Hey everyone. I'm a junior and it's always been a dream of mine to get into Harvard. Can someone tell me the kind of GPA, weighted or unweighted, they usually look out for in the admission process? Thanks!
The median GPA of admitted students at Harvard is typically around 4.0 unweighted, which translates to straight A's. Keep in mind, though, that a high GPA isn’t the only factor for admissions—colleges like Harvard consider course rigor important as well, so they want to see that you're taking challenging courses like honors, AP, or IB. It's not unusual for successful applicants to have a weighted GPA above 4.0 due to these rigorous courses.
Additional factors Harvard considers include test scores (as of the 2024-2025 application cycle, Harvard is not test-optional and requires the SAT or ACT), essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. Harvard is looking for students with a developed interest or “spike,” demonstrated through their activities outside of classes.
In terms of courses, it's better to do well in difficult class rather than get a perfect GPA in simpler classes. But remember, every student's situation is different, and Harvard does not have a strict GPA cutoff due to their holistic review of applications. Your best approach is to challenge yourself acadically and seek ways to stand out through extracurricular activities related to your interests.
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