How to Apply

To apply, submit the following materials:

1. The undergraduate online application form, available through online services during the application periods listed below
2. A nonrefundable $100 application fee; an additional $200 if you have completed more than six courses
3. A two-page essay (see essay topics below)
4. A résumé
5. Official transcripts in sealed envelopes from each university and college attended (you must be financially clear from all prior schools and not currently pursuing a degree at another school)
6. If you have attended colleges and universities outside the United States or Canada, send a second set of transcript to the Center for Educational Documentation (CED) to be evaluated. We need an official, course-by-course evaluation in a sealed envelope. 
7. If you live outside New England, submit the On-Campus Requirement Plan.

Application advice

• Enroll in EXPO E-25 or EXPO S-20 as one of your first three courses and apply in the term that you anticipate completing your third course.

  If you delay application, you run the risk of losing degree credit for completed coursework or becoming ineligible for the degree as degree and admission requirements are subject to change. Also, an additional $200 late fee is charged if you have completed more than six degree courses when you apply.

• Collect application materials while completing your preadmission courses.

  This helps ensure timely admission. During your first semester, request multiple copies of your transcripts. Keep a copy to reference when submitting the online application, and mail a second copy during the application period. If you attended schools outside the US and Canada, send a third copy to the Center for Educational Documentation. Also, be sure to take the TOEFL or IELTS in advance of the application dates (see English Proficiency Requirement).

• Start the online application early in the application cycle.

  Begin applying online when the application cycle begins (e.g., October 15, March 15, or July 15) to ensure timely admission. All you need to complete the online application portion are the names of the schools that you have attended and dates of attendance.

When to apply

We admit students three times a year. Apply according to the following schedule:

If your application is complete by the deadline but you did not earn the required grades or GPA by the end of the semester, you will need to reapply to the program when you have met the admission criteria. Incomplete applications are not considered.

Tip: to receive financial aid for the spring term, apply to the program on October 15 and apply for financial aid before November 1. For fall term, apply to the program on March 15 and apply for financial aid before June 1. See financial aid for more information.

Application essay topics

The application essay serves two purposes: it gives us an opportunity to learn about you, and it serves as a sample of your writing skills to date. Essays should be in 12-point font and double spaced. Please indicate the question you are answering in the heading, along with your full name.

Choose one of the following topics:

• Discuss the impact of completing courses at the Harvard Extension School on your life so far. Support your explanation with specific details.
• Discuss the reasons why you have decided to earn your undergraduate degree at the Harvard Extension School. Support your explanation with specific details.
• If the Harvard Extension School is not your first college experience, discuss how your perspective on higher education has changed since your initial college experience. Support your explanation with specific details.