone who values their mental and emotional health. I am committed to fostering a positive and empathetic atmosphere in our shared space.
Lastly, I have a deep love for the arts, especially music. I enjoy playing various musical instruments, and I’m always up for impromptu jam sessions or attending concerts. Music has been a source of solace and joy in my life, and I’m excited to share that passion with my roommates.
If writer’s block is keeping you from responding to your essay prompts, get personalized help from a professional college counselor. IvyWise college admissions counselors have served as Directors and Deans of admissions at some of the most elite colleges in the world, so they know how to craft essays that make you stand out.
The Common Application is officially open, and many college-bound high school students are hard at work on their college applications. In addition to the main Common App essay, many schools might also require supplements that include some thoughtful — and downright quirky — essay prompts and short answer questions.
By Carolyn, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
In eighth grade, my English teacher Mrs. Houlihan told me that I was the only student in my class who knew how and when to use a comma. That feedback stuck with me, not just because it made me feel like the greatest student of all time (which, let’s be honest, I totally was), but because it made me realize the awesome power of the comma. For such a tiny piece of punctuation, the comma packs a mighty punch, in that using it correctly or incorrectly is one of the most glaring signs that a writer either does or does not know what they’re doing.
Few things are scarier to students than submitting their college application only to find grammar and spelling mistakes afterward. This can lead to panicked calls to counselors and colleges, asking to resubmit their essays or correct an error. While small grammar and spelling mistakes won’t kill your college admission chances, they can lead to a lot of additional headaches for already stressed-out students.
