Is it difficult for a Russian to study at Harvard? History of admission to Harvard University

Harvard is the oldest university in the United States, founded in 1636. Training at the first educational level takes place at Harvard College.

Each application to Harvard College is reviewed independently by two admissions officers.

You cannot get into Harvard as an undergraduate with a higher education degree. International students are admitted to the university on the same basis as US citizens.

Harvard adheres to the Liberal Arts position, according to which undergraduate education is as general as possible, students can choose any courses, and upon completion, graduates do not have a diploma of a specific profession, but are a Bachelor of Science or, for example, a Bachelor of Arts. The academic year begins in early September and ends in mid-May.

The gender composition of the university is as balanced as possible: about 51% are female among bachelors, and about 49% among teaching staff.

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The rivalry between Harvard and MIT students dates back to 1900, when the two universities announced a merger that was later cancelled. But because of the failed merger, there were also positive aspects: MIT students can take the courses they like at Harvard and vice versa, completely free.

Document submission deadline

Applications are accepted until November 1 and January 1, depending on whether the candidate wants to take advantage of the early application opportunity or submit documents in the general stream.

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Admission procedure

There are two ways to apply: by completing the Universal College Application or the Common Application. The application can be filled out on the website or downloaded, printed and sent by regular mail. In addition to one of the required applications, along with the documents you must send the Harvard Application Supplement, a school diploma, an application form for foreign applicants, and two recommendations from school teachers. To apply and create your profile on the university website, you need to pay $75 before October 15. Applications indicate the results of tests and exams passed. After final submission of the application, candidates may be interviewed either at the university itself, its representative offices or with alumni around the world, but this opportunity will not be provided to all applicants. However, the admissions committee claims that this will not be counted as a minus for a candidate who is unable to arrange an interview.

Admission requirements

Age - from 17 years old, excellent grades in the school certificate and high scores in entrance exams. There is no minimum score, but most students pass each part of SAT I and SAT II with scores between 650 and 800.

SAT is a standard test for admission to higher education in the United States; its analogue is the Unified State Exam. The SAT was developed and administered by the College Board and was previously administered by the Educational Testing Service, which still participates in its administration today. The SAT was first introduced in 1901; since then, the name and scoring system have changed more than once. The SAT currently lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes and costs $47 for those taking the test in the United States and $75 for everyone else. The SAT scores range from 600 to 2400. The exam includes three tests: text analysis, mathematics, and writing.

Entrance tests

SAT or ACT exam - candidate's choice; The SAT II exam is two tests of knowledge of the disciplines that the candidate wants to study in the future. A certificate confirming language knowledge is optional.

Cost of education

A year of study at Harvard averages $33,696, and with other expenses the amount reaches $50,000 per year.

Available Grants

The university makes every effort to accommodate everyone who cannot pay for their studies on their own - about 70% of students receive financial support. To receive a full scholarship, you must prove that your family's annual income is less than $60,000.

Campus

In total, Harvard has three campuses - transport links are established between them. One of them is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and covers an area of 85 hectares. On its territory there are administrative buildings, libraries, museums, educational buildings and dormitories. Students live in 12 houses, nine of which are located on the south campus, next to the Charles River, and the other three are located in a residential area half a mile from Cambridge Yard to the northwest, where Radcliffe College used to be located. Each house has living rooms, separate for undergraduate students, graduate students, teachers, dining rooms, and libraries. Harvard Business School, including its main sports facilities, is located on the other side of the river and covers an area of 145 hectares. Both campuses are connected by a bridge. Harvard Medical School is located in the town of Longwood, five kilometers from Cambridge.

In addition to its three campuses in Cambridge, Ellston, and Longwood, Harvard operates the Arboretum in Boston, the Research Library and Museum in Washington, the 3,000-acre Harvard Forests at Petersham, a research center in Italy, and the Harvard Center in China.

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Museums and libraries

Harvard has 80 independent libraries containing 15 million volumes. The three most popular undergraduate libraries are Cabot Science Library, Lamont Library, and Widener Library. They are located in the central areas of the campuses. There are also several museums at Harvard: The Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard Art Museums, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, Semitic Museum.

Harvard University is not just the oldest educational institution in the United States, it is a kind of “educational Mecca” for those who want to receive a diploma recognized throughout the world and knowledge that will help them reach career heights. Harvard is deservedly considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world, which is confirmed by its first places in well-known international rankings. The university was founded in the city of Cambridge in 1636. Among its graduates are 43 Nobel Prize laureates. 7 US presidents received higher education here, including Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, George W. Bush.

Harvard University is one of the most elite universities in the United States; it is part of the prestigious Ivy League. For local applicants and foreigners who are interested in the issue free of charge, the university offers a large number of grants and scholarship programs. The cost of training here is consistent with the quality of the education received.

Tuition fees at Harvard University:

$19,445/semester

Features of studying at Harvard:

One of the main goals of the educational process at Harvard University, along with excellent knowledge, is to instill in students leadership qualities that will be useful to them in the future. Therefore, the management supports the scientific activities and students’ own projects. An individual approach is applied to each student. Among Harvard's teachers are many well-known personalities recognized in the world of science. The most modern achievements in the field of education are put into practice here. Foreign students are offered language courses in the USA.

Educational achievements of the university:

Currently, 18,000 people study on Harvard faculties, and another 10,000 study in various schools operating at the university. The university has its own museums (archeology and ethnology, botany, zoology, geology and mineralogy), as well as a botanical garden and forest. The university library is one of the largest in the world in terms of the number of books. There is a huge scientific base and ample opportunities for research in various fields.

Faculties and institutes:

Harvard University has:

Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which includes:
- Harvard College (for undergraduate training).
- Department of Postgraduate Education.
- Summer school.
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Faculty of Medicine.
Harvard Law Institute.
Harvard Divinity Institute.
Harvard Business Institute.
Harvard Health Institute.
Institute of Administration named after. John F. Kennedy.
Postgraduate School of Educational Sciences.
Graduate School of Design.

Benefits of studying at Harvard University:

Studying at Harvard is an opportunity to learn from the most experienced and powerful teachers, develop leadership skills and master your chosen profession. The choice of a university is also supported by such characteristics as the variety of educational programs, recognition of the diploma in all countries of the world, and the prospects for further scientific activity and receiving grants. Year after year, Harvard University confirms its status as one of the leading universities in the world, so studying here is a valuable experience and an excellent start to a career.

For many, the authority of the educational institution will come first. The more prestigious the university, the greater the chances of success in life. What opportunities do Russian applicants have to enter the most prestigious universities in the world: Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, Yale.

There is one important point worth mentioning. To get into a foreign university, it is not enough to just be smart and pass all the exams; you need to have a clear life position, be purposeful and active. This is a big plus not only for admission itself, but also the opportunity to receive additional privileges and bonuses, such as a scholarship and free accommodation on campus.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to enter a university in the USA or Europe immediately after school; you need to obtain an international diploma using additional training programs that are available in our country. Such programs last from one to two years, and you still need to pass a language exam.

First, let's look at the rating. At the end of 2016, Times Higher Education (England) published a ranking of the best universities around the world - 2016-2017 THE World University Rankings 2016-2017 www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/world-ranking

Harvard
Harvard was founded by English colonists in 1636 in the city of Newtown, renamed Cambridge, almost 140 years before the formation of the United States of America. It is part of the Ivy League, the famous union of American universities known for their high educational standards. In the ranking of prestigious higher education institutions around the world, Harvard ranks 6th.

The first stage of education is the beginning at Harvard College. The candidacy is considered by two members of the selection committee; it is prohibited to confer with each other. With a higher education from a Russian university, it will not be possible to enter Harvard for an undergraduate degree. But otherwise the chances are the same; foreigners enter the university on equal terms with US citizens. Undergraduate education at Harvard is as general as possible; graduates do not receive a diploma in a specific field, but become a bachelor.

Admission
How to apply? There are two ways: fill out the form on the Universal College Application or Common Application websites, or print, fill out and send by regular mail. Additionally, you need to send the Harvard Application Supplement, school certificate, letters of recommendation from school teachers. To create your profile on the university website and submit an application, you will have to pay $75. Applications must indicate the results of tests and exams passed. The interview procedure is not mandatory, but it is advisable not to skip it. You can talk at Harvard itself or its offices around the world. Documents for admission can be submitted before November 1 - early application, before January 1 - general application.

Requirements
You must be over 18 years old, have decent grades in your high school diploma, and have excellent scores on entrance exams between 600 and 800 (SAT I and SAT II).

Tests and exams
Applicants take the SAT or ACT exams at their choice; The SAT II exam consists of two tests of knowledge of selected disciplines. SAT is an analogue of our Unified State Exam - a common test for admission to a higher education institution in the United States. The duration of the SAT is 3 hours 45 minutes, its cost is $81. The SAT scores range from 600 to 2400. The exam consists of several tasks: text analysis, mathematics, writing.

Available Grants
Harvard is committed to helping everyone who cannot pay for their studies—approximately 60% of students receive financial aid. To qualify for the full scholarship, be prepared to prove that your average annual family income is no more than $65,000.

Harvard University, founded in the USA in the city of Cambridge in 1636, is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, where you can get not only a first-class education, but also acquire useful connections among the “golden” youth. Imagine that each year a two-person university admissions committee selects 2,000 prospective students from among 30,000 applicants. So what does it take to get into Harvard?

What do you need to get into Harvard?

According to Harvard rules, applications are accepted from November 1 to January 1. It can be filled out on the university website or printed and sent by mail. In addition, you must provide:

a certificate of completion of school and a transcript with grades for school disciplines;
2 recommendations from your school teachers;
SAT (or AST) and SAT II scores.

The SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardized test that assesses high school graduates' academic knowledge and consists of three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. ACT (American College Testing) is also a test for admission to American universities, consists of 4 sections - English, reading, mathematics and scientific reasoning. SAT II refers to three specialized tests that demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge of the chosen specialty.

In addition, members of the admissions committee will pay attention to your social activities, active work in public organizations or conducting scientific work. This may well be participation in olympiads, competitions, various programs, volunteer projects and internships. You need to demonstrate your interests, as well as success in any field: be it music, sports, foreign languages. In general, it is important to convey to the admissions committee your active

How to enter Harvard: payment

Harvard is not only one of the most prestigious, but also expensive universities in the world. Regarding how much it costs to study at Harvard, on average you will have to pay about $32,000 per year. And that's just training! Add $10,000 for dorm room fees, plus $2,000 for various fees and charges. As you can see, not every family can afford such amounts.

However, there are options on how to get into Harvard for free. The university is interested in having “bright” heads in their ranks. Therefore, you need to prove your need to the university and interest members of the admissions committee. If you succeed, you will be provided with financial assistance, partial or full.

As a last resort, you can engage in self-education: distance learning at Harvard is possible through online conferences and video courses, the cost of which is quite reasonable.

Go for it, maybe you will be the one to become a student at a prestigious American university and get an excellent education. No wonder one of the 15 motivations of Harvard students sounds like this: “ People who invest in the future are realists».

Harvard University is a very old and prestigious educational institution, the “blue dream” of applicants not only in the USA, but throughout the world. Of course, for Russians, getting an education in such a place seems unattainable, but in fact it is quite possible, although it requires some effort.

A little about Harvard University

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is the oldest in the United States. It dates back to 1636, when it was decided to name the college in honor of John Harvard, a philanthropist who left most of his fortune and even a library to the educational institution.

And if initially the students studying there studied only religion and theology, then already in 1643 Harvard began to engage in research in other areas, which entailed a change in the curriculum. In the 19th century, the burgundy color became the hallmark of this educational institution, and in the 20th century, the college began to proudly be called “university.”

Burgundy is the color of Harvard

Why is it prestigious to study at Harvard?

Today, Harvard University is one of the most famous institutions of higher education not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Many of its graduates become part of the scientific or political world elite, and the university itself is part of the Ivy League - an unofficial association of the eight best US universities, which are considered the standards of education. This in itself is a huge impetus to acquiring a prestigious profession and high social status. Harvard University graduates are in great demand around the world.

Harvard University has a huge number of advantages, for example:

The university has the richest endowment in the world - $36.4 billion. This allows you to select the best teachers, finance advanced research, regularly update the technical base;
the library of this university is the largest among US academic libraries;
the university has a huge number of scientific collections, museums of art and science, for example, museums of botany, zoology, mineralogy, the Center for Fine Arts, collections of the Impressionists and Pre-Raphaelites;
Harvard graduates are more likely than graduates of other schools to become very rich. For example, Mark Zuckerberg, John Kennedy, Bill Gates, Franklin Roosevelt once studied here;
University researchers are engaged in a huge amount of research. In recent years, most advances have been made in the fields of medicine, biology, physics and biotechnology. Harvard researchers have created a vaccine against heart attacks, a detector for monitoring diabetes, and a method for storing the energy of sunlight. In addition, there is an active study of the Big Bang theory. Harvard alumni include 75 Nobel laureates;
The university owns a large number of academic buildings, stadiums, and dormitories, which ensures a comfortable learning process for students. Student residences are located on the banks of the Charles River, and the campus itself occupies about 85 hectares of land.

After paying registration, students receive the right to use the Harvard library and computers

Specialties

Harvard University trains specialists in the following areas:

medicine;
theology;
right;
business;
design;
pedagogy;
public administration;
art;
natural Sciences;
engineering, IT;
humanitarian sciences;
economy.

Most often, students choose the fields of medicine, political science, economics and law. Many people enter the School of Business, because the MBA degree obtained there (“master of business administration” or “master of business administration”) is considered very prestigious. Many graduates remain at the university to pursue a PhD (Candidate of Science), especially those who studied medicine, as the Faculty of Medicine's research center has been achieving high results for many years.

Harvard University includes 12 colleges and departments

Education includes 3 levels: bachelor's, master's and postgraduate degrees. If an applicant already has a bachelor's degree, then he cannot enroll in a bachelor's degree again.

How to get into Harvard

Of course, getting into Harvard University is not so easy. According to statistics, 81.2% of applicants are refused. In order to get into this educational institution, only excellent academic performance is not always enough. The following qualities are especially valued here:

leadership;
social activity, i.e. participation in the life of the university;
love for volunteering.

Harvard is looking for a “whole person,” a person who is inspired, interested in the world around him, and who wants to “get to the very essence” of everything. My future classmates won Olympiads (I was best in Russian and chemistry); learned languages (in my case, German); graduated from music and art schools; I even, in some inexplicable impulse, became a member of the Russian Geographical Society. Leadership skills also help; at Harvard, every head of the student council; in my case, it also looked like the winner of the organization’s competition with the proud name “Leader of the Year” and the Grand Prix winner of the All-Russian competition “Gifted Children” in the “Young Governors” category.

Unknown

http://www.levertutoring.com/1041108310861075/harvard

Submission of documents

There are 2 application periods for training:

Early Action applications - until November 1, results are known in mid-December;
submission in the general order (Regular Decision applications) - until January 1, the answer comes at the end of March.

When applying to Harvard, you should be prepared for competition - there are a lot of applicants

Although there are no documented differences between these stages, statistics show that applicants who apply during the early application period are more likely to receive a place at the university. Firstly, this shows the applicant’s desire to study at Harvard, and secondly, the competition at this time is usually less.

At Harvard University, there is a rule according to which, until the decision of the admissions committee is received, an applicant cannot apply to other educational institutions, but can refuse admission even after receiving an invitation to the university (this rule applies only during early application).

Documents required to submit an application:

completed application form (link is on the university website);
a motivation letter indicating the reasons for choosing the faculty and professional plans;
a resume that should include educational, professional and scientific experience;
school certificate translated into English;
recommendations from two school teachers;
SAT (2070–2350) or ACT (31–34) test scores;
results of two specialized SAT exams (Subject Tests);
diplomas or certificates confirming personal achievements (participation in Olympiads, sports competitions, volunteer or scientific projects, etc.);
if any - publications, essays and other works of authorship;
for foreigners - the result of the TOEFL exam.

Everything must be in English. To have your application accepted, you must pay $75. All documents can be submitted by mail or through the university website.

What are the requirements for foreigners

There are no special quotas for foreigners at the university; everyone enters on equal terms, and they are as follows:

age from 17 years;
having excellent results on the SAT exam (2070–2350) and two SAT (Subject Tests) exams corresponding to the profile of study (on average, Harvard students passed this exam with 600 points or more);
knowledge of English;
good grades in the certificate;
presence of personal achievements, among which volunteer work is a big plus.

Video: how a Russian can get into Harvard

How does admission work?

Let's try to briefly describe the entire process of admission to Harvard University:

The applicant must choose the direction of study.
In accordance with the direction, you must pass 2 specialized SAT exams, which resemble our Unified State Exam, as well as the SAT test (2070–2350). Registration takes place on a special website, where you can also see the dates. In 2018–2019, you can take the exam on August 25, October 6, November 3, December 1, March 9, May 4 and June 1. In Russia, delivery points are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Syktyvkar. The test is conducted in English and consists of 3 compulsory sections (reading, language and writing, mathematics) and an essay.
After this, the remaining documents are collected and the application is sent to the university.
The applicant may be invited for an interview at the university itself or in another country where its representatives are visiting. There, members of the admissions committee will evaluate the applicant’s personal qualities. If there was no meeting, then this will not play a negative role in enrollment, but if a university employee likes the candidate, this significantly increases the chances of getting into this educational institution.
As entrance tests for some specialties, writing an essay on a proposed topic may be required.
The admissions committee reviews the documents of each applicant individually. The result is reported by letter.

When I took the SAT, it consisted of two parts - English and Math. Each part had three stages. First you wrote mathematics for half an hour, then English for half an hour, then mathematics again, like that, one by one. Now to these two parts a third has been added - an essay. In the English language, vocabulary, literacy (the ability to construct a sentence) and associative abilities (you need to insert the right words into sentences), and the ability to analyze text are tested. The difficulty is that the words used there are almost never used in everyday speech. This is book vocabulary and academic dictionary. If you have read a lot since childhood, then passing the SAT will not be a problem.

Oleg Bibergan

https://newtimes.ru/articles/detail/84355

Video: what Harvard University looks like and how to get into it

Tuition fees, scholarships

The price of studying at Harvard University can vary, but on average it is 33-40 thousand dollars per year without taking into account living expenses and about 50-60 thousand per year in general. For a month's stay at Harvard (excluding the cost of education), you will have to pay from 1,100 to 2,100 thousand dollars.

Table: Harvard Tuition Costs

Scholarships

If you look at the cost of education at this university, it may seem that it is only available to a select few and the very rich, but in fact this is not the case. The majority of students (almost 70%!) receive scholarships that fully or partially cover their expenses, and they are available to both US residents and foreign students.

To receive a full or partial scholarship, a student must prove that his family earns less than $65,000 in a year. Most often, a partial scholarship is awarded, which consists of the following parts:

about 19% of the cost is contributed by the student's parents (although this amount may vary depending on family income);
about 5% is contributed by the student himself through his summer job or part-time job during his studies;
the remaining amount (approximately 76%) is paid by Harvard University itself, as well as various other organizations and foundations.

To receive this type of financial assistance, you must contact a special scholarship committee (Committee on General Scholarships), which calculates payments for each individual student.

In addition, there are special scholarship programs for foreign students, for example:

Fullbright grant - full tuition fees, $2500-$2900 monthly, TOEFL exam, travel expenses. It only helps to enroll in a master’s program, because to participate you must have a higher education diploma or be in your last year at a university in your home country;
Opportunity scholarship program - payment for tuition, transport and hostel, obtaining a visa, passing language exams.

Most Harvard students receive financial aid

In addition, specialized scholarships are sometimes allocated for the study of specific professions, athletes, gifted students or certain groups of people: women, national minorities.

The most famous Russian scholarship program is “Global Education,” but it is designed only for masters and postgraduate education.

Temporary training programs

In addition to all of the above, there are opportunities to get into Harvard temporarily, for example, by participating in internships, international exchange programs, or double degrees.

I was lucky enough to participate in a summer exchange program while still studying at Rostov State University. I lived in a student dormitory with an Englishman and an American and talked with them. Therefore, I already spoke English quite well. And for admission you need three things. First of all - good academic results. Moreover, it is not necessary to be an excellent student; it is better to win the All-Russian Olympiad in your favorite subject. The second is leadership potential. Leading universities, including Harvard, strive to ensure that their graduates have a good career, achieve a high position in their homeland, and thus promote their “alma mater.” Leadership abilities, for example, can be manifested in the activities of a student society, the organization of scientific conferences, or in their own business, which the student was able to organize in his own country. The third condition is creativity, the ability to create.

Nikolay Polukeev

https://rg.ru/2004/01/21/harvard.html

IT students have the opportunity to go to Harvard for a year

Harvard University cooperates with the following educational institutions:

Stanford University;
Cambridge university;
Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania;
Oxford University;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For those who are not students at these universities, the US government has created the College and University Student Program. It allows students from other countries to gain experience studying at American higher education institutions, including Harvard (but not more than 24 months), or to go to this country to obtain a degree.

Almost every university school has its own internship programs. But the most famous and accessible is the summer internship at the Berkman Center, which brings together undergraduate and graduate students studying media and computer technology from all over the world.

Harvard has agreements on double degree programs with the Berklee College of Music and the University of Cambridge. This is also done by the Erasmus+ organization, which allows students to go for one or more semesters to a university in another country (with tuition fees and a scholarship) and subsequently receive diplomas from both educational institutions.

Getting a diploma from Harvard, one of the best educational institutions in the world, is quite possible with due diligence. Today, in the age of globalization, the very possibility of obtaining higher education in another country should not seem unattainable, because in fact it is possible, even without huge investments.