Harvard University. As one of the world’s foremost universities, hardly anyone is unfamiliar with its name. Established in 1636, it is the oldest university in the United States and has produced numerous Nobel Prize winners and leaders across various fields. Even now, it remains a dream destination for many students. But what, exactly, makes Harvard students considered so “outstanding”?
In this article, we will explore the difficulty of getting admitted, the heavy academic workload, post-graduation achievements, and the unique educational environment Harvard University offers. Through this exploration, we will examine the background shaping the high regard for Harvard’s undergraduates. Please note that this article focuses exclusively on the undergraduate program (the College).
1. The Difficulty of Admission: The Narrow Gate of a Top-Ranked Institution
Gaining admission to Harvard is truly competitive. Even within the Ivy League, Harvard’s acceptance rate consistently remains among the lowest. For the Class of 2024, the acceptance rate was a mere 3.6%, meaning that only a tiny fraction of the brightest students worldwide are granted entry.
*Table 1: Ivy League Admissions Data (Acceptance Rate, Number of Admits, Number of Applicants) Comparison (Class of 2024) *1
University Name | Acceptance Rate | Number of Admits | Number of Applications |
Harvard University | 3.6% | 1,970 | 54,008 |
Yale University | 3.9% | 2,227 | 57,517 |
Princeton University | 4.6% | 1,868 | 40,468 |
Columbia University | 3.8% | 2,319 | 60,248 |
Brown University | 5.2% | 2,521 | 48,898 |
University of Pennsylvania | 5.4% | 3,508 | 65,235 |
Cornell University | 7.6% | 5,139 | 68,000 |
Dartmouth College | 5.3% | 1,685 | 31,657 |
As this table indicates, Harvard boasts the lowest acceptance rate among the Ivies and attracts outstanding students from all over the world. For reference, the total number of applicants to the University of Tokyo is 9,688, with 3,084 admitted*2. Although the examination format and other factors differ, this comparison highlights the sheer scale of Harvard’s applicant pool.
２. Harvard University’s Admissions Process
Harvard University’s admissions process is extraordinarily rigorous, with a holistic evaluation of many factors. The university does not focus solely on academic ability; it also emphasizes the individuality and potential of each applicant. The main evaluation criteria are as follows*3.
Academic Performance: High school grades are one important factor. GPA, courses taken, and trends in academic performance are all considered.
Standardized Test Scores: SAT or ACT scores are used as indicators of academic preparedness.
Essays: Multiple essays are required to assess a student’s personality, critical thinking, and experiences.
Letters of Recommendation: Teachers’ and counselors’ endorsements play a crucial role in providing a multifaceted view of a student’s academic ability and character.
Extracurricular Activities: Participation and leadership in extracurriculars are considered to evaluate leadership, talents, and passions.
Interview: Depending on the admissions committee’s decision, an interview with an alumnus may be conducted, assessing traits such as a student’s personality and communication skills.
Other Factors: Background factors such as geographic origin, race, and financial circumstances may also be taken into account.
At Harvard, these factors are holistically evaluated to select students who are deemed a good fit for the institution. While excellent academic records and high standardized test scores are of course important, they do not guarantee admission. Harvard seeks students with diverse talents and places great importance on individuality and potential.
3. Comparing SAT Scores
Average SAT scores for incoming students at Harvard (Class of 2024) rank among the highest in the United States. Comparisons with other Ivy League institutions underscore the school’s particularly high scores*4。
*Table 2: Ivy League SAT Score Comparison (2024)
University Name | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
Harvard University | 1550 | 1500 | 1580 |
Yale University | 1540 | 1500 | 1560 |
Princeton University | 1518 | 1510 | 1560 |
Columbia University | 1524 | 1500 | 1560 |
Brown University | 1540 | 1510 | 1560 |
University of Pennsylvania | 1540 | 1500 | 1570 |
Cornell University | 1520 | 1480 | 1550 |
Dartmouth College | 1500 | 1450 | 1550 |
As seen above, Harvard has the highest average score among the Ivy League.
4. Preference Among Multiple Admissions Offers
Harvard is often one of several Ivy League schools to which top students apply. Among highly qualified applicants, it is not uncommon for students to receive acceptance offers from multiple prestigious universities. So, which institution do they ultimately choose?
In an ideal world, we would look at Early Decision data (where an accepted student must enroll if admitted) to gauge first-choice preferences. However, Harvard does not have an Early Decision program*5. In place of that, we use the yield rate (number of enrolled students divided by number of accepted students) for our analysis.
Below is a graph of yield rates for each Ivy League institution.
Figure 3: Ivy League Yield Rates（2024）
Even though these numbers include students who might only have been admitted to Harvard among the Ivies (and thus do not paint a complete picture), Harvard’s yield rate tops the list. This suggests it is the first-choice option for many students who gain acceptance to multiple Ivy League institutions.
５. Student Study Culture
Harvard students’ study habits are said to be overwhelming. Essentially, they “spend every moment aside from meals, extracurricular activities, and sleep on academics.” Late at night, you will still find dining halls in each dorm packed with students studying. Below is an actual comment from a Harvard student:
“It depends on your major, but basically Harvard students are studying almost all the time. There are a lot of classmates who have become depressed from studying too much.”(Harvard College, Senior, Computer Science)
Moreover, Harvard’s library network is one of the largest in the world, playing a key role in supporting students’ intellectual pursuits. Harvard’s faculty comprises leading researchers at the forefront of their fields, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from top scholars.
6. Post-Graduation Success and Widening Influence
Harvard graduates demonstrate leadership in diverse fields. Supporting their success is the Harvard educational environment and the alumni network.
Notable Alumni
Theodore Roosevelt: 26th President of the United States
Bill Gates: Founder of Microsoft
Mark Zuckerberg: Founder of Facebook
Harvard’s alumni network maintains strong ties that transcend industry and geography. Not only does this network foster a culture of collaboration among alumni themselves, but it also serves as a vital career resource for current students.
Conclusion
The reasons why Harvard students are considered so exceptional can be summarized as follows:
They possess academic excellence and a range of abilities sufficient to overcome one of the world’s most competitive admissions processes.
They benefit from a superb educational environment and systems that foster practical skills.
They enjoy robust career support through a powerful alumni network.
Harvard University offers an academically and socially outstanding environment, maximizing the potential of its students. In such a setting, Harvard students develop intellectual curiosity and leadership qualities that pave the way for success in society.
Furthermore, a significant number of Harvard students are interested in working in Japan, and many have registered with the Jelper Club.
If you are a corporate recruiter interested in hiring top-tier Harvard students who study in a world-class environment, please click the button below to contact us. We look forward to assisting you.
(Edit: Jelper Club Editorial Team)
Source
１. "Admissions Statistics" (Harvard College):https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/admissions-statistics; "Yale College Admissions Summary" (Yale University):https://oir.yale.edu/data-browser/student-data/admissions/yale-college-admissions-summary-w033; "Admission and Costs" (Princeton University):https://profile.princeton.edu/admission-and-costs; "Columbia Announces Class of 2028 Admissions Decisions" (Columbia Undergraduate Admissions):https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/columbia-announces-class-2028-admissions-decisions; "Brown admits 2,521 talented students to the undergraduate Class of 2028" (Brown University):https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-03-28/admitted; "Penn announces 5.4% acceptance rate for Class of 2028, most selective year on record" (The Daily Pennsylvanian):https://www.thedp.com/article/2024/06/penn-admissions-rate-class-2028-lowest-ever#:~:text=Out%20of%20a%20pool%20of,47%20states%20and%2095%20countries.; "Cornell University Admits 5,139 Students to Class of 2028" (Crimson Education): https://www.crimsoneducation.org/jp-en/blog/cornell-acceptance-rate/; "Class of 2028 Draws Record Number of Applicants" (Dartmouth College):https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2024/03/class-2028-draws-record-number-applicants
２. 「入学者数・志願者数」（東京大学）：https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/about/overview/e08_01.html
３. "Admissions" (Harvard College): https://college.harvard.edu/admissions
４. "SAT Scores and GPA" (PrepScholar): https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/Dartmouth-sat-scores-GPA
５. "If I apply restrictive early action to Harvard, may I apply to another college's early decision program?" (Harvard College): If I apply restrictive early action to Harvard, may I apply to another college's early decision program?
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