Lately I'm seeing lots of curious minds asking questions about whether they would be able to apply or get into Harvard, MIT or similar top schools. Which of course comes from a naive idea of how the holistic selection process works in such schools.
Therefore, I thought I should share the selection process of Harvard that was revealed through Asian Admission Lawsuit (2018). Read the full article here: PrepScholar Harvard Admissions Analysis (This is also a great resource for you to get all sorts of information regarding US College application)
How to Use This Information
Match your profile with the attributes mentioned below; If you get a match, then sure you have a good chance. Note: Long post & can be confusing at first; So, take your time to process the information.
Harvard's Selection Process
A breakdown of how Harvard's 4 main factors are assessed on a scale of 1-6 (1 being the best):
1 is the highest possible score. Each score can also have a "+" or "-", just like A+/A- grades.
Academic Rating (0.5% of applicants get a 1, 42.3% of applicants get a 2):
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Summa potential. Genuine scholar; near-perfect scores and grades (in most cases) combined with unusual creativity and possible evidence of original scholarship. |
| 2 | Magna potential: Excellent student with superb grades and mid-to-high-700 scores (33+ ACT). |
| 3 | Cum laude potential: Very good student with excellent grades and mid-600 to low-700 scores (29 to 32 ACT). |
| 4 | Adequate preparation. Respectable grades and low-to-mid-600 scores (26 to 29) ACT. |
| 5 | Marginal potential. Modest grades and 500 scores (25 and below ACT). |
| 6 | Achievement or motivation marginal or worse. |
Difference between 1 and 2
You need to show academic excellence outside just your grades and test scores in order to get a 1, most often through very prestigious academic competitions/awards and/or published research with a professor.
Extracurricular Rating (0.3% of applicants get a 1, 23.8% of applicants get a 2):
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unusual strength in one or more areas. Possible national-level achievement or professional experience. A potential major contributor at Harvard. Truly unusual achievement. |
| 2 | Strong secondary school contribution in one or more areas such as class president, newspaper editor, etc. Local or regional recognition; major accomplishment(s). |
| 3 | Solid participation but without special distinction. (Upgrade 3+ to 2- in some cases if the e/c is particularly extensive and substantive.) |
| 4 | Little or no participation. |
| 5 | Substantial activity outside of conventional EC participation, such as family commitments or term-time work. |
| 6 | Special circumstances limit or prevent participation (e.g. a physical condition). |
Difference between 1 and 2
You have to achieve at a national/professional level in your activities in order to get a 1, simply being elite at a school or state level will not get you over a 2 in this category.
Athletic Rating (0.9% of applicants get a 1, 9.2% of applicants get a 2):
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unusually strong prospect for varsity sports at Harvard, desired by Harvard coaches. |
| 2 | Strong secondary school contribution in one or more areas; possible leadership role(s). |
| 3 | Active participation. |
| 4 | Little or no interest. |
| 5 | Substantial activity outside of conventional EC participation, such as family commitments or term-time work. |
| 6 | Physical condition prevents significant activity. |
Difference between 1 and 2
Being recruited for a sport will get you a 1 here, but you can still help out your case a lot by being a strong non-recruited high school athlete and qualifying for a 2.
Personal Rating (0.0% of applicants get a 1, 20.8% of applicants get a 2):
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Outstanding |
| 2 | Very Strong |
| 3 | Generally Positive |
| 4 | Bland or somewhat negative or immature |
| 5 | Questionable personal qualities |
| 6 | Worrisome personal qualities |
Difference between 1 and 2
Way too vague to tell for sure, but some traits I often heard from Harvard alumni interviewers for students that received a 1 are "seemed like they would be amazing friends for their classmates", "didn't appear to treat college like a competition for grades", "wouldn't be intimidated by other bright and active people", and "memorable even 20–30 years later." Essentially, you must stand out as a person everyone wants to be around (which is highly subjective)... how you do that is really a unique thing for everyone.
Chances of Admission to Harvard Based on These Ratings
Candidates who Excel in One Dimension:
- Academic rating of 1, no other 1s: 68% admission rate
- Extracurricular rating of 1, no other 1s: 48% admission rate
- Personal rating of 1, no other 1s: 66% admission rate
- Athletic rating of 1, no other 1s: 88% admission rate
Multi-Dimensional (or "well-rounded") Candidates:
- Three ratings of 2, one rating of 3 or 4: 43% admission rate
- Four ratings of 2: 68% admission rate
Weaker Candidates:
- No ratings of 1 or 2: 0.1% admission rate
Overall Rating
All of these ratings are combined by the application reader in an Overall rating, again from 1 to 6. This Overall rating is CRITICAL for admissions. The Overall rating is "not a formula" and doesn't involve adding up other ratings as average. It's a holistic grade. Harvard instructs readers to assign the score by "stepping back and taking all the factors into account, and then assigning that Overall rating."
How Overall Rating Works
In reality, I suspect the grade is close to your top 2 scores - you can get a 1 on academic and personal and a 4 on athletic, and the 4 won't bring down your total score.
From released legal filings, here's a description of what the overall ratings mean:
| Overall Rating | Description | Admission Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tops for admission: Exceptional — a clear admit with very strong objective and subjective support | 90+% |
| 2 | Strong credentials, but not quite tops | 50-90% |
| 3 | Solid contender: An applicant with good credentials and support | 20-40% |
| 4 | Neutral: Respectable credentials | Low |
| 5 | Negative: Credentials are generally below those of other candidates | Very Low |
| 6 | Unread | 0% |
Key Statistics
The higher the Overall score you get, the higher your chance of admission. At Harvard, the average admissions rate is 5% to 6%. But students getting the highest score of 1 have a 100% admission rate; students getting 2+/2/2- have a 70% admission rate.
How to Assess Your Own Profile
Now that you understand Harvard's rating system, you can roughly assess where you might stand:
Academic Rating Self-Assessment:
- Do you have near-perfect grades and test scores?
- Have you conducted original research or published academic work?
- Have you won prestigious academic competitions?
- Do you have evidence of genuine intellectual curiosity beyond grades?
Extracurricular Rating Self-Assessment:
- Have you achieved recognition at the national level?
- Are you a leader in multiple significant activities?
- Do you have professional-level experience or achievements?
- Have you made a measurable impact in your community or field?
Personal Rating Self-Assessment:
- Are you someone people genuinely enjoy being around?
- Do you approach challenges with maturity and resilience?
- Are you curious about other people and perspectives?
- Do you contribute positively to group dynamics?
Important Reality Check
Remember, even with high ratings in multiple categories, admission is not guaranteed. Harvard could fill multiple classes with qualified applicants, so the final decisions often come down to creating a balanced and diverse class composition.
What This Means for Your Application Strategy
Understanding Harvard's process can help you approach your applications more strategically:
- Focus on depth over breadth: Better to excel significantly in fewer areas than to be mediocre in many
- Develop your personal qualities: Work on becoming someone others genuinely want to be around
- Seek national-level recognition: If possible, try to achieve recognition beyond your local community
- Tell a coherent story: Make sure your application presents a clear narrative about who you are
- Apply broadly: Even strong candidates should have multiple options
Final Thoughts
While this breakdown provides valuable insights into Harvard's process, remember that holistic admissions means that no single factor determines your fate. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself rather than trying to game the system.
Learn more about your specific college, including its location and other details, before making a decision. The admissions process is complex, and what works for Harvard may not be the same for other institutions you're considering.