Harvard Business School (HBX) Boston Admission Process

Harvard University Admissions 2024-2025

Harvard University offers admissions for two primary intakes: Fall and Spring, both available to Indian students. Harvard’s admissions process is the most selective among the eight Ivy League institutions, with a recent acceptance rate of 3.45%. For graduate programs, applicants typically need a minimum GPA of 3.0, though most admitted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.73 or higher. Undergraduate applicants generally need a GPA above 4.0 for consideration.

The MBA program at Harvard University is highly competitive. For the class of 2025, 938 students were enrolled out of 8,149 applicants. Prospective MBA students with a GPA of 3.7 (93%) and a GMAT score of 730 or above have a stronger chance of admission. International applicants are advised to review application deadlines and consider applying in the early rounds to improve their chances of acceptance.

Top Programs at Harvard University

Here are some of the leading programs offered at Harvard University, along with admission requirements and annual tuition fees:

Harvard University Acceptance Rate

Harvard’s admissions process is extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of just 3.45% for the class of 2027. Out of 56,937 applicants, only 1,966 students were admitted.

Harvard University Graduate Admissions Requirements

Graduate applicants can start their application process in September. International students must provide the following for admission:

Application Portal: Separate portals for different graduate schools at Harvard University.

Application Fee: Non-refundable $105 (8,622 INR).

Required Documents:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• GPA of 3.0/4.0 (85%) or higher
• GRE Scores between 260-340
• Personal Essay
• TOEFL iBT Score of 100
• 2 Recommendation Letters
• Resume
• Writing Sample (if required)
• Work Experience (if required)

Note: Harvard College and some graduate schools offer interviews for applicants, though not all schools include interviews as part of their admissions process.

Harvard University Admissions Requirements: MBA

The MBA program at Harvard Business School is a 2-year, full-time course. Applications for the 2024 academic year are now closed. Here are the requirements for the Harvard MBA program:

• Application Portal: HBS Application Portal
• Application Fee: Non-refundable $250 (~19,520 INR)
• Required Documents for International Students:
  • Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5
  • GMAT score of 730
  • English language proficiency scores:
    • TOEFL iBT: 109
    • IELTS: 7.5
  • Additional Documents:
    • Personal Essay
    • 2 Recommendation Letters
    • Resume
    • Minimum of 3 years of work experience
    • Interview (by invitation only)

Students from diverse academic backgrounds can apply to the MBA program. Over 60% of admitted students come from non-business fields. Strong academic performance and meeting the selection criteria are key for applicants.

MBA Application Deadlines

MBA Class Profile 2025

Harvard University Admissions Requirements: Undergraduate

For international students seeking admission to undergraduate programs, the requirements are as follows:

Application Portal: Common Application or Coalition Application

Application Fee: $85 (6,980 INR)

Admission Requirements:

• School Report and High School Transcript
• 2 Teacher Recommendations
• Midyear School Report (after the first semester grades)
• Final School Report
• SAT or ACT (optional for 2022-2026 applicants, but recommended)
• English Proficiency Test: Not required for first-year undergraduate students

Note: If your institution does not provide mark sheets or transcripts, please submit an official letter from them detailing the courses and examinations completed, grades received, and degrees awarded, along with the dates.

Harvard Application Deadlines 2024-2025

For postgraduate programs at Harvard University, application deadlines vary by program, with some due in December and others in January. Undergraduate programs are typically available in the Spring intake. Here are the deadlines for 2024 undergraduate admissions:

Harvard University Postgraduate Admission Deadlines

Harvard University Admissions Decisions

Harvard notifies applicants for Restrictive Early Action by mid-December. Regular Decision applicants receive their results by the end of March. Applicants can view their decisions through the application portal.

When the decision is released, students receive an email reminder to check their application status. They can access their decision 15 minutes after the release. If students remain logged in during the decision release, they may not receive the reminder email.

Harvard University Admissions Selection Criteria

While academic achievement in high school is crucial, the Admissions Committee evaluates several additional factors, including:

• Community Involvement: Contributions to and impact on the community through volunteer and charity work.
• Leadership and Extracurricular Distinction: Demonstrated leadership and notable achievements in extracurricular activities.
• Personal Qualities and Character: Personal attributes and character traits.

Harvard values students who have made a significant impact in their communities and have shown leadership and distinction outside the classroom. These qualities should be highlighted in supplemental essays and through documented extracurricular activities.