Looking ahead, I know Harvard's a reach for anyone, but I'm trying to get serious about my grades. Does Harvard have a preferred unweighted GPA for applicants, or do they consider other parts of your application just as much? Any insights would be awesome!
Harvard doesn't officially state a 'preferred' unweighted GPA, but considering its competitiveness, aiming for as close to a 4.0 as possible will strengthen your application. While they do look at other parts of your application closely, your GPA is an important benchmark of academic performance. Most admitted students have near-perfect GPAs; however, Harvard does review applications holistically, which means they consider multiple aspects of your profile. Still, a high GPA is a critical component, especially for a school with such high academic standards. Don't forget that rigor of coursework is also a key factor. If you're taking the most challenging classes available and excelling in them, that will shine through on your transcript. Your goal should be to succeed in the most rigorous curriculum you can manage.
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