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HARVARD COLLEGE

Office of Admissions

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Application Timeline

Quickview

(A more detailed list can be found below.)

Immediately Please send your Common Application or Universal Application and $75.00 fee or fee waiver request
December 1 The Admissions Committee begins reading applications on this date in the order in which they were completed
January 1 Final Postmark Deadline for all parts of your application
January 23 Last SAT testing date for candidates
February 6 Last ACT testing date for candidates
March 1 Financial Aid Deadline
Early April Decisions Mailed
May 1 Reply date for admitted students

Detailed View

Immediately

Please Send:

  • The Common Application or the Universal Application
  • The $75.00 application fee or a request for a fee waiver if the fee would cause undue financial hardship for your family.

Once we receive your Common Application or Universal Application, we can open your admission file, track supporting documents for your application and begin processing your application in a timely manner.

The Short Answer about one of your activities, the Personal Essay and the Harvard Application Supplement may be sent at a later date.

December 1

We will begin our careful evaluation process on this date, reading applications in the order in which they are completed.

Please submit at least one set of official test scores by this date.

We recognize that you and your secondary school teachers and counselors have many commitments that may preclude December 1 submission of your admission materials. If so, please be assured that you will not be penalized in any way.

January 1

Final Deadline (postmark) for all application materials. Final postmark deadline for Common Application/Universal Application, Harvard Application Supplement, Personal Statement, School Report, and Teacher Evaluations.


Additional Dates to Consider

January 23, 2010

Last SAT and SAT Subject Test testing date for candidates.

February 1

Notify the Admissions Office if you have not received an email acknowledging your application.

February 6, 2010

Last ACT testing date for candidates. Note that the February test date is not available in New York.

March 1

Financial Aid Deadline. If you will need financial assistance, file the latest PROFILE with the College Scholarship Service (CSS) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The CSS code is 3434; the FAFSA code is E00468. All financial aid applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada must submit Harvard's Financial Statement for Students from Foreign Countries instead of the PROFILE and FAFSA. For more information, please see the Financial Aid website.

Early April

Decision letters mailed.

May 1 (all applicants)

Reply date for admitted students. No deposit required.