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The course was challenging, so I asked the instructor if I belonged. He said, ‘If you can do the work, you belong.’ He made me realize that here I would be accepted by who I am now.
— A student’s remarks in her application essay
Admission
Given that 35 is the average age of our students, SAT scores and high school grades are not relevant indicators of success. Therefore, the most important predictor is your ability to do honors-level work at Harvard. While the admission requirements are less restrictive than a traditional Ivy League program, the coursework at Harvard Extension School is intellectually rigorous.
To be admitted to the program:
- Complete the 3 preadmission courses.
- Meet all other admission criteria.
- Submit your application materials.
1. Complete the 3 preadmission courses.
Earn a B− grade or higher in 3 undergraduate-level courses and complete the expository writing preadmission as described below.
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The preadmission courses should be 4-credit liberal arts courses from the program curriculum. See the degree requirements. These courses count as 12 program credits once you are admitted.
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Meet the expository writing requirement. Complete EXPO E-25 at the Extension School with at least a C− (if you earn a B−, you may count it as 1 of the above 3 courses. Or complete EXPO S-20 at the Harvard Summer School with at least a B−.)
2. Meet all other admission criteria.
Have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and a 2.5 GPA during the previous term at Harvard.
Be in good academic and financial standing with Harvard University, with no disciplinary or administrative procedures pending.
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Meet the English proficiency, if applicable.
If your native language is not English and you did not attend a high school for 4 years with English-language instruction (see below), you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn at least 1 of the following scores:- 250 on the computer-based test and 5 on the essay
- 600 on the paper-based test and 5 on the Test of Written English
- 100 on the Internet-based test.
Educational Testing Service must send your official score reports to the program office. The Harvard Extension School TOEFL institution code is 3458 and the department code is 00.
If you have a 4-year high school diploma from a school with English-language instruction, you must submit a transcript that can document this information with your admission application.
The TOEFL requirement for admission to programs is different from the proficiency requirement for registration in Extension School or Summer School courses. If you meet the requirement for courses, you must still meet this requirement for admission to a program.
The program is open to students who do not have bachelor’s degrees and are enrolled at another institution. The associate degree is not available to students with more than 16 credits of transferable courses from other schools.
3. Submit your application materials.
To be admitted to the program, you must submit the application materials. See How to Apply.
International students
The undergraduate program does not provide I-20s for student visas, but international students interested in the program should review Undergraduate Distance Education.
Financial aid
The Harvard Extension School welcomes financial aid applications from candidates who would not meet their study expenses without financial assistance. Before you apply and are admitted to the program, you can work with Student Financial Services to secure private sources of funding to cover the cost of the first 3 courses required for admission.
A limited number of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarships are awarded to eligible community college graduates who have earned an associate degree.
Once admitted, you will be eligible for a number of loan and grant programs, including Harvard Extension School Scholarships.